We'll Get Em Next Time

I didn't get the promotion.
The fix was in.

And after that
the birds sang horribly,
my clothes weren't fitting well,
all the traffic lights were red
and
there were more women disinterested in me,
than usual.

I didn't get the promotion.
A consequence of speaking up-
when it was the right thing to do.

They had fired
one poor bastard already,
for speaking up.

Nobody wanted to be next.

But I wasn't
Frightened-

No,
I was scared shitless
the kinda of way, you don't anyone to remember
but
I spoke up anyways-
while
everyone else stayed quite

(and I don't blame them).
 
As a consequence,
I didn't get the promotion,
the bosses best friend did-

We'll get 'em next time.

For a mans worth is what he thinks it is,
and
I think pretty damn highly of myself.

Sure, I didn't win,
(But hot damn)
I sure as Hell didn't lose either.

Tomorrow
the birds will sing beautifully,
my clothes will fit well,
all the traffic lights will all be green.
and
The women will bat their lashes, fold up their parasols
and
drop their handkerchiefs.


13'

Alive

the wild man
of pearl jam-
put on a
show
in those day.

Pure energy
in the hearts
of the children-
listening and
watching

as the
lead singer climbs
the rafters-
jumps to his
death,
(a death more heroic
than
a kiss from
any shotgun.)

He
falls
through the emptniess
and
into the hands 
of children.

They catch him-
Alive.

Hard to Say

She said,
"No one will ever love you as much"

But I've rarely
felt loved by her words or her touch.

Her childhood dreams were lost long ago.
She is the unhappiest woman I know.

I've no right to judge,
because your life has been rough,
You created me and somehow that just isn't enough.

And the most horrible words come out when we fight.
And lords knows I don't need to always be right.

She said
"No one will ever love you as much"-
The need for love is a crippling crutch.

I will always want a place to belong-
But, please God just let her be wrong.


2013