Notice of absence from Tristan Robert Lange
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
For accessibility, the poem appears below in standard reading order:
You think you know a life by the habits built in it, as if a life—let alone a soul—can be read like a laundry list of clean and dirty.
Those smokers, clearly trashy, no?
Alcoholics? Either party animals or self-loathing losers.
A person who exercises? Clearly disciplined.
Or are they?
We are all butts within a messy, funked up ashtray.
ANXIETY
FEAR FOMENTED
TOO MUCH
UNENDING GRIEF
DEPRESSION
FAILED MARRIAGE
TAUGHT TO HATE
JUDGED
SUCCESS OR DIE
PRETTY
BODY IMAGE ISSUES
ABUSED
ABANDONED
NO ONE CARES
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, March 6, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: March 6th, 2026 09:02
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: Demar Desu - 德马尔·德苏, Friendship, Mutley Ravishes
- In collections: The Mind's Maze.
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Comments6
No one cares about you now, Popeye! Or do we? But why do we care about him? Don't answer that! lol.
Hahaha! Even when he cries, feelings all hurt, he lets out glugs. It's impossible! 🤣
Well said, no one really cares, it's only what they can get from you, then they are done with you..Your poem explores the complexity of human existence and the tendency to judge people based on superficial traits or behaviors. It critiques the oversimplification of lives into categories, suggesting that an individual’s experiences—marked by struggles, pain, and societal judgment—cannot be fully understood through external habits or labels alone. The poet emphasizes the multifaceted nature of human beings, filled with hidden struggles and emotions that go beyond mere habits.
Friendship, I appreciate you saying this. That idea that people read a life through visible habits is something I’ve wrestled with for a long time…how quickly we assume we understand someone from the outside. Been the "butt" end of that, too many times. 😔 (pun most definitely intended 🤣). The poem tries to crack that illusion open a bit. Thanks for engaging it so deeply. 🔥💭🫱🙏
It certainly does convey the idea of mixed up cigarrete butts. Around and around the ash trey and inside confusion. We go around and around making a habit and once in it we are confused as to how we got there and how to get out. Nicely written my friend
Soren, I love the way you stepped right into the circular motion of it…that going around and around inside the ashtray. Habits really do work that way…one small turn at a time until suddenly we’re wondering how we even got there. The ashtray metaphor felt like the right way to hold that mess of judgment, confusion, and repetition. I’m really glad it spoke to you. 🚬😗💨🙏
You are most welcome Tristan
This brought to mind the games of identification we all play, Tristan. And what a painful game it is! I tell myself I want out of it, but then those identities reassert their overlordship over me, dammit!
Mutley, I know exactly what you mean. Those identity games can dig in deep…even when we swear we’re done playing them. Your phrase “overlordship” really nails that stubborn grip they can have. Always appreciate your honest reflections, my friend. 🚬😗💨🙏
There are still those who believe that folk can't change .. made me think about so many things but one that still makes me chuckle is when Nikolai & Vasa bought me a job lot ashtrays for my birthday in Bulgaria a full three years after I had quit .. write on bro .. becuz once it's writ .. it matters 🖤🐦⬛🐈⬛🖤🐧😎👍
Neville, hahaha…that’s a great story. Three years quit and still getting ashtrays for your birthday…some identities really do linger in people’s minds longer than they should. Glad the piece stirred a few memories and a chuckle. Appreciate you sharing that, my friend. 🚬😗💨🙏
Does Popeye know Fag Ash Lil (a British term of an unrefined or 'trashy' woman!)?
He don't bother about cigarettes. He only bothers about ....... don't finish that! Well, he might have a cigarette in the one free minute he has in every day. heehee.
Orchi, hahaha…thank God for the explanation indeed! I had to pause a second there myself. Leave it to Popeye to keep things gluggingly absurd...because you know he glugs while he smokes. Always enjoy the humor you bring along, my friend. 🚬😗💨🙏
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