“Advice”

Give only half a heart.

Spare yourself the pain.

For if you give it all, like me,

You clearly can’t be sane.

So save yourself the trouble,

Of feeling close and tears,

Just ease on, by the edge,

While together all the years.

For what’s the use in being true,

It’s simpler to just move on.

Loyalty’s old-fashioned,

Decency’s dead and gone.

So next time you have a chance,

Hold back, don’t waste your life.

As long as you get what you want,

You know where to put that knife.

Sometimes I Wish

I did not understand

Yet, I know why you left me here

Though I could never do the same.

I feel like I want to scream,

But my knowledge restrains me

While the words sear my throat.

The thoughts beat against my mind

As they echo out of tune

Once aligned, now discordant.

The pictures, once facedown

Now fade to ash.

Willfully self-destructive.

A waste of paper

Of talent, color and time

Of verse, rhythm and rhyme.

Yet all of these symbols

Suffer in silence

Just because I get it.

I know what you mean…

It’s okay, I understand.