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

tootsie pops, pop rocks, rock candy
sweet tarts, smelly farts, war-heads, sour patch kids
reeses pieces, reeses stix, snickers lickers
fudge pile, chocolate smile, peanut butter bile, sugary style
baby ruths, almond joys, soy bean sauce, creamy steam
ill give u a payday, mayday, hay tastes good with parfai
milkyways stay gay to play games with sunrays
icing splicing with knife dicing
makes cakes, cook steaks, rumcakes
****** sprinkles, rip van winkle, diddily dinkle
gummy worms, germs impregnate firm, permed urns
angel food, carrots, pineapple upsideways
fruits, *****, parachutes, scooters, jello shooters
goobers, corn on the cobbers,
veggie wedgies, pepper leppers, squash boxes,
fry foxes, fleet rocks', carrot tops',
dishes of fishes,
witches brew platypus and fat kush
pushy slushies riding skateboards on gary busy
fussy hussies getting blushy about cussies
cereal made of creoles, bread straight from dreads,
rice is nice with spice, yeast is beast,
last but not least, wheat is a treat,
kiwis, shmiwis, dodos on go phones, starfruits,
bartlejuice, grape drank, sushi stinks.
ill eat anything.

It is the short, hurried gasp
the one where your lungs are already full
but dread's insinuation
jolts your blood and
stretches your eyes
making room for a bit more
Sinking, with bubbles trickling away
the concept of breathing takes its occasional
leading role
meditation is a luxury to those without panic
or maybe that is the answer
either way
I should have practiced more
I do fear death
No denying that
it's too instinctual
and I feel very connected to my body right now
this is where every person turns to God
and o' how humble we can be
apologies and promises
when were you last this genuine
it's only after God saves you
that you degrade again

souls toughened by pain
small grains are a blessing
while sharp stones release demons
the salt and water cleanse and heal
dancing will never be the same
dad likes barefoot pictures, hes crazy
the long lost brothers to our fingers slowly shriveling away
dirt comes and goes...as do shoes and nails
even though its natural, noone seems to accept our roots
smell collects and hampers their ability
i was once told that a persons shoes say a lot about their personality

when i close my eyes, i still see light
a spectrum against my eyelids
hands outstretched
knowing its close
another uneasy step
victorious
hop-skotch dodging
trusting strangers is dangerous but sometimes neccessary
endless paces of paranoia
1 man snowball fights
repairing broken connections
realizing yet again, life can get much worse
snow on halloween?
fingerpainting and worksheets on feelings...where am i?
strategy is all i got in here
its easy when all you got is a basic blueprint

a world unfit
to accept progression
the ascension to justice
coldly calculated thru crosshairs
stripping away stigma
an enigma not for his race
but the entire human race
the passion, the fervor, the bravery
a true hero
plots sizzle
cowards whisper
the minister continues to preach
who could forget his most famous speech
his dream lives on.

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

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

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

I would like you to come on a journey with me
so close your eyes as I read to you-
when we consider our evolution
and key points of progress
we can backtrack from computers
to the combustion engine
to Carnegie steel
back to the wheel
fire and walking upright
however, we aren't wholly unique
all life forms communicate
but the power of language has enabled us to share this knowledge
on another level
now, I wonder
have we reached a peak
the precipice of what language can offer
to demonstrate
think of someone who loves you
do they need to say it?
isn't it in their eyes?
pouring from their skin?
think of a political ideology, an event in history,
the moment someone tore your heart out,
something that brings rage
the heat roils within you
tension can be felt through the silence
this is communication before, and beyond words
with your eyes closed
feel the blood moving through your shoulders
soft beats send it down your arms
this life-force trickles into your fingers
pause
and focus on the blood in your fingers
notice the energy
and what is energy?
it is movement, it is vibration
this energy radiates from your fingers, from your feet,
and especially from your head and heart
this energy is genuine
full of truth
whether positive or not
where words leave space for error, misunderstanding, and misdirection--
--hold my hand and tell me what you sense
whatever it is, it's not a lie
Alfonso told me
'We will look back on the day we needed to use words to communicate
and smile.'

that dimpled smile still glows
portal eyes that cut to the core
our rebel spirits were condemned by our parents
trading grades for wild escapades
we struggled together but lifted the other
never could say goodbye
one more kiss wouldnt suffice
wrapped in each other
left me lost in that beautifully naive vice
jealousy, anger, and infidelities
coupled with passion, bliss, then coalescence
i know that day will come
painful excitement bursting energy
the reunion is brief
a final memory

New earth settles after a volcanic birth.
It's fresh and arrogant.
The ocean shuffles knowingly aware of the naivety,
but continues apathetically.
As they meet early on
the rock resists as the Queen's Guard resists attention.
Even when
the ocean's relentless battery takes a chip from the rock's side,
the rock mocks the injury,
"It took you that long?"
However, the rock still doesn't grasp its predicament.

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

thunderous dreams
limbs flail
the fundamentals of silk
disregarding gravity
seemingly impossible courage
stutter, flutter, butter
imagination in flight
such a delight
worthy of the hype
total control
the pose
tongue poised
to deliver a poster
grace and contortion
ferocity and floating
dont contest the air
simply stare
the greatest number ever
dynasty defined

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

when i leave
remember me with a smile and a laugh
of good times passed
know that a memory always remains
beside and alive
gentle nudges reside
unafraid to speak and challenge
to promote a vision
divine peace
i am that i am.

Life stretches skywards
plucked by an unnamed child
and chewed for an hour or so
then dropped in a catatonic drool
I'm a worse person in my dreams,
which one am I really
contemplative harrumphing
cosmic fractals pose dramatically
but the paparazzi is focused elsewhere
when my hands cup dropping water
it's the same face half-veiled by fire
and the trance created by its traipsing limbs
leave the men in circuitous conversation

A mountain shadow reveals the subtle
personality hidden at midday
gently sculpted or roughly chiseled
a surprisingly standard life flow
eruptive growth
obstinate longevity clinging to balance
that's comfortable and doomed
to be whisked away as dust
illuminous and enlivened plants
secretly glean with the moons arrival
bundled energy ripens after years
shooting forth in a display
congratulated by the hummingbirds
skittering legs dart
for the nearest available safety
but their patience betrays them
as our eyes could never pinpoint
a flawless design
an orderly world gives way
to random angles
a method unknown to all others
the thirst is timeless
and ready for satiation
whenever the skies oblige