Torn and rent, the old flag still flies atop the buildings, behind gates of wrought iron. No simple symbol, once woven by hand, but now spun of strong polyesters, so that its colors do not dim, and it might not rot. Though it bares the marks where it’s been burned, dirty, where it’s been … Continue reading The Old Flag
Tag: Faith
Big Exhale
Big exhale. Drop the shoulders and take that weight off for a little while. Noise in your head gives way to the sound of the kettle boiling and the birds in the tree outside. When was the last time you truly disconnected? From you? From them? From this? From everything? Been too long, just … Continue reading Big Exhale
Sports and Weather
Stop the psyops. Call the cops. No. We’ll deal with it in our own house, our own streets, where good and evil meet. Try that in a small town, try eating the concrete. No sleep. Urban or rural, the divide’s alive. No more “boy”, or “girl”, just a strange malaise blazed like a new … Continue reading Sports and Weather
Wreckage and Flames
It’s late and I’m overdrawn. Too drunk to think about withdrawals. Too early for me to call, but I look you up and stare at your picture. Makes me want to throw my phone away, but I can’t afford anymore mistakes. The straight and narrow arrows of misfortune have always been of my own … Continue reading Wreckage and Flames
Mental Health Monday – 08.28.23
#mentalhealthmonday#mentalhealthawareness Imagine never doubting yourself. Imagine always making the right decisions. Imagine having the knowledge, discipline, compassion, and strength, to learn, lead, and love, and lift up others. Imagine approaching every situation in life with both the quiet confidence of the adept and the wide-eyed wonder of a child. Imagine yourself in any situation, then … Continue reading Mental Health Monday – 08.28.23
Questions for the World
What words, What song, or melody might prove this life in pen? What long road, or far off distant horizon? What touch? What skin? What breath, might open up my eyes a little wider? What color? What shape? What flavor might incite the revelation coming? The search always remains. Some say there is a … Continue reading Questions for the World
Old Songs
Old songs still echo down these halls. No one’s smoked in here in thirty years, but I can still smell the Lucky Strike’s and Pall Mall’s. I can still see folks dressed up in their uptown best, and I can hear the band play those old songs as if they never left. I can … Continue reading Old Songs
Overcomplicated
Don’t overcomplicate it. It is what you make it. So many mistake it for what they want, and break it. Imagine standing naked in the dark and cold, dead hands grasping at you from the unknown. Imagine being trapped in famine and destruction. All the pain and disarray of total aggression. Remember when you … Continue reading Overcomplicated
Separation
“The Truth is not alive out there.” The words strike hard. Piledriver revelations. I’m pulling on my boots, reaching for my coat, ready to grab my hat, and head out there to find it. Truth. “Don’t waste your time.” Your face bears a look between pain and derision. “There’s nothing left. It’s all been … Continue reading Separation
Screens
Almost touching the sky. Trying to describe this life that is mine through my eyes. Learn that the sky’s a lie. Just a trick of light. All I see is entropy’s reflected time demise. No answers to be had in time. Turns out that’s a lie as well. Seems to be reality in Heaven … Continue reading Screens
Harvest Dawn
Is there any hope at all in the pale dawn? Threshing out what we’ve been growing all summer. Winnowing the harvest, wheat from chaff, Paradise from Purgatory. Leaning on the old scythe, muttering bits of scripture, even the reaper knows the signs read true. Old eyes see a new day. More work for idle … Continue reading Harvest Dawn
Restitution
Pouring out blood from an old cut that never healed. Peeking out from behind the lies that keep me concealed. Feel like stepping out on a cloudy day and letting all this pain fall like rain. I want to feel the clouds burst in my soul, wash me clean, and make me whole. I … Continue reading Restitution
Dragons
Can’t stop wondering what this is all for. The reasoning has long escaped me. Guess I’ll just settle for not knowing and start climbing all these walls life’s stacked against me. Pay the price every day. A little sweat, a little more time. I’m selling my life by the hour and I’m told I … Continue reading Dragons
My Hill
Saw someone struggling up. Watched them try to make their way. Wondered if I would do it differently. Didn’t stop to think what criticizing them was costing me. Time I might have spent climbing my own way. Lord knows, I have a long way to go. I’m not too proud to say I’ve made … Continue reading My Hill
THe Garden of The Snake
. Trip into the garden of the snake. One more mistake that I have made. Words slide into each other. Brother, there’s no time to be afraid. Daylight beckons at my window. Night waits patient at my door. I tell you, friend, I’ve been waiting on the end, but I’m not waiting anymore. I can … Continue reading THe Garden of The Snake
Mental Health Monday – 08.14.23
#mentalhealthmonday#mentalhealthawareness@killcliff Quick thought for today: How do you solve the riddle that is you?How can you get the best out of yourself?How do you change your behavior? Do you humiliate yourself? Beat yourself down? Starve yourself until you comply?I've tried these, and they don't work. They're not sustainable. Or, do you treat yourself with love. … Continue reading Mental Health Monday – 08.14.23
Holding on for Autumn
I can feel a coldness creeping in to your heart, like early mornings in late summer. I can see your eyes drifting in, like an abandoned ship sitting on calm waters. What is this? Is it time to let the forests of yesterday burn? Turns out the only way for new growth to take … Continue reading Holding on for Autumn
Trigger Pull
There’s rain in the leaves and I can’t believe I let you get this close to me again. It beats upon the roof and I’m left with the truth of all this hurt and all this shame. Feel a memory of your shaking hands upon me. Fear exposes all the weakness in us. You … Continue reading Trigger Pull
Monument
Immovable from this place. Static man, turned to stone, oh, so long ago. The vines and briars grow all over you. Testament to rigidity. Sun and wind have scored you. Snow and rain have weathered your face. Some would say you look good for your age, but you’ve been still so long, what does … Continue reading Monument
First Place (In a Loser’s Race)
Some change, some day will take all the pain away. Until then have to stay, like a hunter on the chase. Some days, some ways feel more like prey. Something in pursuit and there is no end to it. Keeping just ahead of time is a losing race. Capturing the moment in mind is … Continue reading First Place (In a Loser’s Race)