What the Fuck Am I Talking About?

How much time do you have,
To become who you want?
I will tell you what, I know in my life,
That thought forever haunts,

Do you even know what you have to do,

To feel you've got it right?

In truth, if you still haven't gotten there yet,
I recommend that you call it a night,

Not that you've done any better than me,
god knows that I have tried,
Or have I? TBH I've never focused,
For long stretches of time,

Unless you count,
The years of faith I've held,
That all I've produced will one day break through,
Like an old sycamore that has been felled.

Falling Down

Climbing out of a hole,
Is like being depressed,
Not to diminish one to the other,
One's much more ambitious,

One makes you feel tired for diff'rent reasons,
One can't be successful,
Looking around everywhere that you go,
Whether or not you can get an eyeful,

One time I didn't think I would get out,
The exit, oh, so near,
That's the luck one can have all of the time,
Only a few, I fear.

Could you be one?
Well, only time will tell,
'less you can take one moment at a time,
Then time will have a snowball's chance in hell.

It's Not Arrogant If It's Just My Thoughts

If this doesn't do it,
It will ne'er be my time,
Of course, as I say that I know it's false,
Or at least it's a lie,

'Cause if I knew what happened tomorrow,
I'd not be writing this,
Though, maybe I'd learn I can only do,
What in my heart I know brings my true bliss,

And that it will take care of me one day,
Though I am no seer,
But in which I've such faith I do not lie,
When I say that it's near,

For the future's
Never without a past,
E'n on my death bed I'll probably say,
I'll soon get my recognition at last.

Keep The Faith

Just chase what you want to,
Forget everything else,
Love, success, respect, and pursuit of truth,
Will not protect your self,

They were meant to thrive when you are least safe,
A vanguard with no shield,
Except for a foolish faith in your path,
Knowing it is riddled with pits concealed,

That if fallen into become new paths,
If you maintain your faith,
That there is neither above or below,
Within this human race,

Nor win or lose,
So long as it's a chase,
With no intention of catching your prey,
Once you've killed you end up back in last place.

To Be Trite...

I just heard a podcast,
'bout poet George Hebert,
His poems, latin/english, were heartfelt,
Based on what I had heard,

Like love posed as a synonym for god,
Served to us in three ways,
At death, at the last supper, at a bar,
Open your heart to be blessed for all days,

Born into a family with ten kids,
A father who died young,
A mother who raised them against all odds,
To be educated and clothed in song,

George went on to become an orator,
Stricken by consumption,
Though he wrote an impressive tome of work,
Like his dad, he died young,

Why shouldn't he?
Why not any of us?
It's trite to note that we'll all one day die,
While it's also extremely momentous.

So The Fifty-First Begins

Fifty years have passed, now,
Who of you can say that?
Surely I have earned the right tell you,
How to think and to act.

For we're thrust into the world knowing naught,
How else is wisdom gained,
But by the experiences of life,
The trials and obstacles overcame?

Now, I know nothing about your journey,
My shoes may not fit you,
And fifty years, in the grand scheme of things,
Is practically new,

So never mind,
Your business is your own,
Live and let live, is the advice I give,
All I request is to be left alone.

This Is Therapy

Why do I feel guilty,
For thinking of myself,
By altering the course of my conscious,
Compromising my health,

Wasting my time writing shit like this here,
(I don't really think that),
Or rather, that depends on what's valued,
Not able to help if a loved one's sad?

That last one, though,'s a little misleading,
No one's ever ready,
To rescue someone that they care about,
May that I never see!

But let me free,
That's all I ever want,
Sometimes I forget what it is all for,
Then I feel guilty, then I write a Wath.

Just Sayin'

It's finally happ'ning,
All I have worked hard for,
For the first time I don't feel self-conscious,
Like I am just a bore,

Start making excuses for what I do,
As if anyone knows,
What honesty is supposed to look like,
Believe me, I've let enough chances go,

Simply because, let's face it, I was scared,
Of getting what I want,
Like, I had got to the end of the line,
'stead of found a new haunt,

To start again,
Just from a higher height,
Informed by what it feels like to move up.
You'll miss it if you don't claim what's your right.

One More for Good Measure

How much can you trust you?
How much should you, really?
What makes you think in your short time on earth,
You get reality?

You may have read the books of all the greats,
I think I'll read one now,
You've wisdom and guidance from ones you love,
You think have learned more than you have somehow,

But how much time does one need to find out,
You can't know anything?
I'd say the less time the more wise you are,
But then you have nothing.

There's no reward,
In ascertaining truth,
That's a lie, plenty people make it big,
Knowing what's real, but peddling it as new.

Not Where I Had Started

Sometimes you're so busy,
Free time is filled with guilt,
No matter what gets done, there's always more,
The same way Rome was built,

But sometimes disconnecting is helpful,
Scratch that, it always is,
You're busy because you are valu'ble,
So keep some of your milk for your own bliss,

Or like Hollywood, you'll work for the man,
Speak his words with your voice,
You don't mind being owned by the system,
S'long's he's one of the boys,

But come the day,
He mocks who you've become,
Whether as a child or as an adult,
You are in too deep for revolution.

Gotta Go

This could be the last word,
I ever write again,
Or rather this one, or maybe this one,
Guess I'll never know when,


The space make you wonder?
I actually don't have much time now,
Before I need to pick up my daughter,

Who I hope is okay, which I can't know,
Until she is with me,
Which in truth is not enough to be sure,
Of her security,

Well, such is life,
It's the same for us all,
Life is so damn fleeting and delicate,
Yet we live as if that is usual.

Peace Isn't That Hard

How do you make choices,
To elevate your life,
When doing so when affects the ones you love,
Possibly causing strife,

While they too have their own choices to make,
That could affect you, too,
Thinking you're not as important as them,
Because it's, in the grand scheme of things, true?

Don't look to me for the answer to this,
You'll just get frustrated,
For me, giving the benefit of doubt's,
A trait understated.

Just be sincere,
Others will get the hint,
Until the world finally has peace!
Sounds a little too easy, doesn't it?

TCN and Bad Faith

I've been reading two things,
Di'metric'lly opposed,
If the two writers were to every meet,
They'd acquire raspy throats,

For they'd be screaming to be listened to,
Each by the other one,
So much so they would fail to recognize,
When their two views align with precision,

The perceived difference is an evil,
Meant to thwart connection.
"But what could orchestrate such a grand plan?"
Just look at Babylon.

I don't mean god!
That might be too evil,
We'll never agree on just what that is,
Let's start with something more manageable.

Can’t Say Too Much

I want to be censored,
What do I have to say,
To have the government close my account,
In this democracy?

Incite public anger at corruption,
At the highest levels?
Maybe if someone actu'lly read this!
I'm already afraid I've sounded bells.

We're all conditioned to feel we are free,
That there's no boundaries,
As long as we are not harming others.
Well, test that out and see,

Definitions,
Are negotiable,
Is harm putting someone at risk of pain,
Or showing them they are in a bubble?

Getting By

How fast life turns around,
If e'en just in your mind,
One moment you hold hope for anything,
Next, there's nothing to find,

Only the surety that you've no talent,
Nor appeal to others,
The whole world shareing an understanding,
Passed down by all except by your father,

That prescribes a way to speak hid from you,
Leaving you odious,
While last week you were on top of the world,
The future glorious,

But here's the trick,
It requires faith of sorts,
That everyone else has the same feeling,
With no way of knowing the truth, of course.

Dealing With Bad Luck

There's such thing as bad luck,
Believe me, I've lived it,
Even if each thing can be traced back to,
You not believing it,

You might have done something differently,
That could have improved things,
A little extra attention to risks,
You could have mitigated derailings,

But how much time does one have to commit,
Before it's not worth it?
Use the time saved digging for what you love,
If you've not unearthed it.

Your luck will change,
Like I am sure will mine,
Even if it's because I ignore it,
Let's face it, luck is only in your mind.

Our Disconnect

Sometimes you are just sad,
With no mater'il change,
Which means you've less than you did yesterday.
Doesn't that sound just strange?

Anything else in nature would be glad,
To maintain its function,
Or gain the equivalent of what's gone,
Sounds like a law once proposed by Newton,

But we've made changes to reality,
Because of Kant, not Hume,
The latter followed the laws of Nature,
Despite now being ruined,

Whose fault is that?
I am too tired to guess,
Depression will bring down any human,
No matter how much they have in their chest.

Writer's Block

'fyou look up writer's block,
What do you think you'll find?
Think having written's a prerequisite,
Or's everyone in line?

Without knowing that they have it in them,
To express all they are,
Without the filter of their existence,
The writer's most feared and heaviest bar,

It is only with the luck of nature,
That anybody writes,
The few who woke up on the other side,
That's in ev'ryone's sights,

Just out of reach,
But they are better off,
For some the frustration of missing out's,
Preferrable to doing what they love.

The Writing's Over

Sometimes I try writing,
A song on the guitar,
The tune is right, but the lyrics are wrong,
And oh so very far,

Unlike here where words never fail to come,
Though, would you like these sung?
Truth be told a song's what this form's based on,
Maybe one day you all will sing along,

Not that this is what one wishes to hear,
Let's face it, no feelings,
Are touched as you read what I'm telling you,
This is just for healing.

That's not the word,
See? Now this is all wrong,
I want to tie something up with a bow,
I think I'll try to write another song.

Working Through Sadness

What makes you unhappy,
Can also make you strong,
Can also leave you alone in your bed,
Or lead you into song,

You might think that the reason is money,
Or hormone imbalance,
Intuition that you're on the wrong path,
Or prediction from an innate sixth sense,

You might face it like it's nothing at all,
The same as happiness,
Or let it derail anything that's good,
Because life is a mess,

It's up to you,
Even if it is not,
Nor is there a right way to deal with it,
All that is learned is what the past has taught.

The End Is Nigh

My hip is hurting now,
Because I'm an old man,
There's acute pains I'd never have though to,
Become a distraction,

To the point that getting into the car,
I have to lift up my leg,
Not by telling it to, as was my wont,
But moving it with my hands for the ache,

A situation should I've seen in you,
I'd say the end is nigh,
For why else would someone's body fail them?
I've now become that guy!

I count the days,
Not jnowing what is left,
Like children hoarding halloween candy
As if their wealth's measured by what they've kept.

My Conspiracy Theory

What more is there to say,
To those wanting to know,
What's really happening behind the scenes,
Of what politics shows?

There is no such thing as conspiracy.
If you're looking for truth,
Then you must believe ev'rything you read,
Then assume what you've not read is true, too,

For we are talking about people here,
Have you ever known one?
You best bet there's nothing that's not been done,
Under this godless sun,

For wouldn't you,
If given half the chance?
We all know it's easy to tell yourself,
That others exist just in appearance.

One Day

I have always wanted,
What ev'rybody wants,
Ask me what that is, I say ask yourself,
Then find the confidence,

To live your life as if that is your truth,
Because, you know, it is,
For if your not sure then you know it's not,
The reason and purpose that you exist,

But when you are sure, oh my fucking god-
Well, I'm not sure I know,
I always thought if you did what you want,
There's no place you can't go,

But I was wrong,
About which, I'm not sure,
Either I haven't figured it out, yet,
Or figuring out is a fool's detour.

You’ll Get There

Does this sound famil'ar?
You're walking in a mall,
You watch people moving from store to store,
You are feeling enthrawled,

This is a world that you are living in,
This is what's happening,
Never mind anything else could instead,
Well, maybe that's exactly the meaning,

Of all the questions you have yet to ask,
But I know are coming,
Something has to be something, after all,
Unless it comes from me,

And you're not real,
No need to get upset,
I've written thousands and thousands of these,
You think that I have figured it out, yet?

A Ways to Go

I've yet to disconnect,
In a meaningful way,
From investment in life's ephemera,
Never mind for a day,

Once, on a recliner on vacation,
It wasn't long ago,
Long enough that I remember it still,
But was it real, I can't say that I know,

I may've had a solitary moment,
Enough to recognize,
That it fell short of what would be needed,
To open up one's eyes,

But what it showed,
I can never forget,
Now I am sure there is a life out there,
That I've not experienced, as of yet.

I’ve Been Thinking

I've been thinking a lot,
It's kind of my thing now,
Everyone should take a little time
For some self-reflection.

Like how do I know I know anything?
Don't say that's been answered.
Those who know, know how to lie to themselves,
For how else does the question cause a stir?

Like, if we knew we would know that we knew,
It would be no big deal,
Like how we control electricity,
Assuming that it's real,

See, no one knows,
I'm not being profound,
Plato already showed asking questions
E'er proves there are no answers to be found.

As Time Goes On

How much should I worry,
About what is to come,
Both what is likely from current events,
And imagination,

What I would like to happen despite me,
(No real sense of focus),
What experience tells me to expect,
(Because my dreams so often turn to dust)?

There was a time when it was all out there,
Possibil'ties galore,
Now whittled down to just a couple paths,
I've considered before.

Don't get me wrong!
They're there for they are right,
My heart has led me in lieu of my mind,
The trick's not to let them get in a fight.

Getting Ahead

Once you put your line out,
You have to jerk the rod,
They've got to take not just the bait but hook,
For that, you must play god,

We all create the world in our image,
Until one comes along,
That appears more perfect than what we've got,
It's called getting lured by the siren's song,

Which is the final lesson of this Wath,
Hope your stomach's not weak,
Once reeled in it is time to scale and gut,
The birthright of the meek,

So now you've won,
Got just what you desired,
All you had to do was to sacrifice,
Some schmuck destined for the funeral pyre.

The Path To Peace

I just have to do this,
There's too much energy,
I realize listening to Check Your Head,
Available to me,

Available to you, too, truth be told,
If such a thing's likely,
Actu'lly to happen to anyone,
There's no test to find out what's real'ty,

Which is fine as long as we all know it,
And don't pretend it's false,
Which produces two possibilities,
One should not have a pulse.

Can you guess which?
'Guess' might be the wrong word.
Will you live an authentic existence,
Or cede to the lies to which we're all lured?

When You Admire a Circle

Are there other levels,
One can experience,
In their own life, not as an employee?
Which one should make more sense?

That all there's to strive for's in the system,
Whether work, sleep, or play,
There is no consciousness without others,
To judge if you're a menace or okay?

Or that one is the best judge of themself,
As if no one is there,
A pure appreciation for the truth,
That science would not dare?

How about both?
Plus much more in between,
You have to find out what works best for you,
That's the only way you'll ever be seen.

At Least It’s Not Mine

The ceiling is dripping,
We were told it would stop,
Is it me or do some people believe,
What turns out to be not?

Then you sit thinking what became of it,
Look at the rafters rot,
There's no connection between thoughts and life,
Except alone what's either of them got?

Sometimes you've just got to empty the pail,
Though some water gets through,
After thousands of drops forming one shape,
You should want something new.

I'm naseous now,
It's time to go to sleep,
To the soothing sounds of a crumbling house,
Tonight I'll have to be counting wet sheep.

How To Fit It All In One Day

Maybe you are grappling,
With what you can achieve,
In the short time that you have on this earth,
Before you have to leave,

Perhaps you don't know what it is you want,
God knows I still wonder,
It's bad enough we have to eat and sleep,
Each one of us has to sit and ponder,

For those who think it is a unique gift,
Look what it's led us to,
You think animals have less fulfilled lives,
'Cause they don't refine fuel?

Get outta here,
Do what makes you feel heard,
Everything is out the window now,
The way it should have been from the first word.

How Do We Know?

Fear is fear of something,
That hasn't happened, yet,
Enveloped in the journey to get there,
History prepackaged,

'fyou could've only seen more of the past,
Unravelled before you,
You could have changed it before it happened,
And turned that fear into excitement, too,

Guess you could look at the silver lining,
The past's not ever passed,
It changes to explain what you have done,
Unmeasurably fast,

Unless you - look,
Sorry, I lost my thought,
Let's just say all things have a narrative,
To explain what you've done and what you’ve not.

I See You

I just got new glasses,
They are my second pair,
Unless you own a pair of glasses, too,
I'm betting you don't care,

Just like me when my eyesight was perfect,
When I was young, like you,
You and me, we are exactly the same,
Living on opposite sides of a cube,

The other sides are variations, too,
Luck is what's put us here,
Or chance, or someone etched us with a tool,
The odds for all are peer.

Oh, don't you see?
It is not about sight,
I see just the same as the next person,
That is, if we lived the exact same life.

The Next Stage

What do you think of me,
When I speak out like this,
As if my thoughts are in tune with the world,
If it even exists,

Oh, sure, you can say what you want to, too,
You know that I'm all ears,
I will take your words and put them with mine,
Now we each have one less person to fear,

Because now we both know the other's real,
Unless we're seeing things,
Which is fine, because there's a pill for that,
Better they clip the wings,

Of someone else!
I've come out of my shell,
I couldn't go back if I wanted to,
Though, if I could that would be cool as hell.

Transforming Time

When you find a moment,
Transform it into time,
Do something that would never have been done,
That is what is sublime,

That is what is the human unique trait,
Maybe animals too,
Maybe the rocks, robots, and aliens,
Of course, we can never walk in their shoes,

Or in each other's shoes either, really,
This all could be a dream,
Maybe if we transform the same moment,
I'll see you, you'll see me,

Would we e'en know?
What would be different?
It's faith that makes the world around you real,
There isn't another ingredient.

Not a Bad Idea

One day you'll reach a stage,
You never'd guess exists,
Where who you were is something in the past,
You see could not persist,

Nor could you e'er return to it again,
You'd never be the same,
You bit an apple that gave you knowledge,
You'd need to remove a piece of your brain,

I think they call it a lobotomy,
Not a bad idea,
It's something to keep in my back pocket.
If I ever see ya,

Let me forget,
What I once could have been,
You cannot grow to your full potential,
And still feel you've got reasons for living.

Just Hanging

Ev'rything is quiet,
Both cats silently stare,
The hammock's rocking while i search the sky,
In the late day's cool air,

A bird makes a noise and startles Clover,
The bird is not to blame,
I've got a Talking Heads song in my head,
I swear I don't even know its real name,

The breeze doesn't care about where it goes,
Or whether someone cares,
Or cares about caring about money,
It's only made of air,

Just like we are,
It's hot, escaping fast,
Astrid's still where she'll be an hour from now,
Lying still, looking around, eating grass.

Here We GO

I thought I'd forgotten,
All the lessons I'd learned,
There's too much in my head at the moment,
To acc'ratley discern,

In any meaningful way what I know,
Here's where I am modest,
Again, not being in a stat to say,
That not knowing is really for the best,

Unless you're trying to make a diff'rence,
Then you best know something,
E'en if in the deepest cell of you're heart,
You know it is nothing,

Because it is,
Just like everything,
Ok, I did just spend time writing this,
Tell me what else that I should be doing.

The Challengers

I cannot see too well,
Well, well enough to see,
That sometimes when you tell your self something,
It's not quite what it seems,

It could be that you're just fooling your self,
For a very good cause,
Because when you have more experience,
You'll be doing things no body else does,

Which doesn't mean it will mean anything,
Do not get your hopes up,
It's like any great movie that you've seen,
First you've got to well up,

To know you're real,
No one else should teach this,
They've said it over and over again,
This may as well fucking be the abyss.

Choices

You know what they say,
I don't have to tell you,
When given the choice 'tween risky and safe,
There's no doubt what to do,

Yet what's desired most is that they're the same,
Both feelings live as one,
Since no matter what, no choice is complete,
Without luck's unpredictable outcome,

'Cause when you look back at the choice you made,
You have to be okay,
Even the safe choice is risky these days,
Well, it's e'er been that way,

The past's the key,
To knowing what is right,
Think you made the choice then think how you'd feel,
Choose the path that gave you the most delight.

Survivor

I turn fifty this year,
I know, you’re like, “I bet”,
I’d not watched Survivor since season 8,
When Rob and Amber met,

But now I’ve been obsessed since forty-one,
Here's what I've done between:
Project managed million dollar events,
Doing my masters and raising two teens,

Two years ago I quit my lifer job,
Because I got Covid,
Now I'm at a non-profit center for,

The mental health of kids.

I like to write,
I've done radio, too,
I think I would do well on Survivor,
I thrive in environments that are new.

Still Here

My god, it's been so long,
This doesn't even count,
I'm only feeling guilty about life,
More than I can recount,

I do it so I don't get anywhere,
It's more than I deserve,
At least that's the only thing I can say,
So's as not to admit I'd lost my nerve,

Of course that thinking is behind me now,
I have no time to lose,
That is the reality I must live
According to the news.

Know what I mean?
The conundrum of it,
The fact is it could all be meaningless,
You guffaw, but it can't be refuted.

Ode to Survivor

I am on Survivor,
So is everyone,
Not in a superfan obsession way.
But all my relations,

Where they fit in the ultimate final,
Where only one is left,
Not in some weird 'there must be just one' way,
But in all of our own personal quest,

Finding yourself and what makes you the best,
At what it is you do,
Not at the expense of anyone else,
But as relates to you,

When the tribe speaks,
You will get all the votes,
Not from the tribe that's made of your rivals,
But from the jury who've all worn your coat.

When a Tree Falls in the Forest

Why has it been so long?
Who says that it has been?
You think just because I'm not posting here,
No output if unseen?

No more questions, I'm sounding aggressive,
Though, why the hell can't I?
Should not one's output tell you all of them,
From grand epiphanies to petty crimes?

Enough questions, let's get to the real point,
Or do you think there's none?
I can't imagine saying anything,
Without some intention.

What do you think?
Sorry, I just stepped out,
If you said something, you did not say it,
For I didn't hear what it was about.

The Two Swords

There are times in this world,
For pure satisfaction,
Embrace the moment like that's all there is,
To spur 'magination,

Then there are times to view the horizon,
Imagine yourself there,
Chart out the best route methodically,
For fortune does not come out of thin air,

just like there is no overnight success,
Without lots of hard toil,
If I'd figured that out decades ago...
Well, regret's the sole's soil,

Back to the world,
That is the horizon,
Let bliss be the north star that guides your way,
Just do the work to maintain your motion.

The Universal Survey

If you asked a question,
Of ev'ryone you know,
Individually, without sharing,
Where other answers go,

What question would it need to be to have,
All answers in common?
"Do you want peace?", "Do you have what you want?",
"Is there a difference between humans?",

"Do you want ev'ryone to be the same?",
"Can you and I be friends?",
"Do you think we have the communal will,
"To bring war to an end?"

What about me?
Yes, no, no, no, yes, no,
I guess if you're reading this it's a start,
Try sending it to ev'ryone you know.

A Meditation

Some things should not be said,
They should be done, instead,
The very act of putting words to them,
Leaves the intention dead,

You want an example, I can't give one,
For the exact reason,
Just know that as you are consuming this,
It's only possible through my action,

How long it took you are welcome to guess,
Let your mind do the rest,
Extract the meaning only you can find,
Or what's left out, at best,

Now off you go,
I mean no disrespect,
If you give me some benefit of doubt,
You may find my expression is perfect.

A Downer

Two plus two equals four,
Five times three is fifteen,
Add them together and then you can drink,
Except in Tamuning,

Plus other places owned by the U.S.,
But you can buy a gun,
This ain't a critique of America,
I've not the stomach for revolution,

To tell the truth, I'm not even from there,
But, oh boy, I'd be screwed,
If that empire actually died,
I bet that you'd be, too,

But there are those,
Who'd welcome its demise,
Unless it meant nuclear holocaust,
I don't have enough lines to make this nice.

Here’s The Problem

It's best we all hustle,
If we want to survive,
Make sure that we all know every angle,
To keep ourselves alive,

Understanding what will help or hurt us,
Given any human,
Not forgetting that we all are equal,
To hustle you do not have to be mean,

Just like CEOs don't have to either,
Nor does your jealous friend,
We know that if everyone was just nice,
All world conflict would end,

That's de facto,
You cannot pretend,
That government would even be a thing,
If we all just had the best intentions.

Stop Reading

Here's the thing about faith,
In a god or in you,
Assuming there's a diff'rence between them,
That's not in my purview,

In either case you are taking a leap,
Without a guarantee,
That instead of you being rewarded,
When you land you won't crush your hopes and dreams,

The alternative's familiar to all,
You're doing it right now,
Not that reading is a big waste of time,
But we know it's not how,

To make a life,
'Least that's what my dad said,
He was always fearful of what I'd learn,
Absorbing the thoughts from another's head.

Where's My Place

Why've I not been writing?
I'll tell you what it is,
I have been struggling with what use I am,
Midst the circumstances,

Surrounding climate, war, and, yes, my skin,
Shouldn't I keep quiet,
Let those speak with more of it in the game,
Maybe they can fix the broke my kind lit,

Then again what happens if they do not,
But turn the tables 'round,
Take what should have been their rights from the start,
Eye for eye, pound for pound?

Or should my voice,
Quiet down just enough,
'Til there's room for everyone equally?
I am afraid, these days, I'm not that tough.

Losing My Religion

Oh, here we go again,
Depressed for no reason,
Except for all those actions I repressed,
For ethical questions,

Which is the reason for all religion,
Speaking of which, I've none,
Except for my faith in the universe,
Instilled by my catholic reformed mom,

Still, a faith that is tenuous at best,
But don't tell uni that,
I have my slips in those moments of fear,
My life is not exact-

-ly what I want,
Still, what does it owe me?
Perhaps if I became an orthodox,
I'd be free of responsibility.

Three Rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court

Who cares who someone loves?

What, I'm oblivious?
There are people with truth others don't have,
Afraid of god's justice?

What about those who can't afford college,
But still need a degree,
Else they can't get a job to pay school debt,
Which is like a glitch in an R.P.G.?

If they can get into college at all,
Depending on their skin,
For now there's no protection from racists-
I mean, from the system.

But who am I?
Just another white dude,
Feeling nervous writing this down,
Lest my own opinions get me eschewed.

The Mind's I

Sometimes I get anxious,
What's my mind telling me,
Is there is something I am not getting,
That I am missing,

It doesn't matter if I never know,
It doesn't expect that,
I just have to try to align myself,
With how it's advising me to act,

Which it don't do with any words, per se,
Think more telepathy,
If I had a mind of my own plus it,
And I just let it free,

That is scary,
To have faith in your gut,
And your ability to figure out,
The best course to take when you're in a rut.

To The Altruistic

How do you navigate,
Through this sea of people,
All of whom are seeking their own rewards,
From priveleged to feable?

From those who appear they have all they need,
Whether they're rich or poor,
The chronically unlucky to the blessed,
Most believe that they are deserving more,

It's like macro and micro, yin and yang,
Rowdy Piper and Hulk,
Asked to apportion your wealth to the world,
We would all keep the bulk.

You disagree?
You're diff´rent from Bill Gates?
I like to think about me that way, too-
Oops, gotta get to work or I´ll be late!

Happy Father's Day!

Yes, it is father's day,
You can do what you want,
Don't know who set it up or what they meant,
Don't think they questioned Kant,

For there was no imperative for this,
But I'll take what I can,
A time for self-reflection's never bad,
Unless you realize you're one dimension,

But I can't say I have any regrets,
Or else, someone might hear,
J.K., if I had to do all again,
I'd without any fear,

For all is good,
Fact, better than ever,
If one tweak to my life might change today,
I would stop you from touching the lever.

The Safe Route

Sometimes I remember,
And sometimes I forget,
When I let myself be carried away,
It is the best time, yet,

One serendipidous thing after next,
Starts happening to me,
With no foreseeable end, if I want,
Still, fear keeps me away from ecstacy,

For it might be the case that faith in life's,
Rewarded with success,
A theory that must be proved constantly,
Until you're left with less,

Or maybe more,
But is it worth the risk?
Safely balance on a low-strung tightrope,
Happy never to experience bliss.

What Are We Striving For?

Now I'm reading Bostrom,
Superintelligence,
I am past the history of A.I.,
Or it's non-existence,

So far it appears there is a threshold,
That must be overcome,
The capacity to learn and discern,
To reach superhuman computation,

Which we may not have the computers for,
If we even knew how,
The brain's configured to make what we've made,
To get where we're at now,

If that's the goal,
What have we done so far,
With th'intelligence we're trying to Ape,
Feels like we may be aiming for sub-par.

While I Wait

I'm barely connected,
Almost forgot this line,
These days if I can't write my train of thought,
I'm sounding like I whine,

When, let's be honest, that's all that I do,
Then say something like this,
"Oh boy, I didn't know I'd have this chance,
To show you that I am conscientious,

Of, let's be honest, that's all that I do,
P'haps I should have said this,
"I'm being silly, but it's hard to tell,
Without context, unless,

You've read other,
Opinions just like this,"
But I didn't and I have lost the train,
Which, let's face it, should have been hard to miss."

The Need for the Debt Ceiling

Wish someone could tell me,
What the debt ceiling means,
Other than an arbitrary number,
From nineteen seventeen,

When printing a dollar meant there was gold,
Ready to back it up,
That rule came and went a few times since then,
But not since the ceiling debt did erupt

Debt in the first place is only as strong,
As the dollar remains,
The U.S. gold vault could be filled with moths,
Still, backed by fighter planes.

What is my point?
Maybe there isn't one,
Either things are exactly as they seem,
Or bound only by imagination.

I'm Not Complaining

As summer looms closer,
Along with my last breath,
Like so many other middle-class men,
I am grappling with death,

When I should be telling myself instead,
'You are not middle class',
Maybe your parents clawed their way to it,
But the world has changed and it's missed your grasp,

You will find out in the coming summers,
And the climbing degrees,
Even those who are now legit ok,
No value in money,

Except for those,
With so much, it's like air,
They breathe it in, inside protective domes,
Then scoff at those who say the world's not fair.

Why A.I. Should Be Regulated

Let's talk about A.I.,
It is not writing this,
Or has it read ev'ry one of my Waths,
And said, 'they'll think it's his"?

No, I am not going to get meta,
I have too much to say,
The question is could it follow my thoughts,
Then tell me what I'll be thinking one day?

Help me find the path most satisfying,
Based on my hopes and fears,
I'd be uploading it my brain right now,
If it could erase tears,

Then find my bliss,
Don't tell the government,
There's only room for one system 'round here,
And, boy, universal wealth isn't it.

Control Your Loved Ones

What's making you upset,
About where your life's at,
The loneliness from loved ones who decide,
They will unhang their hat,

Walk out the door and explore a new road,
That will not pass by you,
Should not be channelled at those not so hurt,
Who enjoy the status you feel you're due,

Instead try being happy they're happy,
Okay, that is a lot,
Especially, if you had it your way,
They'd not get what they sought,

Which is freedom,
To do just as they please,
Why can't they see your chosen path for them,
Would make you, who they should love, the most pleased?

You Can Live Forever

As we all get older,
Like in the last second,
Not the one that you passed before you read this,
The one 'round the next bend,

Which if we always keep it in its place,
Will, yes, never arrive,
I tell you it is as easy as that,
The caveat's you keep yourself alive

Otherwise the whole system falls apart,
Then you will never see,
An eternity in which you become,
All the things you can be,

That's ev'rything,
Of course, it's not just time,
This all assumes you'll try to do something,
Not just sit on your ass and wait to die

Game Two

It has been quite a day,
And the days in between,
Sometimes I wonder if a normal life's,
Anything someone's seen,

Or if it's worth it even having one,
Given the time we've got,
Think of those you know having a good time,
I bet you'd trade them for your sorry lot,

No offence, I'm sure you have got it made,
Nice house, a job, and phone,
I hope coworkers give you accolades,
Then you get more at home,

You deserve it,
You have made it this far,
Trying to concentrate as you write this,
Killing time inside of a loud sports bar.

They're Not Listening!

Who the hell uses Edge,
Mine just had to restart,
Just as I began this Wath about it.
Maybe it has a heart,

Along with the brain that is running Bing,
Though I've seen no smarts, yet,
Either A.I.'s merely a fantasy,
'r'intelligences not that magnificent,

At least compared to my own aptitude.
I'm sorry, is that vain?
Or is it a comment on Microsoft,
Vain, 'case Bill's listening.

I'm sure he's not!
Nor is Steve from the grave,
If I ne'er get out of this life alive,
These words are proof that the pen cannot save.

Existential Despair

If you are in despair,
Like, existentially,
Questioning your own value, as human,
Or p'haps humanity's,

Do not despair, you're not the only one,
I mean do, but do not,
Pick any person you see, rich or poor,
Such feelings are, have, or will be their lot,

Unless they have no ambition past this,
Meaning, where they are now,
Despair points to an unfulfilled desire,
You feel should be endowed,

For you deserve,
What life's not given you,
Because, well, you did not ask to be born,
So if you don't get what you want, then who?

This Wath's a Simulation

I've yet to read Bostrom,
If he really exists,
If we're all computer simulations,
My library hold's mist,

Rather could be made up of the same things,
Pesky ones and zeros,
Really not that diff'rent than most theories,
Whether digital, string, god, or Plato,

What if we are second generation,
Like simulated twice?
A simulation developed A.I.,
Then John wrote Men and Mice.

I will not end,
With, 'we just have to live,
Hist'ry's ripe with metaphysical thoughts,
Which means the coders are inquisitive.

A Tale of Two Curtain Rods

There was this curtain rod,
Well, to be honest, two,
We made sure of all the measurements twice, 

Put one up tried and true,

Three brackets securely installed level,

Finial on one end,

Next was rod number two to mirror it,
Curtains to be bookends,

Of white-painted brick, smoke chamber and flue,

One more book, the firebox.

Oh, the hue of th'other bracket set's wrong!

E-retail sucks bollocks.

What's the moral?
Some things just have to be,
Best be them earlier, sooner than now,
And never forget to get the receipt. 

It's All Good!

No positivity,
Could match my own outlook,
Despite the feelings all these Waths might give,
To those who take a look,

Sure the world's trajectory is not good,
Well, there I go again,
Does man's trend tow'rds destruction say something,
Of the nature of each of us humans?

Don't we feel distrust of endless success?
Or maybe that's just me,
Bringing us back the original point,
Of my disparity,

Of what I see,
Compared to what there is,
Like the words that I end up writing here,
Maybe I'm destined to ne'er find my bliss.

Slow It Down

What's the point of all this?
I don't mean what you think,
I knew long ago the secret of life,
And trust me, brah, it stinks,

You don't want to know what there is to know,
Try to read books, instead,
At least they'll pretend that there is meaning,
With some formula for getting ahead,

Then try to talk to someone religious,
If you're not already,
Not to get comfort of an afterlife,
But just to keep busy,

And distracted,
For if you think too much,
You'll shorten the length of your existence,
Trust me, you should not be in such a rush.

Here's What To Do

There are paths not taken,
Each moment of your life,
More than you could count in a thousand years,
Though's a choice you may like,

For what do we have to know which is right?
Don't tell me it's a book,
Written by someone with the same choices,
Who chose to tell others where they should look,

Who claim knowledge from a higher power,
I'm not looking to fight,
Like Logan Roy says in S4 E1,
"I think this is it. Right?"

It might not be,
Nor would I claim to know,
All I'm really saying is take a chance,
Or don't. Just let me decide for my own.

Life's Ups and Downs

You might be going up,
Like a mutual fund,
Each day you have a little dip downward,
Causing you confusion,

If you step back to see the big picture,
The line is positive,
But life is experience of each moment,
So every downward dip must still be lived,

Unless you choose to disconnect yourself,
There goes half of your days,
Plus sleep if you are getting full night's rests,
Not staying up stressed, late,

You could let slide,
Downturns as preparing,
To gather strength to push to the next tier,
Sounds like a life of toil and disparing.

What's Not Deep Fake?

I'm not a fake picture,
I've got all my fingers,
The people around me are not blurry,
Or seem ghostly figures,

I'm not in a location I'd not be,
If you know who I am.
Perception still controls reality,
Looking at a screen or holding my hand,

P'haps as A.I. continues to improve,
So will how humans feel,
We'll hone our discernment of what we see,
To intuit what's real.

Which is what now?
Well, make your own deep fake,
Believe the world's what you want it to be,
Then convince it to believe what you make.

If I Knew What I Know Now

What's old always is new,
When it comes back around,
Because people are really no diff'rent,
Far back as you can count,

They just didn't have the things we have now,
Like we don't have their things,
What do you think you would be doing now,
With no car, internet, or onion rings?

I am not sure I would change all that much,
'slong as I had a pen,
Or chisel and rock, or oration skills,
And a bed to lie in,

Oh, and a friend,
Did they have those back then?
Someone to talk to about life's wonder,
And help each other out of depression.

Congratulations!

Some days you just can't lose,
Would they could be each day,
When everywhere you turn you find good luck,
Maybe it is today,

The culmination of the days before,
Perhaps you did good deeds,
Without expectation of quid pro quo,
Like planting thoughts you didn't know were seeds,

It is the not knowing that really counts,
The key's to be sincere,
Not knowing that you know what the key is,
With completely no fear,

Or self-knowledge,
It's actually not fun,
You require more days of disappointment,
To appreciate the scattered fortune.

Keeping High While Low

I need to do something,
Even if it is this,
Sometimes it's hard to remember the fact,
That we for sure exist,

That that means no one can tell us we don't,
Nor tell us that we do,
Yes, you only have the moment at hand,
But does that provide you any real proof?

Or rather, what does this proof offer you?
Where is life's manual?
Oh, you have it, and it's all written down!
Starting with our first fall,

From grace, that is,
We've never since bounced back,
It's bad enough I've my own life to sort,
Somehow it was e'er ruined by some hack.

The One-Dimensional Man

You know Herbert Marcuse?
Well, I didn't either,
E'en though I've a philosophy degree,
And breathe the same ether,

It's like he described what we have become,
Some forty years before,
Enmeshed until we're one-dimensional,
A component automation's core,

No longer able to be what we were,
When there was still a hope,
Shining a light in our consciousnesses,
Now we can all just cope,

With what there is,
Which is beyond our grasp,
Unless we can manage to overcome,
Control of capitalism, at last.

Another Economic Save

It's a wonderful life,
If you are not a bank,
Who am I kidding, they're doing alright,
Yes, even though they tank,

The government won't let them go under,
They are too big to fail,
Just ask Obama in two thousand eight,
When folks were starving, who he chose to bail,

'cause folks don't have the ear of presidents,
They just close streets sometimes,
If you want to see politicians shake,
Threaten to raise the prime,

Something like that,
I do not even know,
What secret jargon the banker whispers,
In the ear of who's really in control.

Happy At Last

I'm so goddamn happy,
I am just letting loose,
Why not acknowledge that you just live once,
Then casu'lly light the fuse?

It's better to burn out than fade away,
Did I just make that up?
Avoid regret, believing in nothing,
You will forever have an half full cup,

It is that easy if you have the cash,
Live where you're not repressed,
Just joking, such a place does not exist,
Some countries just seem less,

But they're not,
You succumb to belong,
But don't worry, as long as you know this,
You can think you're happy and not be wrong.

Selective Outrage

Watched Selective Outrage,
I've always liked Chris Rock,
His joke 'bout charging 5k for bullets,
Still makes me laugh a lot,

He's fin'lly talking about Will Smith's slap,
He took it like Pacquiao,
You know, the Filipino senator,
Who sings the song Biyaheng Pag-Asa,

Chris says Will's anger preceded the hit,
Back to Red Table Talk,
Jada questioned him about her affair,
Then came the joke by Rock,

The show was good,
I did laugh all that much,
Thought maybe he'd go on about PacMan.
And reference his song, "Sometimes When We Touch.

I'm Not In The Mafia

Yes, I am Italian,
Though, born in Canada,
And despite what you think 'bout my culture,
Not in the mafia,

It might be possible I've known a few,
If rumours are believed,
Which if any of them are reading this,
They are laughing at my simplicity,

For who of us are so isolated,
That everyone we've met,
Have found success by playing by the rules?
If you've found any, yet,

Which you can't know,
Unless you're one of them,
In which case odds are someone that you know's,
Part of a suspect organization.

Why Not Wake Up?

What is wrong with wokeness?
I am not telling you,
If you know what it is and you don't know,
Then don't seek out that clue,

It's a seed of a thought that bears bad fruit,
That will then spoil the bunch,
Resisting the point by sharpening it,
Ruining an excellent learn and lunch,

Why not instead engage it in good faith,
Embrace the openness,
Assume that no topic is out of bounds,
As a given premise,

Then wait and see,
If you leave it to grow,
The search for equality should find you,
Which, be honest, is what you fear the most.

If You're Reading This

'fyou've got time to read this,
Things ain't going that bad,
You must be on some kind of computer,
So mazel tov on that,

You're using accessible internet,
You're using your free will,
Unless someone's got a gun to your head,
Forcing you, as torture, to read this swill,

I can't imagine you're on your deathbed,
You'd not waste time with Waths,
Unless, wait a sec, are you my mother?
No, she's already lost,

So here's the deal,
Since I've your attention,
The fact that we're here, talking together,
Tells me you live in major convenience.

Strategy

Strategy must adapt,
Or it's just an old thought,
That is especially difficult when,
Your life is in a rut,

When you keep trying the same things again,
And get the same results,
Wait, this is sounding like something else now,
Like maybe it's not your strategy's fault,

Let's focus instead on environment,
It changes like climate,
So you must evolve incrementally,
Or that's the end of that.

Know what I mean?
Take a look at your life,
It's not that nothing ever goes your way,
It's that you're turning left when things go right.

The System's Alive

I'm starting to wonder,
Just what is going on,
Is everything I read on the news true,
Or is it deception?

Forsooth there are reporters who believe,
What they report's the truth,
But like Chomsky has said, they're just the plaque,
On Capitalism's decaying tooth,

Or something like that, but the real point is,
They're hiding the structure,
Which supports the system that benefits,
A precious few, for sure,

Which ain't the point,
It's just a distraction,
Orchestrated by a living ideal,
Scrambling to eschew its own extinction.

I'm Not Complaining

Forget the Earth's troubles,
Take a look around you,
So many people living their best life,
Though granted they are few,

Attaining success because, yes, they worked.
Harder than anyone?
Even assuming that that is the case,
There's not room for many in this system,

Just enough to keep the machine working,
Keeping most all else down,
If we didn't have those to which to strive,
We might start looking 'round,

Then realize that,
The system is all fixed,
A blinding truth I'm not the first to speak,
Drowned out by fake news they throw in the mix.

Oh Death

The irony of death,
Rests in its welcoming,
One fights it off with every ounce of strength,
Despite being buried,

Then cheers arise from the mass of hopefuls,
Lauding resiliency,
Voices raised up in thanks to man and god,
Drowning out the wailing of refugees,

The distant murmurs of the dispossesed,
Lying in the next street,
Hundreds of thousands gone before this line,
E'en mentions the elite,

Who defy death,
As long as science helps,
Research that could be used to save millions,
Drawn by the profits of aesthetic health.

Maybe Not So Profound

It all came clear to me,
In a dream of all things,
Sitting in a theatre with strangers,
With whom I shared something,

The curtains were closed, the seats black and plush,
We were all dressed nicely,
A few friends I wouldn't know in this world,
Who represented my hopes were with me,

We began to shuffle to the exits,
Can't say how the show was,
But an epiphany strode sleep and wake,
Simple, but gave me pause,

The world's dying,
Due to the structures built,
By a few, that we have to live within,
Either thriving, struggling or racked with guilt.

The Ridiculousness

Don't know who to believe,
About China's balloon?
How about telling them to all fuck off,
It couldn't be too soon,

The fact that any of it's on the news,
Means that it's a set-up,
The U.S. planned to attack P.R.C,
Years before that Sidewinder blew it up,

Maybe it's because it owes China cash,
So much, it cannot pay,
A dying empire means people die, too,
That's just the human way,

It's always been,
We think that we've evolved,
We're no smarter, nor sophisticated,
We're a broken puzzle that can't be solved.

The Wolff of Pennsylvania Ave

I'm no economist,
Don't even look at bills,
I'd rather forget there's a thing called cash,
Take on debt, come what will,

Just like the American government,
Richard Wolff knows the deal,
For a four-year term, what would someone do?
Not ostracize those who pay for their meals,

Which means they can't tax the corporations,
Who care for naught but gain,
So the government borrows from business,
It's, as Wolff says, insane.

We all pretend,
Like I do with my bills,
Imagining the American Dream,
Can be accomplished by sheer force of will.

The Origin of Laughter

This might appear funny,
A thought occurred to me,
About the cause of the best medicine,
A Proverb's legacy,

I've heard it said it's funny 'cause it's true,
Well that makes me guffaw,
Not that the phrase doesn't scratch the surface,
Like not killing someone describes the law,

What is happening when you L.O.L.,
Is more transcendental,
It's the witnessing that you're not alone,
That's so hysterical,

But it can't last,
As long as you're human,
You must attain some higher level shit,
To afford to laugh for milleniums.

Hold That Thought

What's with all these layoffs?!
Can't a tech get a break?
Half the world uses social media,
Though most of it is fake,

Where are the cutbacks in fossel fuels?
Don't think that I've seen that,
Uganda's going to start drilling oil,
Not that lithium mining's where it's at,

You see how one complaint leads to many,
Maybe we shouldn't start,
Next thing we'll be demanding less airplanes,
And I don't have the heart,

'Cause I've got plans,
To go to Mexico,
For an all-inclusive with my family,
Let's not talk about this before we go.

Excel Calibration

Who knows what will happen,
Just when it's figured out,
Everything you thought was going to happen,
Is suddenly in doubt,

Like everything else you expect will not,
Then happens anyway,
Like all risks, they could be helpful or not,
Then just disappear as well any day,

While what stays constant is your attitude,
Even if it should change,
There's something you call yourself leading it,
That recalls each exchange.

So, think on that,
What you control and don't,
Then make a spreadsheet lining up your past,
How do you feel when what you want to be won't?

When You Know

When there's nothing to say,
You're lying to yourself,
In fact, let us go a little further,
About your mental health,

Everything you say is nothing at all,
A delaying tactic,
It's all noise you make to distract your brain,
From considering a worthwhile topic,

Like what the hell are you doing on earth,
For the blip of time you are,
If you knew, how would you, what would it mean,
Could you then stop all war?

Would you e'en try,
If you knew everything?
Maybe you'd let yourself just starve to death,
In a bliss that all others are missing.

Not Now

I'm not sure I want this,
Sitting here, writing,
But then I think about alternatives,
And I quit my fighting,

It is not that I'm getting paid for this!
Why's my mind go there first?
Oh, money's how we determine value,
That is why I always carry my purse,

Just kidding, I purchase with apple pay,
My phone's not in my purse,
That's where I keep my wallet and Kobo,
I don't want the thing to burst!

Like this poem,
What, you didn't notice?!
Sorry, forgot what a poem's good for,
Now walk back slowly from the precipice.

Too Personal?

I wish he'd included,
The one 'bout Mr T,
From Delirious in the tribute deck,
Lauding Eddie Murphey,

You'll have to look it up, if you don't know,
But I can't be too sad,
After his acceptance speech and the joke,
Heard around the world wasn't so bad,

He took a topic often talked about,
But never done justice,
Dropping his bomb like a professional,
Always leave them in bliss.

So here's to you,
You're forgiven for Klump,
Now I have to go and do my taxes,
Maybe next year I won't feel like a chump.

How To Get Ahead

There is a comfort zone,
At every stage of life,
In which you're not challenged to change a thing,
Despite struggles or strife,

It is easier to do what you know,
E'en if what you know's bad,
You feel you can't do what those others do,
You lack the aptitude you think they have,

When if you could get inside of their heads,
You'd not find much at stake,
Think of the success so many relish,
You think they're all that great?

Well they're not,
They have one possession,
A belief in their own capacity,
Or a lack thereof in those around them.

The Guide to Life

Who knows what will happen,
From one day to the next?
A hope you've had comes true against all odds,
That last year had seemed vexed,

Your house burns down if you have one at all,
You win the lottery,
A gas line exploids just as you walk by,
You've been a captive, now you've been let free,

A loved one dies without any warning,
The things you wished you'd said,
An illness strikes you that you suspected,
But left unattended.

And in the end,
Life is both short and long,
The blip you are means naught in the grand schemes,
All that has weight's that you've not got it wrong.