“ALL” – from “Peripheral Prose”

I knew that when I met you,
oh what a beautiful mess that I embrace.
Your secret gardens where I found you.
And it’s not too late to stay there.

One thing is certain.
So, let’s get it out of the way.
You did not take me here.
But you sure did pave the way.

And while my center takes a lunch break,
I drive us away from the edge again.
Me immortal,
you tossed me into this world of age old souls.

Evaluating this chaos,
understanding the risks,
this ravenous seeker within me,
cannot relinquish the mission.

The light, she spoke against it, but kept a mother’s eye,
her little wounded soldier,
kept marching right on by,
“Whatever means he pleases, whatever plans he tells”.

“”Don’t get it twisted little one.
He’ll be with me a while.
I’ve owned his breath so many times.
His words, they’re mine also.

I’ve dined on his sin for so long.
I’m a ravenous beast, I’ll tear apart the layers.
Tonight, I ate the wolf’s face,
he had little use for us.””

Oh, when worry leaves my soul,
how this breath becomes me.
I took these two steps forward,
and an age of unknowns cast its spell upon me.

Sought after that gleaming light.
Held on tight with no guarantee.
Squandered so many fortunes.
But I found life in this fluid fate.

And in my darkest hours,
I tasted life and nourished on its cerebral debris.
Living through and around me now.
Oh how this endless pursuit enables my very own existence.

In and out of the shadows now.
Am I strong enough for me?
To write for an audience?

I won’t apologize, this mask, protects those things most important to me.
Ridicule me, charge me with covering up.
But what I protect, is more important.
This coverage, it outweighs any lack of courage.

And still my ego speaks irrelevantly.
But I won’t hear this voice of distraction.
Trading comfort for truth, chasing time bandits, all this effort.
Time honored consequences.

Trust the seekers, that’s what I’ve been told.
Disregard those that claim understanding.
What a mess we’re in.
At this time, failing those closest to me I cannot.

My ravenous soul,
searches for answers,
this collision course with truth.
We have unfinished business, don’t we?

Misdirection and orchestrated distraction abound,
unplugged and all alone here.
Innate indecision,
catastrophic mismanagement at every turn.

Seared into my mind.
These visions I cannot escape.
How this blessed clarity comes with its burdens.
Reaching and gasping now.

I’ve always been a good swimmer, but never a proper captain.
Adding miles and miles to this endless trip.
A wrong turn here, a missed sign there,
I’ve lost track of just how long I’ve been out here.

“You must forgive me,
I tend to move swiftly through this space,
I’m only here for a fleeting moment,
what did you say your name was again?”

I heard from the team, that everything was going as planned.
The funny thing is, I spoke with the boss, and that just ain’t true.
Our flesh is marbled with deceit, a con man’s self con.
On this sinking ship, together, we look up, down and around for clues.

We’ve created these truths, within us.
Let’s call it an arrangement.
With a dozen hands to play, upon your trusted table, and I’ve seen them all.

Our inbred prison of the minds.
A crime against humanity taking shape on our shift.
Can’t take away a man’s choice to provide now can you?
This abundant, lifelike place we’ve landed on doesn’t know the difference between us, nor does it care.

My ravenous ghosts,
you empty me out from within.
There’s nowhere left to go,
to hide from this truth.

Phishing for clues,
merit based, you show me signs.
We’re just getting started, aren’t we?
Changing shape, light and smell now.

They’re all around me now,
testing me,
my capacity,
the weight of my heart and soul.

In and out of consciousness now,
and for less than a second,
I become,
ALL.