The world today

Upon hearing
that's just how it in
in the world today, I crave reasons
to remain
to not be one of the ten thousand
to not play a game of life

and end up dying anyway

there are no thrones 

and other people are living my dream

and it makes me wonder

why did I draw the short stick

having to roam the home with the killer

attached to my back

and all it would take is a little

push

because everyone needs a good fall

Dreams--slightly out of reach

Keep thinking of a well played game
worn out
tired from running
    and following rules
putting yourself on the line


The innominate "they" said things would be better
once we played the game
and won.
Ice cream or something.

Now there are scraps
and scrapes from learning it would have been better
watching from the sidelines.

I didn't even get a trophy.


All metaphors for life and games
and making it into someone else's entertainment
aside

Being a master means
to hope to one day
soon
be a manager
of a shift
at a store
in Kentucky
making food
for people who sat out
formed callouses instead of learning sentence structure

Maybe they were the smart ones

I was just duped

My friends were too. Embittered at 23. 

That's the new life. 

Schlips

After years of gender deferential dress codes
and fixing the turned up collars of my classmates
        while trying to wear my own well
a few stuck around
hanging


some ties were looser
floating in and out on the breeze
but when on fire
burning bright


the tightest one
is starting to choke me
and part of me wants to cut it

but it's so aged
and comfortable
when it doesn't strangle me

and that pre-made and tied one
feels better around my throat.