When defeat beats the crap out of you
Over and over again,
You avoid any pretense
And nonsense about meaning
You say what you really mean.
You abandon the futility of insanity,
Of pain without reason
And let the bandages fall
So blood can write the hurt away.
You stop white washing reality
And bear your soul
Naked and not ashamed.
When poverty doubles down on you
Taste becomes a lost luxury
Only the wealthy can afford.
Bitterness and fatigue
Overwhelm the will of tired feet
And hands so heavy wear out from use.
Sacrifices speak of delays
Satisfaction put aside to pursue
And emptiness ensues without end.
Suddenly silence becomes
A sanctuary and an oasis
Where letting go sets you free.
When you stop giving a damn about it
Approval and conformity
Lose their appeal in favor of solitude.
Owning personal authority
Relieves the tensions outsiders
Bring with false boundaries and words.
You begin to see reality is
A recipe you make your way
And the universe awaits your prose.
Your life pens your own story
Free of quiet regret and apology
So write your verse out loud.
Copyright © 2016 Charles Edward York
* No part of this poem may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or form or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the author.*