He worked hard and built up a
Profitable company that hired
Bright young college kids under
The pretense of providing a
Management job.
He worked them as hard as one could
Work people. Most didn’t survive but
The few who did were a good fit for the
Towel snapping and unempathic
Worldview required to hang on.
An old man opened one eye
And saw what was on that side.
He opened the other eye and
Saw what was on that side.
He opened both eyes and saw
The entire landscape.
He closed both eyes and
Saw everything else.
A gaggle of geese busily chattering about
Nothing in particular meets once a month in
The usual spot. They waddle around,
Exchange pleasantries, comment on each
Other’s feathers, talk about the weather,
Catch up on the latest gossip. A newcomer
Enters the room and is cordially preened and
Invited to stay. Announcements are read that
Are important to geese. Their new guest makes a
Comment that causes the group to stop what
It’s doing and consider taking flight. Too
Controversial for this gathering of fine fowl.
Deliberately moving away
From the abyss.
Conscious decisions
Leading joyfully forward.
A new day
Filled with promise.
Generations of pain
Stop at this very moment.
She tried to be morose but
Couldn’t come close.
She tried to be mean but
Felt unclean.
She tried to be herself and
Found her path.
I thought so much of myself
I married someone who would
Annihilate anything in his path if
He didn’t get his way.
I thought so much of myself
I stood by someone who beat
His chest and belittled others
If they didn’t bow low enough.
I thought so much of myself
I remained complacent and
Mute as plans were put
In motion to mutilate more.
I thought so much of myself
I looked the other way.
I couldn’t go back once
I made the choice.
What a wonderful place to live.
You couldn’t afford it.
I have an opinion.
Let’s look at it this way.
I know about this.
How did you know that?
I like to do my own thing.
Let’s do mine.
I have a great story.
That reminds me of…
She couldn’t help laughing when
He came up to her and sneezed
In the middle of introducing himself.
She was charmed by the way he
Mixed up his words when she
Asked him the simplest question.
She was intrigued by every part of
Him and soon they were married
In a large, joyful ceremony.
She couldn’t have foreseen the
Other secrets uncharming,
Revealed in daily life.
Think new thoughts,
Behave in original ways,
Develop fresh insights,
Meet unique people,
Consider novel points of
View, unlike your own,
That make the world a
Better place for you, yours,
Others, and eschew
Notions archaic, austere.
He came home from work and
Settled in with a beer to dull the
Numbing monotony of his life and
Scarcity of hope or dreams.
He walked to the kitchen to a
Plate of food left in the refrigerator
By someone who would rather not
Be there for many reasons.
He walked back to the couch where
He anesthetized his mind with
Television and beer and nothing else
As far as he knew.