Contronym

Your name misleads.
You are not what you are called.
Man fell as you entered his being.
Many men continue to fall today
On account of possessing you––
Or rather, on account of you possessing them.

You show them something,
And they must have "it"––
More and more of "it."
Never satisfied, they seek endlessly
For "it," as you look on,
Nodding your approval.

You are strong and enduring.
You have persuaded us
Of your invincibility.
Despairingly, we hold to this belief.
You are powerful, but your name
Is Weakness.

27 September 2011

Untitled

The yellow wallpaper drives me insane

The sun beats down
The paint peels
The wallpaper fades
And yet it drives me insane

The wind whips up
The paint flies
The wallpaper fades
Even so it drives me insane

The rain drives through
The paint runs
The wallpaper fades
But still it drives me insane

The blank wallpaper drives me insane

The painters arrive
They work
They go

The blue wallpaper drives me insane...

18 September 2011

Distraction

The Past returns: it rears its heads at me––
A joyous moment flashes by to taunt,
A thousand failures follow through to haunt;
A sheepish grin with great ferocity.
I see it fade and morph with Destiny––
O! visions grand, a happy mental jaunt;
Then nightmares, grander still, my psyche daunt,
No effort made to hide hostility.

Distractions all! I start, senses returned,
Old Father Time still faithfully walks on,
Not changing course, nor speed, nor looking back––
Was her fate not grave when her eyes she turned?
Begone, both Past and Destiny! Alone
I'll follow Father Time's slow, steady track.

15 September 2011