A mechanized millennium
studded
with silver rivets hammered from
the once glorious dreams of the populace
They are now all identical.
cylindrical
instruments that pierce the flesh of progress
conformity:
the price paid to advance across the toll bridge
that is "the betterment of society"


But bland and boring can hardly be better
than stark and standoffish rants of individual pipe dreams
They took those too-
the pipe dreams are now piping in the plumbing that runs beneath the streets
we walk all over them.
only half realizing they exist and not half caring
anymore
with spirits that lack luster our
low lackluster dreams are dying

your voice frantic in voicemail lit up my night like mortar fire
i hurdled headfirst, crashed outward and over, chased by fear and following desire
broke through my door and stepped into the stars
filled with panicked concern and without a thought ignoring my scars  
frigid fingers shaking with shock at hearing your voice
not a thought, not a question, not a choice
just did it
"find her number, **** it where is it"
"she's not on speed dial - new phone"

finally found it - still first in my contacts
your name embroidered at the edges with ASCII smiles  
(:Abs:)
catch in my chest, my worry spreading like cancer
dialed your number, but there was no answer

I never was quiet when i tiptoed
past your pivotal emotions
and maybe
maybe it wasn't always "on accident" I "mis-stepped"
maybe
maybe I did use my silver tongue like a sword
to willfully slice you to ribbons
Maybe i posted poetry that sentenced you to
less than ignorant bliss
of your own actions and their effects
Fault me.
Fault me because I've still never lied to you.
Fault me because even when i tiptoed around the truth  
I was kicking you in the face, in the chest, and in the senseless ego,
In all the comfort that you'd expected me to allow you when you ripped mine from my hungry hands
and i kicked you with my words, some might say while you were down
But my words were the truth.  
And the truth hurts.

A rose in the dark
may still be admired for it's sweetness.