Scripted justification
With deliberate omissions
On endless repetition —
Too smart for my own bullshit,
But will I ever learn?

The coward’s way —
Pull the pen.
Thoughts like live grenades,
Volatile emotions
Trapped in woven cages
Of defused words.

Paths, branching out,
Hard rights and heart junctures —
Full throttle,
Never back to
The mess I've left behind.

Not yours,
The right,
The prize,
The time,
Broken winnings,
Broken trust.
Greed a teacher
Showing us that
Worth lies not in having —
Such is
The paradox of taking.

At the basis of
Both failure and success
Believing is repeating —
Say that again.

Solitude in happy doses,
Planned vacations from the grind
Of all that includes others,
To reset the I.

Kindred souls inside
Clustered bubbles of tainted light,
Sharing an amiable hatred,
Watching the world distort.

If you're happy
And you know it,
Teach me how.

It's hard not to love,
But harder not to hate
When life seldom gives,
And everyone takes.

A spark of sin
Like Winter's heart
Undergoing global warming —
It's not glowing yet,
But give it time.

Happiness impervious,
Abortive bids to shine —
All aboard the mimic-gimmick
Yellow central line.

Raised on values,
Right and proper —
Moths compelled
To artificial light,
Opposite the true horizon.

Time, forever marching,
Mortal coils unwinding —
Only memories rewinding,
Seeking warmth to mute the cold
Of every dimming light.

Social calculus
Never agreed with me.
Negative squared —
Mirrored truths won't carry.

Bonsai morality,
Trimmed to please —
Less is more.
Ideals cost,
And sears are cheap.

Stressful,
Unhealthy beyond reason —
Invigorating nonetheless.

Rainy days
In gruntled times —
Take a breath,
And find your smile.

Worms eyeing butterflies
In envy,
Weaving dirt cocoons of self-delusion —
Willing change by waiting
For a moment never just quite right.
Devoted to the role of victim,
Life passes them by.

In a way it's still shiny
Glass beads and trinkets —
What can't be consumed
Is rubbish.

Excavating the deepest scenes,
Seeking treasure
In the rubble of normality —
Dumpster fire diving
For anything reminiscent
Of me.