Bad News

struggling to make it make sense
rat racing across angry gridlocked streets
tacky blacktop blisters overheating engine blocks
street drain covers steaming hiss
it's all a muggy mess

gridlocked interstate commerce
commute times increasing
there's panic on these filthy streets
a virus is taking seed
it's only getting hotter

fires ignite
curfew sirens and floodlights
light up the night
there is a panic setting in
growing internal turmoil

the unrest spills out to the street
public leaders plead for calm
the race to the bottom is on
out come the sewer rats
fat cats send out their muscle

lines are drawn and only
blood moves them
the fight for the right to fight
was won and continues
damages are inflicted and received

believers and others make themselves
betray which lets reason and lessons
never remembered go away
good stock and good breading
the vultures continue feeding

waiting for the final act
a requiem for a dream vision quest
for the rest of you waiting for
your own messiah coming
to save the day you look west.

Mother

rotten smell fast approaching nostrils
there's bad shit all over this place
inside it's worse
there are bodies and bodies and bodies stacked
naked emaciated bodies stacked neatly
naked emaciated bodies strewn haphazardly
it's madness there can be no other way to explain
the story goes on and on and on again
repeating itself as some kind of warning unheeded
rise and fall empires peak decline rebuild seek and destroy
bodies pile up and are crushed under new boots
which produce more bodies that begin to pile up
is there not a better way forward
a learning curve a moment of clarity a step from this reality
i understand the nature of it
nature destroys what cannot exist

faith

friday the 13th
a day like any other but rather a reasonably bad
day
at least later in said day
a place where children play
at home on screens
at ponts we scream
curse words and insults
razors sharp schrapnel
exploded onto one another
face to face
a fight for control
a fight for this place
our home our house
this thing that is my
responsibility to keep
up above all 4 of us
and im not trusted
reprimanded and disgusted
frustration and resentment
past future present problematic
the reasons and the facts is
keeping tabs and going off
hardcore run to the front door
and out to cool down in the
swelter California climate conspiracy
truth and fact be dismayed
delayed and cancelled for the season
no grace no wisdom no reason
where we go now is up in the air
like it always seems to be
should we stay or should we go now
the only band that really matters
and somehow all the matters discussed
turns tight and loud and i cant trust
any judgements
cant put it down to make it
work right.

7 stitches

out with the fast group
riding with confidence
making the splits
filling the gaps
doing a turn or two
with 2 to go
inside line plenty space
head down not looking
plant reaching out for my
handlebars and
down straight to ground
skin struggles
is lost
and pain gaping elbow
blood dripping
nothing broken
i say to myself happy
and sorry to the bloke beside me
i took out or
rather the plant took out
reaching out to put things
into perspective
enjoy the ride crashes and all
cause tomorrow is never
a done deal.