The Going Under

For years we fought monsters
while monsters fought us;
both ravenous,
               until we dominated them
and took their place.

When we feared darkness
               we burned it to the ground.
When we feared ignorance
               and invented our own truth.
When this was not enough
               we killed science
replaced it with belief
and found a deathly comfort there.

When the monsters we were found kingdoms
those kings would turn on us
so we burned them too
and made nations instead.

But those kingdoms remain
beneath the thick regal skins adorned
for we are better monsters
than those we’ve slain.

Corporations were built
from the bones buried in those warm graves
and we’ve lain down our torches
to serve them again,
for you can’t rightly be bound
if your hands are busy with fire.

               Somewhere, Nietzsche is laughing.

Awkward Silence

Age is a home observed from a fixed perspective;
               as distance grows,
                              the place gets smaller
               more difficult to live in –
                              alien.

I have no choice but to be where I am now,
               find a way to live in that diminishing space.
that sounds like enough.

“enough” – a limit defined.

When the time comes to pursue that definition
               If anything is wrong
                              I’ll remember (my family)

These strangers with years between
               fly by night fair weather friends,
receipts with formal education
               could tell me anything but,
life insurance pays out five times my salary

So, I’ll ask
                              “How much will my life cost me?”
and we’ll laugh and laugh.