You care about starving children
but dumpsters house five course meals
we preach the sea ice is melting
when carbon clouds still trail our wheels
Don't misunderstand
the idealist talking isn't the problem
beyond complaining
beyond capitalism, socialism, red or blue
look where your finger is pointing
take your straight arm
bend completely at the elbow
understand the new direction
and heal you

This was the jungle
bristles sticking me obliviously
the grade forced a monkey's canopy dance
yet I hadn't left the ground
some insatiable thirst for excitement
pushed the course upwards
scrambling through fruit and fallen nuts with a
lifeless leaf litter
but the trees and their roots
anchored my ascent
after spotting some passion fruit
I understood the symbol
the ideal descent
legs brace and flex
as the stream bed becomes a reality
with uncanny placement
a majestic pool lay
awaiting my pleasured cooling
the ancient energy oozed from the ground
shimmered between leaves
and bounced from sky to water
I now understood the name Valley of the Kings

An exponential explosion
losing potency
the orb of energy gasps
with its last act, fortissimo
the universal pattern emerges
unsurprising, yet ambiguous
arms as fluid as
the harp of Orpheus
hands of grace
caress the faces that appear
a clinging flitter
dwindling into the abyss
with your passing
the beautiful cycle continues

the early morning sunbelt
painted with a single brushstroke
gentle, faint, blending the unending spectrum
stubbornly, snow rescinds its grip
breaking into chunks, channels, and falls
speckled rain descends
as rays of resilience remain
an ancient fern undergrowth coats the jurassic forest
and the wild grass unveils the secret movement of the wind
in the dark
the solstice's soliloquy
pirouetting in blues and greens
allowing us to see
you can smell the life
and taste the purity
its genuine and guarded
just blink
and feel the serenity

an unfractured innocence
reflecting a casual future
spin-cycle
pulsating anxiety plaguing
shaky eyes
preferring the lids closed
grind away
tighten that noose
almost got me
before an angel cut it loose
elevated, exhilarated
nearly touched a cloud
then tumbled to the ground
finally, that lucid moment
when the right piece of wisdom resonates
i look up
thankful for what each day brings
heeding the warning of icarus
and opening my wings

even my empathy cant comprehend
crumbled, empty, paralyzed
the exterior functions and
every monologue materializes
helpless distress
the sympathy and caring words matter
but dont heal
because the injury is everlasting
so surreal
as the swirling reality congeals
the smiles and laughs gush hardest and
the faintest flashbacks trigger anguish
why him?
why didnt you call me?
the cliches are hollow
i prefer to wallow alone in silence

those that survive
accept their powerlessness
those that thrive
say my brother before me
to prosper
the proof must persuade
clipping the cord
venturing beyond the lovely chaos
drifting to never return
a vagrant now
wandering in search of potential
when the opportunity rises
pacific prodding, pointing, guiding,
as was done for you
there must be some mystery
key in hand
the ultimate test