shadows are doors
to another realm

creatures look
in from them
their eyes
tainted with
desires
and
they plot for how
they will enter
our houses
and replace us
as we
slumber

these apparitions,
translucent except for their
perfectly formed eye slits,
cannot remember
their last sleep-filled
night

(they were once you,
you must understand)

they are the over-stressed,
the over-achieving,
the well-known,
the famous

they are our heroes,
our role models,
our kings
and
fathers

they are the ones
we look up to

(and despise)

those we want to be
those we can’t admit to liking
those we take for granted and
ignore
those we call names and
bully constantly
those we cannot face alone but
who we sneer at in groups

the nerds,
the geeks,
the leaders,
the counselors,
the presidents,
the cops,
the valedictorians

we hate them
for we are not
them

the trend of our lives hurts
the deeper with dig down

but we would not dare let them take us

let them come through their doors,
take our covers and beds,
sleep, eat, *****,
let them have our lives in exchange for theirs

we would never do that

we know better

we light up our drugs,
**** in jars because the bars
don’t let us in anymore,
eat from garbage cans,
date ****** and pay pimps,
**** our brothers just to buy
*******

it’s the life for us you see

to **** up and
not give a ****

and it’s good

so the shadow doors can slam themselves
and the blood shot eyes can close shut

we’re going to bed alone tonight
and that’s perfectly fine with us