You must begin early
while it is cool and your head clear
discernment, a sharpened tine
probing the rocky darkness
for all things latent and destructive.

Be aware that the velvet sage
of the leaves belies their power
to take over every space, remember
roots burrow deep, anchoring in
fissures we don’t even know exist.

You must delve as close
to the origin as possible
or the **** you think eradicated
will bide its time, germinating
in the still secret ground

waiting for light
to penetrate the moist earth
waking the sprout
who voraciously pushes up and out
a curled blemish

in your otherwise carefully tended garden.

they know
where tobacco grows
and why I
forgot to put down the pants
I heard
the drowning underwater
I afraid
whether the outer limit
gets closer
I never
put any elbow
in it
to play with water
to add some fire
and as a last caress
against the dark halfdom of space
I'll do my best
watch celestial bodies
and say I've seen it thousand times
I ought to guide you
toward necropolis
because I have two missed calls
both yours

Is it too much to ask
Break the mould, escape the cask
Our false imprisonment
Our social dilemma, our unholy sacrament

Shaped and ***** by despots and desperados
Served and sequin lined by an abundance of anarchic aficionados
Cruel and abusive
Our systems are corrosive

The economies dictate dilemmas and chaos
An onslaught of modern emotions
There is no guilt to be found inside possession
With no real Gods by your side you grow obese with your obsession

Unimpressed
I'm glad my life has digressed
Far from the enshrined rituals, the daily dazed dances of distraction
The quest to experience and excite shall be my main attraction

Is there any justice in being straight and white
No movements to release , no marches for a civil right
They are branded as the protagonists
But have their own bands of activists

As many of one colour have been historically dispossessed , abused, enslaved and slaughtered
So too have those of another creed, another history of violence, segregation and a line that has been inherently altered

As the smokescreen shimmers to a shadowy haze the enemy, the old familiar ways, are slowly appearing and brandishing their  flags , the banners they wave are now tattered and torn with time
All colours all races all ruled in the same ways, from different angles and with different measures employed and beaten into their citizens, they all are seeking the elusive means to control and command

We have no panic button for the system has no sense of responsibility, to obscure the truths behind many  a fabrication of circumstances is to coalesce and manipulate the masses,

Our fears our insecurities, our worthless thoughts, the pinnacle of a creation belonging to an unimaginative yet dominant force, a twisted band of scientists working on the fringes of reality and feeding the rich- hungry, the vein of evil that runs through the human race

We are fed the anger to feel the fear
As far as I can see this world has got worse every year
I dont know about you but I don't need any politician to give life to me
I expect  like you I just want to feel free

The silence deafens me.
stark alabaster walls stand so vertical and sharp,
a spider's thread dritfs in a cool breeze eminating from a small gap beneath a window.
Dust trickles down through the warm sunlight, frosting all the tables, shelves, and chairs.
Time is forever, the silence is greater.
Surrounding me, engulfing me, smothering me.

-AM

When I was still young and fresh
A million years ago
I walked on edges
Always on the edge of something
Something wild

Bright lights and long nights
Lots of laughter and music
Always music
Singing with the band
Dodging the flying glass
When fights broke out
Howling to the moon
Oh, wild indeed were we

All shadows now, alas
Visions from an addled brain
Pubs, clubs and smoky dumps
Leave no turn unstoned was the cry
More fun than fundamental
And fundamentally flawed, it was
A couple of hours sleep 'fore the day job
With eye-lids stuck together
And walking into walls
But still I wouldn't have swapped it
For all the strait laced straight faced
Wealth in the world

                                 By Phil Roberts

When I was young
My mother used to offer to end her life
And take me with her

But I have noticed
That I walk away from tragedy
Without a scratch

Last week I found myself praying . . .
God, you take this pain
Or end me

And there was no answer

But the next day
When the storm rolled in
And my coworkers scurried away
And I prepared to meet the fate I prayed for
My car key flew off the key ring
And under my car
On my knees
Searching for the only thing that could get me going again
I realized the irony of my situation

Ten-4 dear Creator
I hear you
Loud and clear