The invisible mask of confidence has been torn away
My arrogance now cries behind sweaty palms
For a part of my life has been stricken from me
By an insect of a man, no less
An alcoholic toddler unwilling to share
Whose foresight is no longer than arm’s length
He speaks with over-used words long forgotten by most
And clings to childish reasons for discomfort and cynicism
His answers to life may be found on public tabletops
And restroom stall doors
And yet, he has taken this from me
Something I once held to be precious and invulnerable
A treasure both delicate and resilient
Seemingly above all human flaws
If it can be so easily filched by perverted hands
And sweet words from empty mouths
What else can be held sacred?
Give me back my friend
15 June 2009
05 June 2009
Revolution Of Consciousness
Recently, during one of my infamously heated rants pertaining to my undying frustration towards the United States government, the large population of apathetic citizens, and the perennial evil hidden behind the benevolent façade of religion, I was presented with a question by my father- a question which almost stopped me in my tracks. First, I must explain where it is my father actually stands when it comes to certain views on the world. He loves his country and believes the military is a necessary evil; of which is still an honorable profession to choose as one’s career. He sees the corruption but still plays the game. One of the only things him and I actually agree on is that our President Elect is nothing but a President Select; appointed by the faceless powers that be. We often have arguments about the origin of Islam and its accused violence towards “infidels”. Until he threw this nearly cliché question at me, I had no idea how I had not rubbed off on him even a little and turned him to the dark side of conspiracy theories and organized religion bashing. He still gets a little angry when I step over the line on a few subjects (mostly when I tell him 9/11 was committed by our own government, not radical Jihadists). He usually just threatens to throw me out of his house and then storms off to his room. However, this time he fought back in a way I felt was an attempt to break my will. My father looked me dead in the eyes with a posture of both annoyance and conviction and asked:
“So what? What is it that you think YOU can do? You are just one person. I have lived almost three times as long as you and things have never changed despite all the great men who have tried. Things are how they have always been and always will be. There is nothing you can do about it, so why even try?”
Being shocked by his apparent acceptance of defeat I had trouble finding a witty comment to quickly throw back his way as I usually do. All I could think of to say in response was:
“I still have to try. Regardless the implausibility of one person making a difference and the near impossibility of that person being me- it does not mean the way to go is acceptance.”
This is a perfectly reasonable response. However, I was not satisfied with it and neither was my father. At this point in time we had both had enough, though, and decided it was time to chill out. I was not done with it, though. I kept thinking about it for a little while and I realized what it was I should have said to him. The era of the “one man leads the way” revolution is over. With the way the world is now controlled, this is impossible. In this clandestine empire, one man is easy to kill, easy to rally against, and easy to ignore. This is not the 60’s anymore. Walking in circles in front of the capitol building with signs on sticks and peacefully marching down busy roads simply won’t cut it any longer. Doing these things definitely won’t hurt; they still do a lot of good and I am all for joining in some peaceful protests. But to win the war there needs to be something more. There needs to be a revolution of consciousness.
This is something one person CAN do. The simple acts of awareness and refusal can work wonders. All one must do is open their eyes and then spread the word on what it is they see. Instead of gathering around the smoking circle during break time at work and joining in the conversation about how those crazy Muslims are out to get everyone, start your own smoking circle and explain to people that governments must perpetuate that which keeps them in power and do so in any way they can. If apathy was replaced by awareness then maybe something could actually happen. In order for the system to change it must first fail. In order for this to happen we must all collectively stop supporting it. In the words of Peter Joseph, “to understand is to transform what is”.
I now know why my father accepts the system. It is not because he refuses to be open to the things I say. It is not because of a naively misplaced sense of patriotism. It is because, in his age, he no longer has the energy or the willpower to go against the corruption. His job is to support his family- he does not want to be bothered with my revolutionist ideologies.
However, if you do want to be bothered by my revolutionist ideologies, if you see what it is I speak of and do have the energy and willpower to get involved, then there is a way. It is called the Zeitgeist Movement. “This is not a political movement. It does not recognize nations, governments, races, religions, creeds, or class. The movement’s understandings conclude that these are false, outdated distinctions which are far from positive factors for true collective human growth and potential. Their basis is in power division and stratification, not unity and equality, which is the goal of the Zeitgeist Movement.” The movement does not expect anything from you that you are not willing to give. If all you want to do is sign up for the news letter and be done with it then that is appreciated. All that is asked for is awareness.
To watch the movies Zeitgeist I, Zeitgeist II: Addendum, and Zeitgeist III (to be released in October 2009):
www.zeitgeistmovie.com
To check out the movement and/or join:
www.thezeitgeistmovement.com
“So what? What is it that you think YOU can do? You are just one person. I have lived almost three times as long as you and things have never changed despite all the great men who have tried. Things are how they have always been and always will be. There is nothing you can do about it, so why even try?”
Being shocked by his apparent acceptance of defeat I had trouble finding a witty comment to quickly throw back his way as I usually do. All I could think of to say in response was:
“I still have to try. Regardless the implausibility of one person making a difference and the near impossibility of that person being me- it does not mean the way to go is acceptance.”
This is a perfectly reasonable response. However, I was not satisfied with it and neither was my father. At this point in time we had both had enough, though, and decided it was time to chill out. I was not done with it, though. I kept thinking about it for a little while and I realized what it was I should have said to him. The era of the “one man leads the way” revolution is over. With the way the world is now controlled, this is impossible. In this clandestine empire, one man is easy to kill, easy to rally against, and easy to ignore. This is not the 60’s anymore. Walking in circles in front of the capitol building with signs on sticks and peacefully marching down busy roads simply won’t cut it any longer. Doing these things definitely won’t hurt; they still do a lot of good and I am all for joining in some peaceful protests. But to win the war there needs to be something more. There needs to be a revolution of consciousness.
This is something one person CAN do. The simple acts of awareness and refusal can work wonders. All one must do is open their eyes and then spread the word on what it is they see. Instead of gathering around the smoking circle during break time at work and joining in the conversation about how those crazy Muslims are out to get everyone, start your own smoking circle and explain to people that governments must perpetuate that which keeps them in power and do so in any way they can. If apathy was replaced by awareness then maybe something could actually happen. In order for the system to change it must first fail. In order for this to happen we must all collectively stop supporting it. In the words of Peter Joseph, “to understand is to transform what is”.
I now know why my father accepts the system. It is not because he refuses to be open to the things I say. It is not because of a naively misplaced sense of patriotism. It is because, in his age, he no longer has the energy or the willpower to go against the corruption. His job is to support his family- he does not want to be bothered with my revolutionist ideologies.
However, if you do want to be bothered by my revolutionist ideologies, if you see what it is I speak of and do have the energy and willpower to get involved, then there is a way. It is called the Zeitgeist Movement. “This is not a political movement. It does not recognize nations, governments, races, religions, creeds, or class. The movement’s understandings conclude that these are false, outdated distinctions which are far from positive factors for true collective human growth and potential. Their basis is in power division and stratification, not unity and equality, which is the goal of the Zeitgeist Movement.” The movement does not expect anything from you that you are not willing to give. If all you want to do is sign up for the news letter and be done with it then that is appreciated. All that is asked for is awareness.
To watch the movies Zeitgeist I, Zeitgeist II: Addendum, and Zeitgeist III (to be released in October 2009):
www.zeitgeistmovie.com
To check out the movement and/or join:
www.thezeitgeistmovement.com
Question
Recently it appears that we are all uncomfortably close to reaching the figurative "fork in the road" as to what the human race has been destined to become. Witnessed either personally or through some form of media- all of our lives have been inundated with theological and moral debates. Which, by all means, I welcome as long they are kept civil. What bothers me, though, is how these debates cannot be considered as such- for they are in no way civilized. They are arguments, heated to an absurd level comparable only to those of small children fighting over whose turn it is to sit in the front seat. Within one hundred feet in any direction I guarantee you can meet someone who has found the absolute truth; telling them otherwise will then only be responded to by a disgusted look and an abrupt shut-down. Most of the population does not choose to look much further from what they were fed at the dinner table or during church while they were children; therefore, I see them as such and nothing more.
Listening to opposing viewpoints, blasphemous or not, is to open your heart to the devil Himself. Having an open mind only creates a doorway for evil. Rationality gives in to compromise and compromise is unacceptable. So they all love to say.
Without a doubt you already think I am speaking directly about extreme Christians and their inherent need to convert the world. However, this is not entirely true. I am referring to the human race as a whole and my complete shame for being included as one of them. It is not simply the Christians' fault, nor is it any other religious groups' faults in particular. It is about time that we start looking at ourselves in terms of a collective. Not as Americans or Arabs, not as Israelis or Palestinians; but as people and as human beings- Earthlings, if you will.
Personally, I am tired of all this conflict. Conflict I am convinced arises solely and completely out of selfishness and lack of education. Note the saying "great minds think alike". Assuming this is true, why do you think that is? Educated minds uninhibited and uninfluenced by the power hungry and manipulative tend to come to the same conclusions. Surely this is not out of shear coincidence- thinking this would just be naive. If your answer is to then say it is through some sort of divine intervention then my response is this- pick up a book that isn't a Bible once in a while. It'll do you some good. I have only been properly aware of these conflicts for about seven or eight years now and I am already sick of it. Sick of the stupidity. How can a 21-year-old look at these forty and fifty year old men and women and feel nothing but disdain and disrespect. Does wisdom not come with age? Or is that one thing that truly is only given to the "blessed"?
So here I sit in front of my computer screen. Overwhelmed with frustration in my attempt at coming up with something I can tell people that would force them to see their ways from a worldly perspective- from an educated perspective. Conspiracy theories are not just something borderline schizos cook up in their basements for attention. Organized religion has caused more death and violence than any other external stimulus in the history of mankind combined. The military is no longer an honorable profession- soldiers no longer fight for countries. They are mercenaries hired to secure precious items with force when other concerned parties don't play along. Drug use is a victimless crime and addiction should not be responded to with incarceration but with treatment. So on and so forth, any major argument usually has a simple answer as long as it is looked into without bias or prejudice. Especially without religion. Religion is in no way a responsible method of organization for society. How many of the ten commandments are truly applicable to society as a whole anyway? Two? Three?
I would never consider myself to be all that wise. Or even all that completely educated. Which is what makes what I see even more sad and difficult to bear. How can I come to these conclusions? How can I see through all the bullshit being thrown from every direction? I admit I have no real answers. But what I do have are the right questions. Questions 95% of the entire world seem to ignore.
So here I will continue to sit- in front of my computer screen. Waiting for the day I can find my proverbial soap box. A place to stand and speak where people will listen to my words and reflect instead of only hearing them while simultaneously rejecting what they mean.
Listening to opposing viewpoints, blasphemous or not, is to open your heart to the devil Himself. Having an open mind only creates a doorway for evil. Rationality gives in to compromise and compromise is unacceptable. So they all love to say.
Without a doubt you already think I am speaking directly about extreme Christians and their inherent need to convert the world. However, this is not entirely true. I am referring to the human race as a whole and my complete shame for being included as one of them. It is not simply the Christians' fault, nor is it any other religious groups' faults in particular. It is about time that we start looking at ourselves in terms of a collective. Not as Americans or Arabs, not as Israelis or Palestinians; but as people and as human beings- Earthlings, if you will.
Personally, I am tired of all this conflict. Conflict I am convinced arises solely and completely out of selfishness and lack of education. Note the saying "great minds think alike". Assuming this is true, why do you think that is? Educated minds uninhibited and uninfluenced by the power hungry and manipulative tend to come to the same conclusions. Surely this is not out of shear coincidence- thinking this would just be naive. If your answer is to then say it is through some sort of divine intervention then my response is this- pick up a book that isn't a Bible once in a while. It'll do you some good. I have only been properly aware of these conflicts for about seven or eight years now and I am already sick of it. Sick of the stupidity. How can a 21-year-old look at these forty and fifty year old men and women and feel nothing but disdain and disrespect. Does wisdom not come with age? Or is that one thing that truly is only given to the "blessed"?
So here I sit in front of my computer screen. Overwhelmed with frustration in my attempt at coming up with something I can tell people that would force them to see their ways from a worldly perspective- from an educated perspective. Conspiracy theories are not just something borderline schizos cook up in their basements for attention. Organized religion has caused more death and violence than any other external stimulus in the history of mankind combined. The military is no longer an honorable profession- soldiers no longer fight for countries. They are mercenaries hired to secure precious items with force when other concerned parties don't play along. Drug use is a victimless crime and addiction should not be responded to with incarceration but with treatment. So on and so forth, any major argument usually has a simple answer as long as it is looked into without bias or prejudice. Especially without religion. Religion is in no way a responsible method of organization for society. How many of the ten commandments are truly applicable to society as a whole anyway? Two? Three?
I would never consider myself to be all that wise. Or even all that completely educated. Which is what makes what I see even more sad and difficult to bear. How can I come to these conclusions? How can I see through all the bullshit being thrown from every direction? I admit I have no real answers. But what I do have are the right questions. Questions 95% of the entire world seem to ignore.
So here I will continue to sit- in front of my computer screen. Waiting for the day I can find my proverbial soap box. A place to stand and speak where people will listen to my words and reflect instead of only hearing them while simultaneously rejecting what they mean.
Above The Rabbit Hole
I am a stranger in my own home.
A place full of scapegoats and grease.
Where creatures esoterically love what they hate
In dark corners and backseats.
Nothing exists outside, I am told,
Only naked children and bad plumbing.
God lives here and is trusted.
He hides behind dying trees and politicians;
A digested tool for ruinous machinery.
A puppet with invisible strings: thick and through.
I can see his master screaming at me in every room-
While simultaneously shaking hands and starting wars.
Suffocated by unfriendly eyes, I walk alone,
Though never far from the color-coded juries
Born on an assembly line with pointing fingers.
I can easily see who they are and what they demand
For it is carved into their foreheads-
Conform, serve, or do not exist.
The streets are littered with victims
Of cheap pornography and locked doors.
Talking sheep are second-in-command;
They give their souls and avert their eyes
To graze in pastures of green paper and false hope.
Who shall save them from the wolf they serve?
This is where I live.
Surviving on friendly whispers from afar
And brief encounters with enlightened cats.
I could not recognize a hug even if it were given.
It has been so long since I have been touched-
I fear my skin no longer works.
And so here I wait
With disgust painted on my face.
This is a world of so many eccentricities,
Yet flavors are bland,
Colors are faded,
And the sun is rare.
Where is my rabbit hole?
I do not care to stay.
A place full of scapegoats and grease.
Where creatures esoterically love what they hate
In dark corners and backseats.
Nothing exists outside, I am told,
Only naked children and bad plumbing.
God lives here and is trusted.
He hides behind dying trees and politicians;
A digested tool for ruinous machinery.
A puppet with invisible strings: thick and through.
I can see his master screaming at me in every room-
While simultaneously shaking hands and starting wars.
Suffocated by unfriendly eyes, I walk alone,
Though never far from the color-coded juries
Born on an assembly line with pointing fingers.
I can easily see who they are and what they demand
For it is carved into their foreheads-
Conform, serve, or do not exist.
The streets are littered with victims
Of cheap pornography and locked doors.
Talking sheep are second-in-command;
They give their souls and avert their eyes
To graze in pastures of green paper and false hope.
Who shall save them from the wolf they serve?
This is where I live.
Surviving on friendly whispers from afar
And brief encounters with enlightened cats.
I could not recognize a hug even if it were given.
It has been so long since I have been touched-
I fear my skin no longer works.
And so here I wait
With disgust painted on my face.
This is a world of so many eccentricities,
Yet flavors are bland,
Colors are faded,
And the sun is rare.
Where is my rabbit hole?
I do not care to stay.
Our Fictional Realities
I can see that you have been destroyed.
What little passion you had left to cling to is now a distant memory,
Stolen by the vicious collector of hearts-
A merciless creature with frigid fingers and a frozen grin.
Your lifeless eyes give little resistance in masking your defeat-
I know your pain more than you believe.
Any consolatory attempt is doomed feeble at best.
Crippled and unhinged, your mind refuses all compassion;
For you are already too far down a sepulchral path of isolation.
Words of comfort are twisted into a pitiful abuse
Where every syllable is drenched in self fulfilled shame and dejection.
The collector of hearts gorges on your emotional mire.
This sorrow was without a doubt externally caused;
A combination of unfortunate catalysts that deeply scarred your harmony
Which left behind a growing hunger to reach and affect all aspects of your life.
Yet this may not be what sustains the collector’s evolving appetite-
To find the fuel one must simply look into a mirror.
Gaze upon the eyes of your demise and know.
The collector of hearts is not you directly;
But it is your creation- search yourself and you will realize.
The power and control is none but your own to do with as you will.
This is not a curse- it is in fact an enigmatic blessing shrouded in pain,
One that can either deprave or renew.
Left unmade, this decision’s stranglehold will only grow stronger.
You are not alone.
Deny this truth no longer- we are united through common miseries.
The collector of hearts’ reach is unbridled and indiscriminate.
Your pain is not unique-
Although your desperation has convinced you otherwise.
Deepen your hesitant breath and give credence to my words:
The collector has frightened away the ones you love,
But their absence is temporary and wrought with grief.
They await the end of this ostracizing crusade of self destruction and lament.
Force yourself to overcome this affliction and finally live.
It is possible, it is necessary.
You must let go to keep holding on.
All you need is a single person who believes...
And that person is me.
What little passion you had left to cling to is now a distant memory,
Stolen by the vicious collector of hearts-
A merciless creature with frigid fingers and a frozen grin.
Your lifeless eyes give little resistance in masking your defeat-
I know your pain more than you believe.
Any consolatory attempt is doomed feeble at best.
Crippled and unhinged, your mind refuses all compassion;
For you are already too far down a sepulchral path of isolation.
Words of comfort are twisted into a pitiful abuse
Where every syllable is drenched in self fulfilled shame and dejection.
The collector of hearts gorges on your emotional mire.
This sorrow was without a doubt externally caused;
A combination of unfortunate catalysts that deeply scarred your harmony
Which left behind a growing hunger to reach and affect all aspects of your life.
Yet this may not be what sustains the collector’s evolving appetite-
To find the fuel one must simply look into a mirror.
Gaze upon the eyes of your demise and know.
The collector of hearts is not you directly;
But it is your creation- search yourself and you will realize.
The power and control is none but your own to do with as you will.
This is not a curse- it is in fact an enigmatic blessing shrouded in pain,
One that can either deprave or renew.
Left unmade, this decision’s stranglehold will only grow stronger.
You are not alone.
Deny this truth no longer- we are united through common miseries.
The collector of hearts’ reach is unbridled and indiscriminate.
Your pain is not unique-
Although your desperation has convinced you otherwise.
Deepen your hesitant breath and give credence to my words:
The collector has frightened away the ones you love,
But their absence is temporary and wrought with grief.
They await the end of this ostracizing crusade of self destruction and lament.
Force yourself to overcome this affliction and finally live.
It is possible, it is necessary.
You must let go to keep holding on.
All you need is a single person who believes...
And that person is me.
Confession
Forgive me Father
But you have sinned
You have trespassed against the blindly faithful
And exploited your position of divine guidance
A false gift in place of a worthy achievement
Given to you by those no better than Judas himself
You've further twisted the already corrupt Word
To advance your personal monetary standing
Your intentions are hidden behind benevolent preachings
Spiritually crucified, your soul is sold
As your God cries tears for a forgotten cause
His house of worship is now a market of greed
Forgive me as I turn my back
You deserve nothing more and much less
Regardless your title- all I see is a selfish child
Delivering shame unseen and unfelt
I'll reserve my confessions for true prophets of life
Fathers of ideas, not spirits of avarice
But you have sinned
You have trespassed against the blindly faithful
And exploited your position of divine guidance
A false gift in place of a worthy achievement
Given to you by those no better than Judas himself
You've further twisted the already corrupt Word
To advance your personal monetary standing
Your intentions are hidden behind benevolent preachings
Spiritually crucified, your soul is sold
As your God cries tears for a forgotten cause
His house of worship is now a market of greed
Forgive me as I turn my back
You deserve nothing more and much less
Regardless your title- all I see is a selfish child
Delivering shame unseen and unfelt
I'll reserve my confessions for true prophets of life
Fathers of ideas, not spirits of avarice
Reggie
Can one really blame poor, poor Reggie?
Shunned and discriminated,
Rejected and prejudiced,
By both humans and spiders alike.
His eight legs being eight feet tall-
He is too gigantic for his fellow arachnids.
But arachnid he still is-
Much too different and frightening for humans to love.
Yet if they took the time they would notice
Reggie's brain is just as large as his body.
A talent he is forced to use against mankind
To rule the world he cannot join.
So he needs an army to command
Full of those as abandoned as he.
What better than the immortals
Cast down from heaven to hell.
Down he must drill to free his brethren
From the infernal pits of despair.
He powers this drill with weak minded men and women
Brainwashed by the evil powers of Pop music.
It was embarrassingly simple.
All Reggie needed was a few truckloads of sweets
And the insipid repetition of the Strangeloves'
I want candy, I want candy
Thoughtless and filled with sugar
The humans work tirelessly.
Blind to the reality of their actions.
Deaf to anyone who bears warning.
The deeper they get,
The more frenzied they become.
Closer and Closer
To the belly of their own destruction.
Finally they reach their destination.
The gates of hell are open and welcoming.
Yet Reggie is surprised by what he finds-
Lucifer stands with pearly whites and perfect hair.
He is not half man, half goat
Nor a horned demon from the depictions of old.
But a businessman with a suitcase-
Holding the key to conquering our world.
"Reggie", he says,
"No longer is power taken through the sword,
It is bought with money
And fueled by vanity and greed".
So the spider and the devil began a company
Selling diet pills.
First to the, now fat, candy-filled drillers;
Then expanding across America and the world.
Reggie now has a heavy heart.
He thought his revenge would satisfy his pain
But he is as lonely as ever
And the world now belongs to Satan.
Although the planet is thin and pretty
It feels as though its uglier than ever,
Controlled by the devil himself,
And empty inside.
Poor, poor Reggie.
How could he have known?
Now all he can do is stand by and watch
With many tears dropping from his many eyes.
Shunned and discriminated,
Rejected and prejudiced,
By both humans and spiders alike.
His eight legs being eight feet tall-
He is too gigantic for his fellow arachnids.
But arachnid he still is-
Much too different and frightening for humans to love.
Yet if they took the time they would notice
Reggie's brain is just as large as his body.
A talent he is forced to use against mankind
To rule the world he cannot join.
So he needs an army to command
Full of those as abandoned as he.
What better than the immortals
Cast down from heaven to hell.
Down he must drill to free his brethren
From the infernal pits of despair.
He powers this drill with weak minded men and women
Brainwashed by the evil powers of Pop music.
It was embarrassingly simple.
All Reggie needed was a few truckloads of sweets
And the insipid repetition of the Strangeloves'
I want candy, I want candy
Thoughtless and filled with sugar
The humans work tirelessly.
Blind to the reality of their actions.
Deaf to anyone who bears warning.
The deeper they get,
The more frenzied they become.
Closer and Closer
To the belly of their own destruction.
Finally they reach their destination.
The gates of hell are open and welcoming.
Yet Reggie is surprised by what he finds-
Lucifer stands with pearly whites and perfect hair.
He is not half man, half goat
Nor a horned demon from the depictions of old.
But a businessman with a suitcase-
Holding the key to conquering our world.
"Reggie", he says,
"No longer is power taken through the sword,
It is bought with money
And fueled by vanity and greed".
So the spider and the devil began a company
Selling diet pills.
First to the, now fat, candy-filled drillers;
Then expanding across America and the world.
Reggie now has a heavy heart.
He thought his revenge would satisfy his pain
But he is as lonely as ever
And the world now belongs to Satan.
Although the planet is thin and pretty
It feels as though its uglier than ever,
Controlled by the devil himself,
And empty inside.
Poor, poor Reggie.
How could he have known?
Now all he can do is stand by and watch
With many tears dropping from his many eyes.
What Is Fair?
What a juvenile concept this is!
A Utopian theory for the simple minded
And easily forgot.
Justice exists not in our lives-
But only in the desperate delusions and
Childish fantasies we cling to
With our fingernails and teeth.
Dear God please exist!
I fear it is only divine power,
Or coincidence,
That can deliver what I beg.
I laugh not from humor-
Only from the darkness left in me.
Wallowing in it’s own mire,
It is all that can thrive in this absence.
Acceptable to the wicked,
Battled in vain by the righteous.
Am I going mad?
No, I refuse this undeniable reality;
It cannot be so.
Unknown words of honesty and merit
Must survive outside the innocent.
I can feel it as it dies and grows.
A Utopian theory for the simple minded
And easily forgot.
Justice exists not in our lives-
But only in the desperate delusions and
Childish fantasies we cling to
With our fingernails and teeth.
Dear God please exist!
I fear it is only divine power,
Or coincidence,
That can deliver what I beg.
I laugh not from humor-
Only from the darkness left in me.
Wallowing in it’s own mire,
It is all that can thrive in this absence.
Acceptable to the wicked,
Battled in vain by the righteous.
Am I going mad?
No, I refuse this undeniable reality;
It cannot be so.
Unknown words of honesty and merit
Must survive outside the innocent.
I can feel it as it dies and grows.
Now Look
It is really quite breathtaking
To see the machine operate in it's entirety
Once a step has been taken back
And objectivity can be found
No longer is it catastrophically beautiful
No more is it as efficient as you originally thought
You see the machine for what it is
And what it has always tried to be
You see the innately human aspects of a human creation
Making it liable to manipulation and influence
You see the consistently subtle signs of faulty features
And are disgusted by them
How daft you must feel to have been fooled
By such a heap of twisted gears and rusted metal
Corrupt and worn by its own indulgence
Barely able to hold its own weight in your learned eyes
No longer is it something to love and respect
No more is it a necessary evil to support and accept
To see the machine operate in it's entirety
Once a step has been taken back
And objectivity can be found
No longer is it catastrophically beautiful
No more is it as efficient as you originally thought
You see the machine for what it is
And what it has always tried to be
You see the innately human aspects of a human creation
Making it liable to manipulation and influence
You see the consistently subtle signs of faulty features
And are disgusted by them
How daft you must feel to have been fooled
By such a heap of twisted gears and rusted metal
Corrupt and worn by its own indulgence
Barely able to hold its own weight in your learned eyes
No longer is it something to love and respect
No more is it a necessary evil to support and accept
Chosen
close your eyes
you won't need them
your surroundings are to be trusted
vision is paled by reality
breathe deeply
feel the air saturate your lungs
you can depend on this
it will carry you for miles
open your senses
every vibe and every feeling is sustained
they will be felt at the utmost intensity
with an almost hedonistic content
let go of control
every muscle is tense and knows what it needs
this strain will release you
this stress will give repose
forget your thoughts
all you'll know is now
all you'll need is here
live in this and feel yourself holding on
you won't need them
your surroundings are to be trusted
vision is paled by reality
breathe deeply
feel the air saturate your lungs
you can depend on this
it will carry you for miles
open your senses
every vibe and every feeling is sustained
they will be felt at the utmost intensity
with an almost hedonistic content
let go of control
every muscle is tense and knows what it needs
this strain will release you
this stress will give repose
forget your thoughts
all you'll know is now
all you'll need is here
live in this and feel yourself holding on
Release Me
The golden waves are threatening to cease.
While corroding the coast with tempestuous beauty
And reflecting rays of harmful lament-
The manipulation is nearly complete.
You crave the water masked by nourishment.
Feigning promises of life and wisdom,
But delivering only a strangling suffocation.
Entranced and bewitched,
The emptiness is filled with blinding shadow.
You desperately give chase
To the advancement and recession.
Sustaining the affliction demands a sacrifice,
The greatest gift a man can give-
Smile with pain and quivering lips.
How long will you give devotion?
This will change no sooner than a stone may bleed.
How many times will you say, tomorrow?
And put off for then what could drown you now.
Still, the depth consumes all
With the solitary satisfaction-
A kill for one or a death for both.
This would be no struggle if not for the seduction.
Hidden truths and mysterious lies,
Teasing honesty and flaunting distrust.
Which side will you see now?
Nothing is more exciting than the thrill of a kill.
Yet the risk is peripheral and too close to question-
You dive in headfirst and feet kicking,
For the temptation still burns inside.
Release me...
For I cannot release myself.
While corroding the coast with tempestuous beauty
And reflecting rays of harmful lament-
The manipulation is nearly complete.
You crave the water masked by nourishment.
Feigning promises of life and wisdom,
But delivering only a strangling suffocation.
Entranced and bewitched,
The emptiness is filled with blinding shadow.
You desperately give chase
To the advancement and recession.
Sustaining the affliction demands a sacrifice,
The greatest gift a man can give-
Smile with pain and quivering lips.
How long will you give devotion?
This will change no sooner than a stone may bleed.
How many times will you say, tomorrow?
And put off for then what could drown you now.
Still, the depth consumes all
With the solitary satisfaction-
A kill for one or a death for both.
This would be no struggle if not for the seduction.
Hidden truths and mysterious lies,
Teasing honesty and flaunting distrust.
Which side will you see now?
Nothing is more exciting than the thrill of a kill.
Yet the risk is peripheral and too close to question-
You dive in headfirst and feet kicking,
For the temptation still burns inside.
Release me...
For I cannot release myself.
Trivial Feuds Solve Nothing
I am terrified to realize that this country has had a deeply ingrained tradition on such a practice. An “us vs. them” mentality has run rampant throughout American history: colonials vs. redcoats, natives vs. white Americans, citizens vs. immigrants, North vs. South, blacks vs. whites, and, everyone’s favorite, liberals vs. conservatives. I am not writing this to take sides or to start any further arguments; rather, to maybe help a few individuals see that we need to stop making teams and start living as a people.
We have all been so blinded by the concept of taking sides and supporting them to the death that we have slowly, but surely, allowed ourselves to move towards extremism. Which, in any case, is wrong and brings only hatred and destruction. Be it from conservatives or liberals- this needs to stop.
Every living human being has a mind of his or her own that is capable of original thought on some level. So why not take advantage of this talent? Instead of being liberal for liberal’s sake, or conservative for conservative’s sake- let’s be thoughtful for the sake of what’s right. Let’s all indulge in the intellectual gray area because making things either black or white never solves anything.
No matter what your own personal beliefs are, the world is a dangerous and frightening place to live in these days and we all need to band together and stop believing absolutely everything we are told in order to clean up the mess. Instead of simply siding with the political party you so choose to associate yourself with on a controversial issue- open a book, research the internet, or watch a documentary on the subject and formulate your own opinion while still respecting the personal beliefs of others.
So use the mind that your God or your science has given you. Use the brain that your Creator or your evolution has provided. Instead of petty bickering and throwing pointless insults at one another- let’s try and make this world a little nicer to live in.
We have all been so blinded by the concept of taking sides and supporting them to the death that we have slowly, but surely, allowed ourselves to move towards extremism. Which, in any case, is wrong and brings only hatred and destruction. Be it from conservatives or liberals- this needs to stop.
Every living human being has a mind of his or her own that is capable of original thought on some level. So why not take advantage of this talent? Instead of being liberal for liberal’s sake, or conservative for conservative’s sake- let’s be thoughtful for the sake of what’s right. Let’s all indulge in the intellectual gray area because making things either black or white never solves anything.
No matter what your own personal beliefs are, the world is a dangerous and frightening place to live in these days and we all need to band together and stop believing absolutely everything we are told in order to clean up the mess. Instead of simply siding with the political party you so choose to associate yourself with on a controversial issue- open a book, research the internet, or watch a documentary on the subject and formulate your own opinion while still respecting the personal beliefs of others.
So use the mind that your God or your science has given you. Use the brain that your Creator or your evolution has provided. Instead of petty bickering and throwing pointless insults at one another- let’s try and make this world a little nicer to live in.
To Be Yourself Again
Standing next to the fire, you struggle to keep warm during the night on top of this lonely hill. Acutely aware of every inch of your physical body and the complete tension throughout- the intense cold relentlessly grabs hold of every nerve. Your mind is clear, though, not empty, but very clear. Your thoughts rest on a single matter as you stare deeply into the flames of the fire you have created.
The snow seems to defy gravity in this strong wind. Instead of calmly floating down to the earth it is flying all around in a sort of erratic tenacity almost encircling you. The night is a brutal mixture of freezing temperatures, bitter winds, and a stinging sense of dark seclusion. Any other person would be unable to withstand such abuse. But no matter, you are alone on this hill; solitary in your troubles and unconcerned by such triviality. Your eyes never leave the flames.
You have been observing this makeshift bonfire of yours with such earnest and for such an enormous length of time you begin to notice something engulfed by the inferno. It’s a mirror. A mirror bearing your reflection, calmly starring back in response. You realize you have not simply been looking into a fire, but into the eyes of your self- your true self.
The heat begins to melt the edges of the mirror. Slowly from the outside inwards, the image of you is distorting. Yet your eyes stay true. Everything about you, everything you thought to be important, is now twisted and bent into an unrecognizable picture of your formal self. Yet your eyes stay true. Although surrounded by anonymity, your eyes are still you.
You can reach in and save this image if you want. You can quickly rescue this person you have turned into, the searing heat will only hurt for a moment. Then you can go about pretending everything is okay and nothing will ever change. Or you can let it go. Allow this person who is not you to melt away and leave only your eyes, the eyes of your true self.
Finally, for once you are doing something in your own interest. You let the fire destroy this stranger. It is difficult but it is necessary. For in death there is rebirth and in order to be reborn it is essential for your formal self to die. You must destroy a world to enter another. Unlike other funerals, though, this is a joyful one; it is a momentous occasion marking the beginning of the rest of your life.
You continue to stare into your eyes as the stranger disappears. You sink into your pupils. The darkness surrounds you. You become afraid and anxious. You have no clue as to what comes next and there is no one to guide you. But in this darkness, there is still the fire. It rekindles your life. It gives you hope. It returns you to whom you are.
You smile.
It is time to leave this hill. No longer are you trapped by its isolation. No longer are you confined to this artificial existence. Your life now belongs only to you. As you walk down the hill the sun begins to rise in the distance and the weather begins to calm. With every step your smile grows larger and your body grows more relaxed. You look back only once and regret nothing. For the fire is all that’s left and you left it on the hill.
The snow seems to defy gravity in this strong wind. Instead of calmly floating down to the earth it is flying all around in a sort of erratic tenacity almost encircling you. The night is a brutal mixture of freezing temperatures, bitter winds, and a stinging sense of dark seclusion. Any other person would be unable to withstand such abuse. But no matter, you are alone on this hill; solitary in your troubles and unconcerned by such triviality. Your eyes never leave the flames.
You have been observing this makeshift bonfire of yours with such earnest and for such an enormous length of time you begin to notice something engulfed by the inferno. It’s a mirror. A mirror bearing your reflection, calmly starring back in response. You realize you have not simply been looking into a fire, but into the eyes of your self- your true self.
The heat begins to melt the edges of the mirror. Slowly from the outside inwards, the image of you is distorting. Yet your eyes stay true. Everything about you, everything you thought to be important, is now twisted and bent into an unrecognizable picture of your formal self. Yet your eyes stay true. Although surrounded by anonymity, your eyes are still you.
You can reach in and save this image if you want. You can quickly rescue this person you have turned into, the searing heat will only hurt for a moment. Then you can go about pretending everything is okay and nothing will ever change. Or you can let it go. Allow this person who is not you to melt away and leave only your eyes, the eyes of your true self.
Finally, for once you are doing something in your own interest. You let the fire destroy this stranger. It is difficult but it is necessary. For in death there is rebirth and in order to be reborn it is essential for your formal self to die. You must destroy a world to enter another. Unlike other funerals, though, this is a joyful one; it is a momentous occasion marking the beginning of the rest of your life.
You continue to stare into your eyes as the stranger disappears. You sink into your pupils. The darkness surrounds you. You become afraid and anxious. You have no clue as to what comes next and there is no one to guide you. But in this darkness, there is still the fire. It rekindles your life. It gives you hope. It returns you to whom you are.
You smile.
It is time to leave this hill. No longer are you trapped by its isolation. No longer are you confined to this artificial existence. Your life now belongs only to you. As you walk down the hill the sun begins to rise in the distance and the weather begins to calm. With every step your smile grows larger and your body grows more relaxed. You look back only once and regret nothing. For the fire is all that’s left and you left it on the hill.
Disposable
Counterfeit affection
Love’s imitation
You knew this would happen again
Hidden intentions
Manipulated emotions
You knew this would happen again
Your purpose is complete
A disposable camera full of memories
Neglected and easily discarded
Used and joyfully denied
It was meant for eternity
Not an artificial serenity
Yet you knew this would happen again
Together with supposed indemnity
Impregnated with hope in its entirety
Yet you knew this would happen again
The memories are only real to you
Until you are useful once more
Love’s imitation
You knew this would happen again
Hidden intentions
Manipulated emotions
You knew this would happen again
Your purpose is complete
A disposable camera full of memories
Neglected and easily discarded
Used and joyfully denied
It was meant for eternity
Not an artificial serenity
Yet you knew this would happen again
Together with supposed indemnity
Impregnated with hope in its entirety
Yet you knew this would happen again
The memories are only real to you
Until you are useful once more
The World As It Is
The world is dead inside
Real meanings now influence nothing
Empty meetings now determine all
An existence bereft of importance or conscience
A blind eye given for all to be free
Complacency in the masses
Wasted minds
Forgotten lives
The death of individuality
The birth of a salesman
Give us this day our daily guidance
Forget us our trespasses
For we do not care
Lead us
We will follow beyond doubt
Temptation embraced
The world is dead inside
Real meanings now influence nothing
Empty meetings now determine all
An existence bereft of importance or conscience
A blind eye given for all to be free
Complacency in the masses
Wasted minds
Forgotten lives
The death of individuality
The birth of a salesman
Give us this day our daily guidance
Forget us our trespasses
For we do not care
Lead us
We will follow beyond doubt
Temptation embraced
The world is dead inside
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