Sometimes life hands you separate ingredients, but only you can take the cookies out of the oven.

They gave me a
29 page pamphlet on
what I can no longer
enjoy.
There wasn't one line
on what I  could
abuse.

We all have our outs,
our ways to escape
it all for a few
needed
moments.
A purpose or a
vice.

My mother has her
wine,
my father his
faith and his guns.
My brothers all
have their futures,
my friend his
Lalo.

All I have
is this,
and if it
ever leaves
me ,
if the words stop
coming.

Then what am I
but another
empty useless
soul ,taking
up space.
Fighting off the
demons,
waiting on the
darkness to come.

just be yourself
unless yourself is a ****** ***** *****
unless who you are
rocks the boat
because we don’t to get splashed
unless who you are makes us uncomfortable
climb down from that edge who do you think you are?
this isn’t a movie. grow up
as long as that is who you are
just be yourself
as long as who you are wears the same uniform
with the same lapel patches and flare
just be yourself
unless whoever the hell that is does better than me
the only thing more dangerous than a mob
is an envious mob
so who you are better be modest and humble
and mumble those bumbling opinions
because we don’t want to hear anything
we want to be told
just be yourself
unless you are afraid of social pariah exile lifestyles
be yourself but keep that trap shut
because this is a game of respect
and we are all your elders so stand up straight and tuck that shirt in
listen up kid you’ll never make it with that attitude
so shut the hell up and eat your vegetables
just be yourself
here’s ‘being yourself for dummies’ just to help
one tip - yourself better not be top shelf
talented is another word for targeted
so be yourself -
so long as yourself is a commodity we can sell
for high profit margins
to kids who are just trying to figure out
how the hell they can be themselves