I met someone who sees,
whose vision stretches
deep into time and space
and knows all
of what is and what will be.

He said unto me, look!
See that there is pain.
See that there is war
and violence.
See that there are horrors
beyond count
and know that this is what was,
what is,
and what will always be.

He paused, looked afar, and smiled.

He said unto me again, look!
See that there is love.
See that there is peace
and friendship.
See that there are beauties
beyond count
and know that this is what was,
what is,
and what will always be.

This time he looked to me
and said,

“Put this in your songs.”

this is the end of all things,
where i’m picking my teeth for traces of you
and the light goes out in the middle of the night.

here is an alternate history:
your hands, but with
“the end of the world”
written on them.

because this was the real apocalypse,
your bruises implanted in my skin
the way they spelled “goodbye.”
take care, take care
you won’t be seeing me again.

but we were just swollen children,
you’re thinking,
we were just playing with blood like every child does.
and you’re right.
i was a human canvas and you were
painting my childhood onto me.
you never did anything any other boy wouldn’t do.

so bring me my ending world
in hands split and shaking.
so tell me i’m unlovely one last time.
you know i’ll believe each word you say.

tell me something.
what colour were my lips by the time we were through?
how deep a hole did you choose for me
that i could finally fit into once i was all carved up?
what kind of child was i?
tell me something.
what was so wrong with me
that you had to keep me?

Can you imagine

a world
in which
violence
Is an uncanny thing?

isang musmos na lahi
isang munting nasyon
parang itinanim na buto
itinakdang
sumibol at lumago
sa paglaon ng panahon

nag-aabang, naghihintay
puno nang sabik
pero kay tagal dumating
tayo ay nainip
tadhana nating tagumpay
kailan kaya makakamit
kasi

apat na raang taon
hanggang ngayon
lulong pa rin sa putik
nangangapa, nadadapa sa dilim
mga butong nanginginig sa lamig

mga isla
pitong libong isang daan at pito
ito
ang ating lupang sinilagan,
tahanan ng ating lahi
pero nga bahay ba ito o burol?

mga pangarap na
masilayan ang mga sinag ng araw at
mahagkan ang malayang langit
mananatili lang bang panaginip dito
sa bayang natutulog
o kaya namang natutulog lang kunwari

tanggapin mo na lang na
humikbi, humagulgol,
ibuhos mo man ang iyong luha
walang darating
kumayod ka man at magdamag magsikap
diligan mo man ang lupa ng pawis
wala
pa ring mangyayari

kasi
dugo
dugo lamang na dumaloy
mula sa mga palad ni Hesukristo
kung ang Kanyang pag-ibig ay
babaha sa lupa
ng parang delubyo
ito ang nag-iisang paraan
ang nag-iisang sagot:

dugo
dugo lamang na ibinuhos
ang tanging
makakatubos
makakaahon
makakaligtas
sa atin

To love a man that gives you the moon and all of the constellations,
                      this gift, I did not receive.

Instead, I loved a man who could create skies of jade and violet among any area of his choosing with his own bare hands.

To love a man that gives you a bouquet of twelve burgundy roses,
                     this gift, I did not receive.

Instead, I loved a man who could produce a field of golden pansies atop my right cheek with his own fingertips.

To love a man that gives you a kiss beneath a lantern string of lights,
                     this gift, I did not receive.

Instead, I loved a man who could shoot the most colorful of fireworks and streamers from the booming sound of his own voice.

To love a man that gives you a floral path from the door to a candle-lit room,
            this gift, I did not receive.

Instead, I loved a man who could toss a book through the air and before it struck my skin, it would burst into pink rose petals with a clap from
the same bare hands that painted me jade and violet skies.

take this and put it on your shelf:
fruit was not nearly as sweet to eat
as you were.

your lips turn gunmetal grey
when my hands are at your throat
and my teeth are at your mouth.
your eyes are blue turning green turning red.

it’s very cold where you are
and where are you, when you’re not near me?
you’re going to have to pay the price
for wandering away from me.

i’m saving you, don’t you see?
saving you for when i’m hungry.
saving you for when you’re ripe.

see, here’s the thing.
your heart was just made to be eaten.
it’s not my fault you’re
so
delectable.

I was a firefly child
A glowworm in the night
Burning strange colors
To signify
How I knew I would die

Chased down
Ripped to shreds
For children’s amusement
The abuses
Came

My pretty little fluttering light
Inflamed in pain
For your entertainment
For her relief
That release she needed
When her knuckles
Kneaded flesh

Even though
She never punched me
The scars you see
Were etched deeply
And the blinking
Got slower and dimmer


She pulled my hair
Because she cared
She slapped my face
Because she cared
She yelled and screamed
Because she cared
I lost my glow
Because she cared
She showed her love
With so much rage

And the wishes
Got colder and grimmer
Till finally I wanted to rip
My little light bulb but
Out of my tired and red marked back

tonight I am
bound to howl.
this moon, risen
to unearth this
beast from within,
who's laid claim
to its throne
in the darkness
of stars, suns
blinking forever away
in that place
I once loved,
a place I
should never return.

I'm drunk on Rebellion bourbon,
and I can't help but think,
what a ******* brand name man!
Coming from a cynical, sadistic,
sometimes near maniacal *******,
That's the kinda **** I wanna hear.
Start the rebellion!
******* A right I will.
I'll down this bottle and go off into the night,
my teeth sharpened
and a razor under my tongue.
A bottle full of gasoline,
a pocket full of matches.
I'll set fire to the village,
and watch as the fire dances.
Burn mother *******!
Then I'll hit the bar,
the next town over...
Continuing my little mission,
I haphazardly target victims,
Then incinerate 'em with powerful words,
If I fail to defile minds I'm setting teeth to curb.
Eventually the police will show,
too late.
I've already slipped out the backdoor
and skipped town.
Confident that I can start a riot before I pass out.
I figure eventually on me these crimes they'll try to pin it.
I'll sit back uncommonly calm and tell 'em the bourbon did it.

America,
Violent are your "peace bringing ways,"
Soiled are your oily lakes and dumps of "cleanliness,"
Tattered your past, your pox blankets you shared
With the Tribes, filling their lives with "blessedness"
Boring are your churches of "joy and eternal bliss,"
Poor are your "satisfied costumers" hopeless days,
Pride goeth before a fall, and yours shall
Be it's own undoing with your stubborn ways.