The giant bird raised its wings and
Began flapping around in a dreadfully
Agitated fashion, scattering all manner
Of papers and sundries across the office.
Dodging the vortex of random projectiles,
Braving the windswept climes,
Bill from Accounting reached the culprit,
Soothingly petted its head, just a bad dream.
Deliberately moving away
From the abyss.
Conscious decisions
Leading joyfully forward.
A new day
Filled with promise.
Generations of pain
Stop at this very moment.
She couldn’t help laughing when
He came up to her and sneezed
In the middle of introducing himself.
She was charmed by the way he
Mixed up his words when she
Asked him the simplest question.
She was intrigued by every part of
Him and soon they were married
In a large, joyful ceremony.
She couldn’t have foreseen the
Other secrets uncharming,
Revealed in daily life.
When asked whether
Her book was in stores
Or had won any awards,
She knew she was not
In the presence of
Discerning supporters
But, rather, conventional
Creatures who only measure value
Based on prestige and status
Instead of understanding
The transcendence of her work.
Shadowy miscreants
Pulling strings from
Perches high atop
The oligarchy.
Narrow gnarled psyches
Bent on grabbing everything,
Leaving everyone else
In tatters.
A world birthed by
Utter greed,
Nothing ever enough,
The wails within
Never satiated,
Smoldering ruins of
Entire civilizations
Left behind.
A kind gesture, friendly hello,
Warm greetings, fond memories
Shared, messages exchanged.
Implicit, comfortable trust renewed.
A unique opportunity to translate
Goodwill into cash, awkwardly
Project, ascribe meaning, sell.
A devalued person, a commodity,
To be used.
Fetid stream of
Derogatory remarks,
One foul mouth
Maligning many.
Sullied brain,
Inculcated intolerance,
Grafted onto psyche,
Unbreakable permanent bond.
Legions sympathetic,
Howling viscerally,
Defending the untenable,
Scant of reason.
A rabble roused,
Self-perpetuating,
Clamoring for more
Gratuitous carnage.
They design
A world
Based on their personal
Thoughts, feelings, beliefs.
They design
A world where people
Exploit and destroy
Each other.
They could design
A world where people
Think, feel, and believe
In kindness, compassion.
Fuse rage and insecurity and
Project it on those who would
Make your life better. Deny reason
At all costs and incinerate fact.
Smoldering emotional rubble pile,
Blaming those who would help
You heal, show you mercy,
Invite you to love.
