Let It Bern

Filled to the brim and ready to burst,

Enough to quench a state’s worth of thirst,

Keeping the gates closed, got other matters to attend,

The least of which what’s on display on this screen on the desk,

Silence broken only by the clattering of fingertips on keys,

Not counting what’s in these buds pumping out hip hop beats,

Every day, same shit, been this way for a couple of months,

Standing solid but yearning for relief, just this once.

Yesterday seems a lifetime, been a rocky road since,

Triumphs and tragedies before the latter overtook indefinitely,

In the beginning came in threes, breathed a sigh of relief,

Minor tremors but no quake, we back on Easy Street,

Spoke too soon, the ground rumbling once more, an avalanche on its way, little did we know.

Clock keeps ticking, closing time looming,

Going through the motions, poised and ready for dismissal,

Unsure about this job, might land on the chopping block,

Such is the life of temping, gotta find new ways of hustling to keep the dough rolling, bills and that degree require payment,

Tempted to let it flow but gates remain closed,

Clock strikes six, time to head for home.

Another long commute, back to base at seven,

Dinner with folks, with what’s left of them,

Lively once upon a time, been a shell of it since,

Awkward silence in the air, lap the meal quick before heading outta there,

Wash away the day, bit of studying before bed,

Lights out but still awake, can’t switch off that head.

Their cries ringing out, try to shut it out,

Mission impossible, the dam finally giving out,

Best to let rip in darkness, away from prying eyes,

Blubbering ain’t in the description for this unwanted promotion,

Twenty years but gotta grow up quick, first-born gotta step up,

Man of the house now, Junior, don’t you fuck this up.

Party in the hood, all your homies gon’ show,

Ain’t no two ways about it, all signs point to ‘go’,

It was poppin’ when you crossed paths with her,

Exchanged some words, shared some laughs, nothing further, left at that,

Found her on the socials, hit request, few days later she accepted,

Pulses racing, birds singing, choirs rejoice at every heart that you be getting,

Seems she’d gained a friend, your brain thought so otherwise,

Looking in that mirror, staring back at you, here’s her ideal guy.

But she ain’t on the same page, y’all are reading different books,

Got some real talk for ya, Bro, sorry to leave you shook,

She was raised right, of course she’ll be polite,

All smiles and positive vibes, while you misinterpreted by miles and miles,

Ego or ignorance, it’s hard to tell, gotta spell it out for ya, yeah we might as well,

She ain’t trying to lead you on just because she wants to get along,

She ain’t giving you permission for some action through friendly interaction,

Shooting your shot could ricochet, the fatal wound would be for nought,

Not all are falling over others for ya, sounds harsh but it’s just a thought.

And it’s no wonder many are on guard, wary of the slightest advance,

Fools like you keep ‘em that way, whatever it takes to keep you at bay,

No, she ain’t daring you to try harder, if she was keen she wouldn’t play,

Games are for they who trick and manipulate,

So pack it in, will ya? Get on your horse, live to fight another day,

Go elsewhere if you’re expecting more, keep out of her way.

Seemed like you were untouchable, a demigod of sorts,

Worshipped by the majority, certainly by those you keep close,

Feared by a few, out of envy to be sure, but also by those meant to play the blues,

And you were no exception, the quiet, weedy and non-athletic, you walked all over ‘em,

How ironic that you’re iconic, yet in this regard you’re no different from the general population,

As the de-facto ruler among your peers, could have ruled a kingdom more harmonious,

Can’t fight the laws of nature so your approach mirrors something more despotic,

Seems your profile hinges on equal doses of love and hatred,

High on life, drunk on perceived power, seemingly unaware that this can’t last forever.

And that was the peak, wasn’t it? Been how many years now, how’ve you been?

The cap and gown came and went, that rep ain’t made it past the gates, should’ve planned ahead, now it’s too late,

May have been royalty back then but out here just a commoner and a peasant,

Grinding like the rest, one step at a time, for that all-important check,

Still kicking it with your crew? Maybe not, here’s some news for you,

Some might have been loyal, others low-key indifferent, just using you for clout and nothing more, it’s a different story below your proverbial horse,

And now you’re wondering why it don’t come easy, they were different times,

They you dunked are probably doing better, still leveling up overtime while you’re old and past your prime, likely feeling bitter.

Once you were high and mighty, fixed on that bullshit hierarchy,

Looking up now, perhaps, at whom you once looked down,

Old tales been recycled many times over, they ain’t trying to hear it now, why haven’t you written something new, anyhow?

Maybe you’re doing fine, perhaps better off than most,

Kudos to you if that is so, some stay stuck and can’t let go,

But if not then that’s on you, all the eggs in the basket too soon,

Went all-in with no long-term, it’s different out in the great wide world,

Had it all then lost it, peaked too soon, now a has-been,

Back in the valley, chasing past glories, forevermore, it seems.

Another trip came to pass, two more before twenty,

What’s your next step? Roads lie ahead aplenty,

Go see the world, maybe? Study for that degree?

You’ve joined the club, young’un, can do as you please,

And so you take that beaten path, success all but guaranteed,

Gotta chase the bag, certainly, though at the cost of dignity,

Groomed for it, it seems, from the very start,

Broke free from Mom and Pops, here comes the fun part,

Oscar Foxtrot here you come, Bonnie, Lily and the others would be proud,

Million subs in less than an hour, got something to brag about.

Probably should meditate on facts behind the figures,

A million subscribers within hours, on your eighteenth, let that sink for a minute,

You done been on their screens since you were itty bitty, brash and obnoxious but very much still a kid,

Now you’re grown and they hopped on…they’d been patiently waiting,

Goons are out in force and you seem bent to do their bidding,

All that time, cash and attention that they’re splashing, you don’t find their motives sickening?

Voyeurism creating stalkers, would never wish nothing on ya, the sick and the lonely coming for ya, touch wood they never find ya,

It’s a free world, by all means you do you, reap the rewards but there are consequences, too.

And what about the parents? Exploited lil’ one since forever,

Made her a star, they said, an entertainer with sass, brimming with attitude and swagger, her star can only shine brighter,

Put her on blast, that’s what y’all did, had her making you millions while you dangled her over sharks,

From trolls hating for no reason to the more venomous of the species, the pervs and spiders crawling out for her sweet eighteenth,

She’s grown now, their sickness can be justified in their cursed eyes,

While she’s blinded by the fame, otherwise she’d have realised,

Never had a chance, though, this life is all she knows,

Pushed into it by those who should’ve had her back the most, now they done created another lost soul.

Pride comes before the fall, penalties are grave, hope you’re spared from it all,

Mock the commoners as you please, how they ain’t rolling in millions such as these,

But you better understand that ain’t nobody turning green at your decisions,

Least of all anyone living a life somewhat decent,

They ain’t condescending, Kid, their concerns are genuine,

Protect yourself at all times like they say before fights, can’t get complacent in this business.

Stepped out on ‘em, in favor of another, your moral standing done changed forever,

Had you a good one waiting for your return, blissfully unaware that they just got burned,

They who made a promise with you at the altar to grow with you happily ever after, come hell or high water, until the call of the reaper,

But you threw away all that for some random that ain’t all that, met you at your urges but then drained you of your claret like some rabid vampire bat,

But sooner or later cracks the begin to show, here comes one of two options, maybe even both,

Maybe they leave you for another, you’re yesterday’s news, a used-up toy to be discarded,

Or they hold the dirt on you, intel that they’d gathered, you think you’re off the hook? Get ready to be busted.

You complain that your union’s stale, that the proverbial spark’s flickered away,

But rather than take on all comers together like before, you chose to find another with whom to score,

Must feel like a rush, sneaking behind familiar lines, get in and do your business, before they’re out of sight and out of mind,

But for every action there’s reaction, some get-back for your sins,

And so it is when you’re caught or exposed, or they simply leave you out in the cold.

And if it’s the former, the outcome is more or less expected,

The backlash and humiliation, your image tarnished over fornication,

Broke your other’s heart, those vows rendered irrelevant,

And think about your children, way to lead by example as a parent,

So your family unit never mattered? Betrayed over lusts and nether regions?

Sounds dirty, doesn’t it? Sit with that and reflect long and hard on it.

Good luck coming back from it, once the glass is broken you can’t fix it,

What you once had mere shards lying on the floor discarded.

And if it’s the latter, don’t go looking for shoulders to cry on,

Expect nothing but pile-ons, you better believe the schadenfreude will be strong on this one,

You were foolish to expect more than just soulless encounters, only immoral beings breaks up bonds founded on love, trust, respect and honor,

And now you’re sore because they left you dried and used up on the floor? Ain’t no violins in the air, Chump, cry us a fucking river,

Look in the mirror, should have taken one to know one, in a sense you deserve each other, birds of a feather flock together,

And now it’s too late, expect no mercy from your once-significant other, only spiteful words that confirm your disloyalty and cowardice before they take you straight to the cleaners.

That’s the ugly side of straying, rarely ever ends on your terms,

Get caught or get dumped, either way, the karma is well-earned.

Better get right before you get done right,

Lead with your head, not with what’s between your legs,

Trouble in paradise at home? Work through it like a team, just as you’d vowed before the preacher or whoever, things aren’t as hard as they seem,

Worse comes to worse be brave enough to confess and call it quits, sometimes it’s the only way,

It’s a hell of a lot better than sneaking and disrespecting, at least both sides can have a say,

Don’t even think you’ll get off scot, that is rarely the case,

Cheaters be sloppy, eventually get played, by their own hand or theirs, falling flat in disgrace,

Maybe you’ll be outed, unfounded texts and letters uncovered,

Maybe caught out in public, spied by the wrong eyes or on kiss cam at a concert,

The aftermath ain’t pretty, consider your name and image in the dirt,

Cheaters never win, honor can be only lost,

Think it over long and hard, your selfishness comes at a cost.

See ‘em acting up, tearing it up like a cyclone through a village,

Even in a public space, their parents trying to save face,

Reprimand is in order, maybe time spent in the corner,

Take away from ‘em their latest obsession, whatever it takes so they learn their lesson,

It ain’t no fun to be the villain but it’s part of being a parent,

Can’t always be their hero, you’d be foolish to enable ‘em, better re-check that job description.

Love ‘em, play with ‘em, open ‘em to countless possibilities,

A positive childhood lays the groundwork, basically,

Then you can be sure they’ll grow up good and proper, ready to spread those wings and soar higher and higher,

But good old-fashioned discipline is in order, they’ll thank you for it when they’re older,

Kids get outta line, sometimes, push boundaries like only young’uns can,

That’s your cue to step up to the plate, put ‘em in their place before it’s too late,

Youthful innocence and ignorance are limited excuses, you’d be remiss to let ‘em slide,

Be a parent, Mom and Dad, it’s your duty to guide ‘em through this life,

Some days might get ugly, they may hate you for it at times,

They shout “I hate you” or “I’m running away” when you teach ‘em right from wrong? Don’t take it serious, ain’t nothing but sticks and stones.

Peep at those that treat their own like lil’ buddies,

Won’t ever be the ‘bad cop’, tell ‘em ‘no’, ‘can’t do that’ or even when to stop,

Any semblance of order is stifling, they say, to sort them out tantamount to abuse,

Then their wee ones turn into monsters while they smile and gush about their cuteness,

No laughing matter when monsters grow to be menaces to society, lacking empathy, accountability and personal responsibility,

That’s the price paid for being too afraid to step up when it’s needed, congrats, Mom and Pops, y’all had a job and ya blew it,

Now comes ‘life’ to fix ‘em the way you never could,

It takes no prisoners, won’t let ‘em get away with murder, you left ‘em high and dry, now they’ll face the consequences.

Teachers ain’t paid to mind ‘em, and why leave that to strangers?

It always starts at home, do your damn job and raise ‘em,

Know when to be their pal but also when to exercise authority,

Pull them in before they fall, that is your responsibility,

Sooner or later they’ll understand that there was method to the strictness,

Maybe when they’re raising the next generation, using the very methods you’d all but patented,

It’s the greatest job in the world, parenting, the best you’ll ever have,

Not for the faint-hearted, every step there’s a test, in the end you can only do your best.

So you chose to swerve the path, beaten to death, trod by many,

Rewards guaranteed, mostly, at the very least greater security,

Ran in the proverbial race for years, a better life the promise powered by the dollar,

Before life’s true calling was encountered in the midst of a personal war,

Set off on a mission the mind’s eye can only see, to the majority it goes unseen, a hiding to nothing is what they feel,

More risks, to be sure, fueled only by dreams,

Heavy lies the heads of they whose destinations remain shrouded in uncertainty,

Hard work and dedication pays dividends but in the end the luck of the draw says all,

Better plan that next step, pronto, never know what could happen tomorrow.

Work on it day by day, at your own pace, you’ll be ok,

But for every step taken a price must be paid,

They’ll have plenty to say, it all comes in waves,

Assuming the worst like you ain’t ok, your dance in the dark conjuring up whispers for days,

They mean well, you can tell, concerns wrapped in more backhands than Federer,

But the choice is yours, always, whether to be better or bitter,

Then there’s the voices within your mind, from them there’s nowhere to hide,

Harder to dodge than those throwing stones from out the house, locked doors are futile when the tormentors are inside,

Can only block the noise and keep at it, persevere through the whippings,

Small wins in the process are your best rebuttals to the judge, jury and executioner.

Then when you’re ready, go put it out there, time to do your talking,

Let ‘em see what’s been cookin’ from the do-nothing,

Where will you go from here? Only you know the answer,

Will you find gold at the end of the rainbow? Only time will tell, but rest assured, win or lose, you ought to be chuffed,

By giving it a go you’d already proven enough, only the mad and the brave take their shot,

Fewer are willing to step into the void, to leave it all behind without giving a second thought,

Come up roses, it’s a hell of a legacy, come up short there’s no regrets, you’ll still rest easy,

Eyes forward and march on, follow that dream, life’s too short,

Time is a thief, as you already know, why waste it where you ain’t thriving?

Let ‘em say whatever, everyone has an opinion, they’re entitled to it,

You’ll have the last laugh, in the end, you better believe it.

Been a rough ride, sadly, you never asked for any of it,
Dumped on you with no explanation, cursed from birth, it seems like it,
‘Just talk about it’, they’re saying, but you’re only met with silence,
Eye rolls and muffled laughter, so you put up walls around the fortress,
Double birdies for the masses for not helping with your baggage,
But that’s life, gotta carry your own load, no one’s checking for your weeping,
Hate to be the one to say it but you’re hurting ‘cuz of your misguided expectations,
The world ain’t fair, you’d be daft to expect hugs or back pattin’,
Better fight back or be consumed by it, those are your only options, which way you going? Only you know the answer.

By all means, turn to the one you trust when it hits that proverbial fan, it doesn’t make you a lesser man,
Can only keep the contents from bubbling when you’d been long stirred and shaken, sooner or later it’s spontaneous combustion,
But don’t think they’ll hold your hand forever, you’re grown and they ain’t your parents, support and encouragement is where their roles are limited,
You still need to get to working, in the end it’s still your call,
Sink or swim, use your resources wisely or not at all.

Why give another all that power? Why put your life in their hands?
Ain’t nobody perfect, Homie, what if they fumble it?
Why not take the initiative? Get active in your rescue,
Ain’t nobody coming to save you, dude, if you think that you’re a fool,
Everyone has a past, no one’s immune from challenges,
You’re no exception, admittedly, some go through it worse than others,
Apologies and sympathies if you were put through the wringer,
Only you know the horrors of it, ill-feelings are warranted,
But like it or loathe it, it is still your responsibility when it comes to how you handle it, will you rise above or become another casualty?
Think of others in your position, one of two outcomes,
You can leave it in the dirt, seek redemption and find your purpose, or stay stuck and self-destruct while they who’d done you dirty come out the victor.

And are you certain that those you’re trusting won’t turn around and bite?
Might be hiding knives behind those smiles, posing as lights of comfort and empathy,
Any intel that they’d gathered might be passed onto others,
To build an army to sink you further, such is the power of high treason,
Count your blessings rather than stalling, perhaps your might is stronger than you thought,
Been to hell and back over and over and still standing, maybe you’re meant for something greater,
Time for serious contemplation, deep thinking and meditation,
Find out what you’re willing to stand on, on which hill to die on, the roads to be taken, eliminate every hindrance,
Whatever time you have use it to make a difference, turn experiences into winnings,
Why be a menace to yourself and to others when you can inspire and be a mentor?
Gotta have an open mind, though, can’t advance without growth,
But stick to your guns and keep on truckin’, one day you’ll make it.

Triumph or victim, you can be one or the other,
And if little ones are present it’s a no-brainer,
If not for you then do it for them, break the damn curse,
Catch your breath then back in the fray, fuck being a quitter, keep finding a way,
Show ‘em Pops is a champion that keeps on fightin’,
Can’t give up on ‘em, those little cherubs are your reason,
Just a few gems to keep in mind next time that canine has you in sight,
“I always win”, “I got this,” “every problem has a solution,”
Repetition begets perfection, remind yourself ‘til it becomes habit,
Or use any other idiom, re-word it to whatever’s your liking,
Just a few jewels here, Pal, in the end it’s up to you,
You’re more than just your cards, get out there and kick some ass.

Forever etched in memory, those simpler times,
Messing ‘round, laughs a plenty, under them skies,
Looked forward to every summer, itching for some adventure,
Endless fun was had, time was inconsequential, just a never-ending cycle,
Ran with your crew, siblings from different parents, promised you’d grow old together, in the same block or retirement village,
But the clock ticks ever-onwards, quicker than you think, change is a constant not to be trifled with, might throw the wrench into your ambitions,
Y’all won’t see it coming, but one day you’ll head outside for fun,
For the last time under that sun, before changes gon’ come.

You’ll get up there in years, climb up the grades,
Homework piling up, free time further spaced out,
One or two might go M.I.A, scrapping plans day by day,
Others might fall with someone new, soon they’ve grown apart from you,
With age your priorities change, taking over fun and games,
Call it the end of innocence, gotta prep for grown-folks’ business,
But maybe you’ll get lucky, an opportunity might arise,
One final chance to turn back time, before you all get on with life,
To be young’uns once more, wild and carefree,
Get it out of your system before confronting reality,
Run, skip, catch and tackle, swing, hurdle and whatever,
Before walking off to the sunset, such an ending would be perfect.

But it need not be the end, maybe y’all can keep in touch,
But no such thing as guarantees, you’d be naïve to expect so much,
The winds can be unpredictable, scattering vessels in all directions,
Like an all-consuming hurricane barrelling over the terrain,
Might struggle to keep the crew intact in the face of such gales,
Might lose some, all might jump ship, but it need not end so grim,
Perhaps one or two might make it to the end with you, that’s already a blessing,
Enough to share the wins and losses, to take on all comers,
But no matter where y’all end up, the ties that bind will be enough,
What was shared and created, nothing and nobody can erase it,
Even if you’re apart, memories will stay in your hearts,
Triggering smiles, tears, laughter and longing in equal measures, a safe space from life’s daily pressures.

But no need to get ahead, these are mere musings,
Might play out differently, evidently, y’all are tight as can be,
Have fun messing around, kids, you might not know it yet,
But these are your golden years, the best of the best,
Better savour it now, enjoy each and every moment,
It’ll be over before you know it, live it to the fullest.

See her every morning, pruning flowers out front,

Heads out back to repeat the task, takes a big gulp from her flask,

Recently-retired, living it out on her lonesome,

Save for occasional visits from grown little ones, their tiny tots call her ‘Nan’, melting hearts like only grandkids can,

Had to do it the hard way, got here mostly on her own,

Paid the bills, raised the kids, worked hard and maintained the home,

Love for family powered her along after the greatest loss of all, fate hadn’t been so kind, he’s out of sight but never out of mind,

They’d met long ago, love was instantaneous,

Dated, married, had a few kiddos, before he fell to a wretched virus,

And so she stepped up, put the young ones through college,

Was with ‘em through every step, lord knows how much willpower she possessed,

Worked her fingers to the bone until retirement age, yeah she did all that,

It was perilous and messy but she came through all that,

All the while they asked if she’d ever find another, always she deployed the usual answer,

“Not a chance, I’ve had my happy ending, though he’s gone our union’s everlasting,”

She’d surely found the one, he could never be replaced,

Now she walks on until the day when they’re reconnected beyond time and space.

Another one bites the dust, never went beyond the second date,

Let alone first base, try as he might he only sees her face,

Been a few years since fate had the final say, she was mowed down on that day by a fool behind the wheel totally off his face,

They should’ve exchanged vows, it’ll never happen now,

He’s tried to find another since, it wasn’t supposed to be like this,

He’d found his happily ever after, no one can compare to her,

‘Plenty of fish,’ they say, ‘you’ll surely find another,’

But they don’t know he’d found the one, she can never be replaced,

Becomes apparent with every failed date, a solo life might be his fate.

They say there’s someone for everyone, if you’re lucky you’ll meet ‘em before 21,

Exchange vows then grow old together, create a lifetime of memories and adventures,

But the grim reaper remains unbeaten, never know when it comes knocking,

Some move on and find another, but others ain’t checking for a replacement,

Love of one’s life, the one true love, you’ve heard the clichés, it’s not every day they come around,

Time can’t diminish their significance, no one can replicate their presence,

And so they carry on faithfully until they reunite somewhere on the other side,

Better to have loved than lost, for many it’s no fucking lie.