embark —
equal light, equal dark;
summer sins fall apart
as both halves of
broken heart depart

settle in —
within autumnal start;
death winds begin
as warm colors flow
into artisanal art

maker’s mark —
dual nature imparts;
divine destination charts
as stars divide day
w/ equal parts dark

death to an interior self,
whose conflict says
“he’s someone else,”
someone that had
to be killed —
into mineshaft he fell.

covered by pain
& the hardship felt,
there lies his other self;
beside the place
where he once knelt,
conflict slain in name
of mental health;
he is now someone else.

We’re a flip book,
going through
the motions.

Drawn together,
we cycle through
acts of devotion.

Forming an illusion,
we thumb through
our emotions.

At book end,
we backflip through
the life chosen.

hands down,
drop down
and the
let-go follow.

wind blown
returns and
the soul
turns hollow.

color warms
before burn,
until grey
days swallow.

forest floor,
crush absorbs;
not many
more tomorrows.

esoteric demerits,
handed out by
those that inherit,
finite judgements
that single out
the embarrassed;
forcing a pin
on them like a
scarlet letter that
screams “wear it!”
a medal that
hangs out as rarest;
no clamoring for
honoree to permit
they share it,
its a wonder why
they even bare it…

Ghost checks made
by a 5K renegade —
crypto gets him paid,
promises get you played;
mass media naiveté,
treasury under raid,
to build back better
a ballroom bunker arcade,
where high fash serves
reflectin pool kool-aid;
Nero’s violin holds sway,
populace sharpens blade;
it’s all American made.

undulating cool,
waterway soothe;
solace on the move,
withdrew in blue.