SNAKES

Yes
We have the power
To destroy
And the power
To self destruct
If we chose

Of course a power not used
Is no power at all
And the power used to self destruct
Is still power indeed

And that is where
Power of self control is paramount
Where the power of self awareness matters
(Are you aware)

Have you ever used your power
To self destruct
Have you ever used the power
Of self control

It matters still
In matters great and small
When you use that power
To control others
And then the revolt follows
And the power used to control others
Swings back at you
Like a snake
Unbound
Hisssssss

M. N. R.
15 MAY 2019

he stood leaning against the frame
neither in or out but on the threshold
partly in shadow, partly in relief
like a masters painting
all angles and shade

Shipwrecked
Barefoot on the sand,
She's curved like the beach
Of some tropical land,
Birds of paradise,
In the shadow of palms,
Naked legs,
A tangle of arms.
The dolphin dances
The monkeys laugh,
The water gets cold
I get out of the bath.

I want obedience
With deep brown eyes,
Half my age
And a third my size,
Slim when thirty
And still good looking,
Fraigrant rice,
Stir-fry cooking,
I want what The West can't provide,
I'm in love with my dad's
Teenage, Thai bride.

You know I have every right to feel this anger swelling,
betrayal and heartbreak were the cards you wished to deal.
You say the future has no sure way of telling,
but I’m telling you now and you’re ignoring what I feel.

Try to save yourself, from the truth,
this time you won’t get my help,
so continue on acting aloof.
You know that I’m right to say,
if the tables had been turned,
it would all play out in a different way,
it’d be my name slandered and burned.

Please don’t make me live without you,
show me some mercy and be forgiving,
‘cause to be honest I’ll admit a fact painfully true,
life without you; I wouldn’t call that living.

You know I have a secret smile
that you and only you get to see
and I know that it’s been a while,
I don’t smile much at all lately.
You’ll take me, then you’ll break me and then fault me for the cracks.
You’ll shake me, and forsake me,
and try to wipe out and cover your tracks.

There’s this hole that’s essential
and it no longer can be filled.
A space in time so monumental,
I might as well have been killed

Please don’t make me live without you,
show me some mercy and be forgiving,
the skies are dark and it’s I that is blue,
as life without you; I wouldn’t call that living.

You are the one my heart beats for,
but you also brutally beat my heart.
You are the one that I completely adore,
but when I flatline can you restart?

Please don’t make me live without you,
show me some mercy and be forgiving,
there’s nowhere to go and nothing to do,
‘cause life without you; I wouldn’t call that living.

You know I’d never wish to hurt you,
before seeing you weep I’d choose to die.
But I could never even think to dessert you,
‘cause there’s no good in goodbye.

Do you feel a weight of regret,
do you even feel slightly bad?
‘Cause since the first day we met,
you said you’d still love me even wearing plaid on plaid.