I never claimed to be a prophet
Nor an intellectual.
I simply sought to see things
To interpret them as I could.
The line between poetry
And mediocrity is muddy.
I admit to creating both.
But to know that a single
One of my writings was ever enjoyed
Brings me peace.

He stood at the water's edge.
The waves pounced endlessly upon themselves
As he tucked a tattered slip of paper
Into the mouth of a glass bottle.
He knelt slowly
And plugged it with rolled leaves.
One look in all directions
At the endless ocean.
He sent the bottle on its way
Half hoping
Half dreading
What he would receive in return.

The clock reads 5:26
First light is peeking through the ozone.
I stand at the back door
Holding a lit cigarette through the crack
Stopping occasionally to take a drag.
Mist rolls cautiously over the distant hills
As if it could spring away at any moment.
The weeds in the yard dance in the wind
Rejoicing in the new day.
My body is heavy, my eyes glazed
From sitting in the pitch black basement.
I don't sleep much anymore.
I dread the dreams as I dread the day.
There is no lesser evil.

I must be honest,
I miss the way things were.
It was easy to love,
Almost second nature,
And even pain acted
As a teacher.
I miss herding shadows,
And the ******* the stage.
I regret our story was never finished.
I miss roaming the woods,
Hugging the shadows
With the rest of my pack.
I miss Mr. Mystery,
And how he changed
My self image.
It's been a very interesting
Couple of years.
I didn't always make
The right decisions,
But then, who does?
I'd like to thank you,
Yes, you!
For making these
Memories with me.
And I'd like to ask you,
Yes, you!
How many of these things
Do you remember?
-Mike-

I see the way they glare,
As if throwing daggers through the windows.
Their faces obscured from the nose down.
They walk this place with constant paranoia,
Staying on guard for something they can't see.
I don't understand why such animosity comes my way.
I'm simply doing my job.
I park my truck, I pump the fuel, I leave.
It's not that hard.
Then I realize, Oh ****.
I'm not wearing a mask.
Oh well. I work alone in a truck all day.
I have zero contact with any other human beings.
If they don't like it, **** them.

I sit in the dark.
If they want to come for mine,
They should make sure
They can protect their own.

I take a deep breath,
Feel it invade my lungs.
I will it to push deeper,
To force itself farther.
Yet it still doesn't spread
To fill the cavity in my chest.
My heart continues to beat,
And it feels hollow.