listen cousin you know that thing you know is there but you’re hoping will go away if you just ignore it well it ain’t going away so deal with it or live with it it ain’t no elephant in the room it’s you in the elephant
each of
life’s
travellers
pauses
to survey
the path
that
they’ve travelled
some marvel
that
they’ve survived
the climb
through rough terrain
full of hazards
and
hostile actions
but
they quickly turn
and
continue on
others
tarry there
when they look back
numb
and
unable to relinquish
the view
since the journey
has been
so easy
and
full of lovely scenes
and
moments
they wish to relive
so
they stand there
looking back
for the rest
of
their existence
others
linger there
overwhelmed
by
their painful journey
unable to separate
yesterday’s pain
from
tomorrow’s promise
so
they lie down
exhausted
choosing
to die
where they are
so remember when politicos said there’s no climate change and the waters weren’t gonna rise along the coast well try telling that to the critters outside your door
if we gather up
all
the helpless children
of
the world
and
place
their starving bodies
into
a pit
telling you
that
only a handful
can be saved
then
ask you
who shall we save
most
of you
would choose
the ones
that
look
the most
like you
some of you
will
protest
and
declare that
you
would save
a broad spectrum
of
children
not dependent
upon
race
but
look into that pit again
stare
into those
sad emaciated eyes
tears dried on skin
and tell me again
skin
would not be considered
life’s full of failures
with youth’s thin cloth worn by fools
faced with winter’s wind
while those who are old don cloaks
heavy with youth’s memories
pretending it keeps them warm
been feeling poorly these last few days had a fever and congestion in my chest but it ain’t nothing to worry ’bout cuz my friend told me there ain’t no such a thing as germs or virus said he read it on the internet so it must be true i was gonna talk to him ’bout my current condition but i read in the paper he died yesterday in the hospital but i’m not worried i got a clean hanky in my burial suit pocket
are they still counting yes i thought they’d be done by now they’re not weren’t they supposed to be done yes so what’s taking so long people keep on denying and defying common sense so they keep on dying from the virus
how has time changed you what dreams have you forgotten or abandoned leaving empty spaces in your heart and mind seen by some as a far away look or just plain emptiness that you cannot explain to those who ask is there something wrong a question rarely answered in truth just the typical offering of empty platitudes things are fine nothing to worry about couldn’t be better or some other verbal detour from the truth served up with a practiced smile but closing your eyes you can see that empty space but you decide to move on into the new day without what’s been missing for so long