reality

by

not that person anymore…

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

by

this too shall pass…

this too shall pass

now
don’t take
this
personally
but
all your hopes and expectations
have
no foundation
in history
quite to the contrary
history suggests
that
your optimism
mirrors that
of
those
whose graves
we stand beside today

by

mountain climbing stations…

mountain climbing stations

you stood
just
to the left
of reality
hoping
santa ana winds
would correct
your position
but
somehow
you
failed
to factor in
microclimates
of
human stupidity
greed
and
egos
so you were left
just
below
the foothills
of success
unable
to find
a sherpa

by

as sleep unravels…

as sleep unravels

dreams
bundled sheets
of unwritten letters
to loves denied
letters
stacked neatly
in the corner
where reality
and
fear meet
a bundle
held together
with frayed wishes
of a tomorrow
that will not come

by

daydreaming…

daydreaming

when there’s no line
tween dreams and reality
is it called madness

if it’s called madness
then should we give up our dreams
dreams of love and peace

love and peace we dream
tween death’s and war’s savagery
are they called madness