systemic bribery…

lives changed and lives lost
the cost of doing business
a survival game
played by earth’s inhabitants
who ante in their own lives
claiming it’s just a job
oh gratuities
can be quite small or quite large
but they are deserved
say all the recipients
so no need for any guilt
it’s just a little white lie

 

 

critical white race theory…

so
many stories
told
that
we hold to be true
but
most
are not
just
creations
for
justification
blackout paint
to conceal
the blood graffitied
highway walls
of
history
cover-ups
for
fear
that the truth
could
indeed
set us
free
or
at least
make
them
see
their
shame

 

 

nobody wanted to get depressed…

stopped watching the news
stopped counting deaths from virus
and global warming
just getting back to normal
was man’s final delusion

 

 

innocent bystanders…

many people die
as
life victims
outpatients 
in
an unsympathetic void
where
the affairs of life
are rewarded
like a pet
receiving a treat
for
good behavior
whose mourners
celebrate
but
who’s celebrated
never
joined
the party

 

 

they grasp at straws…

parched
for
a taste
of
hope
humans
will consume
poisonous lies
or
even
swear
a mirage
is
real
long before
the madness
has
set in
others
will take
the sacrament
of
sports
where
nothing
has
a consecrated element
just
gladiators and lions
to
distract
their minds
away from
what
they
truly
thirst for
some
tangible
answer
to
their prayers

 

 

not that person anymore…

wide-eyed optimist
carrying bible
from
one high school class
to
the next
reading the text
in
study hall
even
believing
that freedom
was
obtainable
along
with
unobstructed success
if one
only puts forth
honest hard efforts
but now
i’m
a self-defined survivor
all grown up
with
a greater sense
of
my own history
and
its stages
of
delusion
and
foolish trust
so now
i’m
drained
of
milk and honey
and
filled
with
the liquid steel
of
reality
and
truth
what about you

barabbas …

murderous traitor
count the dead in this nation
how can anyone
that claims that there is a god
crucify the innocent
instead of the beast
do they long to bathe in blood
that of our children
or of those too poor to beg
for their god’s mercy
are silver coins of greed’s realm
worth denying sacred words
will the holy bed
be soiled with the putrid
lies of one man’s lust
or will the faithful remove
each bloody nail from faith’s hands

 

unfinished portraits…

some of life’s circles
never close leaving small gaps
incomplete stories
of love we refused to see
life’s songs we chose not to hear

 

abnegating life…

 

fear transforms i can
into i cannot do it
even before tried

 

the eyes have it…

 

reflections seen in the mirror are said to be realistic
images that represent the true status of the viewer
but the mirror often lies or is misread for purpose