Chosen things from rows of things
Deciphering the prose of things
Weigh the highs and lows of things
Parse the why's and woes of things

The endgame shame of choosing things
You choose a thing you lose a thing
Just like you never knew the thing
And naturally you'll rue the thing

In time your mind may skew the thing
Season how you view the thing
The reasons why you choose a thing
Contrarily imbue the thing

The distance between your heart and mine
Is like the farthest place on Earth
Far-off places come to mind
Like Jakarta, Tangiers, and Perth

Take a flight roundtrip on my dime
Then you'll know what your love is worth
For the the distance between your heart and mine
Is like the farthest place on Earth

They said they had to **** my dreams
because I didn't have enough zeroes.
In other words, Mr. Doe, you were
                     lied to by your heroes;
money isn't everything,
but not having it is being invisible.
You can work sixty hour weeks,
but only earn ways to be miserable.

My parents paying four-fifty, monthly
-- which is not a lot of money; we had
to eat out of cans and delude ourselves
into thinking it was funny. Sorry, Does;
                              sorry for your woes --
but America is the big hunter, and your
                            death is how it grows.

We were not equal; no account because
                   we had no account. Asked by
our family members if we bought junk
                      in a large amount. I'm sorry
to disappoint myself -- but I
                                         cannot afford
                                                   to lose.
I am the result of a flawed America
                                     that has learned
                                                to abuse.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained,"
But people never speak of
The part that says,
"Nothing ventured, nothing lost,"
Which is much more important;
A sentiment, a shield.

Distant, detached, disengaged;
Accoutrement to cope.
In nature, fugacious.
Human condition, fleeting;
Faith fades like liquor,
Or the last in the carton.

Pen put to pages;
All words have their place.
Time now has come,
To leave and move forward.
One last drag,
Before I go.

Number one is easy,
Any friend will do,
Gain a little trust,
Get the number two,
Three is always there,
Waiting for its turn,
Three jumps in,
Watch the friendship churn,
Four pretends to know,
Only it can,
Four is never over,
Five begins to learn.

              -b-