competing priorities
which will succeed?
she for her and him for he
a lesson in what can be believed
truth discreet
so it’s hard to see
living in pure obscurity

sitting in the waiting room
his name will be called soon

he’ll be asked about his secrets
ones he had hoped to keep

secrets can be dangerous things
feeding the appetite of lying

in the mirror you see a man
jaw set tight, tall he stands

i see the little boy within
still learning what is and isn’t his

a boy who can’t leave mom behind
so instead projects onto his wife

hope is a splendid thing
that’s why
when it’s lost
it feels like
drowning

she met an englishman today
at thornbury castle pub
he asked to take her out sometime
would anything develop?

promise at the start of things
eyes the color aquamarine
conversation flowed with ease
his charm irrevocably enticing

faced with reality
all she sees
is insanity
a deadly disease
living inside me
the most dangerous place to be

brain fog feels so heavy
weighing me down
with thoughts unending
too bad they come and go so fast
what was it i was saying?

tunnels built underground
walls so thick the only noise around
is the cry my voice utters aloud

darkness stretching far and wide
dexterous, denying light for miles
fighting the urge, playing with fire

this cavernous space by myself is a maze
insanity beckons me to stay
how long have i been in this place?

labels make fools of all of us
because we’re never just one thing
this body
i was born with it
life brings such wonders
come fall and spring

a homeless girl sat on the street
dirty clothes. no shoes on her feet
a sign saying “help me”
her eyes so sad and lonely
i had no food nor money on me
i should have brought her food to eat