Are any of these movements real,
or are they made up
by people with too much time
on their hands and sold
to other people
with similarly idle minds?  
Trump.  

Antifa.  

Unite the Right.  

Fox News.  

CNN.  

Social media platforms.  

Slogans.  

Peer groups and all
their graphic tees, pins, and hats.  

Support this.  

Down with that.  

What ever happened
to plaid flannel shirts,
blue jeans,
and cords?  

Whatever happened
to waving to someone,
asking them how their day was going,
and talking about the weather?  

Everything leads to
controversy,
gossip,
and politics now.  

Nothing is a secret anymore.  
Nothing is personal.
Nothing is shocking.  
Nothing is sacred.  

Everyone is on a side
and the middle is cracking
and on the edge of breaking.

Bring me my wretched
Bring me my people
and I will shower them in love
and hold them in my heart beat

I will lift them up by their arms
to their feet
and clean the dirt
from their cheek
with my own tears

For I am my Father's son
and I am here to love
the unlovable
and free the oppressed

I am here to crush
the doomsayer so take heart
and hear if you've ears to do so!
Let go
of those chains
and walk like men do

Come up from your knees
and stand tall
You no longer have to fall
I've got your back
and I'm here for you after all!

I'd tell you about me
but then you would stare
like I grew a second head

Then I’d feel ashamed
and draw back inside
or tear out your eyes!

You wouldn't see
You couldn't see
that it was still me

You'd club me with your book
give me ***** looks
and hate me for what I am!

I'd suffer tears in pain
deep inside my brain
and every day it would rain!

So I'll stay inside myself
living on this shelf
Leaving my feet
in this water
chumming for sharks!

You're all just probably sharks

Teeth

Meat grinders of people
and my feet…

My feet are
made of concrete
and I'll kick in your teeth
when they grit on me…

Run to the brick wall and crash
through an ocean of sheet glass
I'm a juggernaut
Whether I have a jug or not
Whether my brain is tied in knots
Weather reigning in my thoughts
or raining out like **** in a parking lot

All the wars I fought
inside my head
Should've left me for dead
Should've put me in a box for bread
or pine
Chalk outline
Powerful powdery fingertips
All the drugs so I could rest better
medicine for higher
Idiot for hire
This is your brain,
but mine looks better when it's on fire
Kinda like a used tire
Stuck in the mire

Oh…
how I love thee so
and all I've got to show for it
is this mystery ride
from hell
to home
dead phone
keep calling
and calling
and crawling
and clawing
my way out of this pine box
only to find myself in another one
til I put down this city
til I stay right here
I'll keep listening til I can finally hear
and all of the werds become clear
to steer me back home again

To the stars…
Take me back home again, Usil

The air is crisp
and on the cusp of contrast
with our breath.
Leaves tell tales of sleep and dreams
and a temporary sort of death

Your hair and your eyes
and the way your hands
rest upon your thighs
make the corners of my mouth rise

You're quiet, calm collectedness
soothes me,
and when I can't see you
or hear your voice,
I panic and drop things

Basket case…
I know
Afraid to let these
feelings go

But it's down to the wire...
and I've wasted
so much precious time
quenching a fire
that could've made the sun look cold.
Should've never let love grow old

But if it's too late,
I'll sleep here
in this bed of my mistakes,
I'm getting old
and I'm running quickly out of slack to let
I'll happily hold on
to what you let me keep
and I'll take what I can get….

I've got a bad habit
of tripping over my own clunky feet
I'm not used to it
I used to be so precise
so mechanical and
under control

But the wires
have all been severed
and the servos can't
read
the feed
back
and while I can feel my
windows are cracked
I can't feel the rain
in my heart
even though
I know
that it's now beating again

The rain...wet on my face
as it follows the furrows
and frown lines
feels so good on new skin

Looking over the wreckage
at my feet
feeling the lump in my throat...
There's a lump in my throat!
What a joyous feeling...to feel

Cans once riveted to
my hands now cleanish
And the work is piling up,
but I can manage
The lack of fire in my head
is a big advantage

The doors to inviting rooms
swing wide open
One day, my clunky feet will fall in step
and I'll win the prize of an honest
man's death
The metallic clank will disappear
from my stride
and I will become whole again;
well deserved of my Father's pride.
One day….

Is anybody out there?
I'm alone and scared
and all the lights are out
I reached out and everything
I touched was cold
I turned around twice
and realized that I had become old
and all the terrible things
I'd done to my loves
had turned on me ten fold

I found out that all the words
I cursed out loud were for nothing
and
something inside me was dying
The only sound I could make now
was sighing,
but I mustered up a shout
which came out
more like a shriek
or a screech

All the leaves
on the trees were turning,
but not like in Fall
My chickens were coming to roost
as I reached, but to no hand at all

I had given and fought for nothing
and nothing is what I had reaped
The blood that lay
in the ground at my feet
was not even mine

I am the wraith with rusty blades
and I sweep
and stalk my prey
While they lay in their sleep

I lurk in cobwebbed corners dimly lit
for chance to pay pipers back
and fill my soul the heart of sadness
I so selfishly spent my time to split.