I see the malevolence in your eyes
You hate to lose.
You are the one who wins the fight.
I love the mischievous grin you wear while playing
Talk about all the masters,
now they're failing.
started off young
burning with passion
what a perfect child you were
Life's been teaching you its lessons
Your eyes,
warm brown,
filled with competitiveness
you don't let anyone see you frown.
It's game time now,
and your eyes are fixated on the board
you move those pieces
and higher you soar.
Take all of 'em down and crush the opponent's fate
Check mate!

Twisted words impale so, absolute.  
They make noise
increasing pressure.
The space between
continues and drifts
over time.  

It’s hard to know where this path began.

Pebbles in shoes seem so, inconsequential.
We hardly care,
they are removed.

So it begins.  
The pebbles journey,
tossed away
with little meaning,
but in itself  
carries the dew,
that feds the seed
of discontent.

The space between,
over time
without attention.
These little words
fed by pride.
Divide.

My inspiration
has gone walkabouts
My imagination
cleared right up

Each step I've taken
through inked meadows
Every wave I've surfed
of rhythmic flows

Did I take a wrong turn
or have I reached an end
Does my flame no longer burn
and will it ever mend

I look to my left
I look to my right
Only blankess to ingest
An empty night

I turn each page
Blank, unwritten
No where to engage
Inspiration has hidden

Sit down and give your attention
I need all of it, now
I am not asking for a lot here...
But I need your everything

Give up on the tremendous mountains in your sternum
Let go of the abuse
Clear your octopus ink mind
Get better grade on the district assessment

They are watching me bleed for you
I have given up on state expectations
Built a castle for these students of mine
Clearing a safe environment in the moment

Preparing you with the proper armor to fight for yourself someday
Take this sword imprinted with my words
Protect yourself
Fight for something worth it

She got drunk on Monday I know son
I just need you to do better
She hit me on Tuesday, I know son
Please just finish your assignment

I can't
I don't know how
I have not eaten in 2 days
You have no idea

Teachers are white blood cells
Expected to fight bacteria and show victorious statistics
With none of the time and less of the understanding
Maybe the bacteria looks different than we really thought

Our own immune system is causing fires
Putting unrealistic expectations upon our jobs
Too many students not enough teachers
Too many tests not enough love

We working organs in a bodies coma
Working without the recognition
Hoping to keep the system alive
Creating chances for our students to change the future someday