Page 14 of 16

Epic

There’s too many crooks, gangsters, and tools
all too ready to pull the trigger and play the fool
too lost in their own petty indignation
that they’re poisoning the next generation
they don’t even see we’re at the end of our rope
‘cause they’re too busy throwing away our hope.

Now we’ve each got a story to tell
of walkin’ through this godforsaken hell
so say it loud and say it proud
tell it to your friends and tell it to the crowd
stand up, raise your voice, and be counted
‘cause we ain’t the valley, we’re the mountain.

Chilled

I am afraid.
I’m shaking,
inconstant,
and so weak.
All too ready to run screaming into the night
for fear of the Machiavellian shadows
around me,
beside me,
within me.
I am afraid.

Mind’s eye

An exuberant child,
without restraint or modesty,
singing, dancing, and making merry.
Round and round they go,
sometimes for hours on end,
inside the skull-shaped room.
And that’s on a good day.

Scales of fate

I see the road before me,
so many choices left to make,
and see the road behind me,
marked by all of my mistakes.
I know what I have to do
to pull my foot out of the grave
but I’m not sure I’m strong enough
or that there’s enough left to save.

Brother

We traded words and we traded barbs;
we traded stories and we traded cards.
We’ve known each other for many years…
through childish play and warranted fears.
With luck, we’ll see plenty more
and relish all that’s yet in store.