It’s been and done, ingrained into the minds of society now,
Seen it happen time and time again, the consequences common
knowledge now,
Yet some blinded by ignorance, or perhaps bravado or
indifference, to whom are we referring? Those hitting the bottle then they’re gunning
it,
Countless stories year after year, boozers buzzing behind
the wheel,
Spiritualised in ways not religious, rather, the type
several bottles deep,
The outcome well known, twisted metal, mangled bodies, throw
in a fire then explosion,
Culprit and victim splitting costs, ending up additional
statistics,
The weight of guilt and trauma unbearable, ordered to do
time for your errors provided you ain’t dead or invalid,
That’s a whole ‘nother prison, especially if your actions
done killed another,
Why play Russian roulette when the odds are never in your
favour?
No honor or glory gained for it, such acts only for fools
and idiots, do the right thing and call you a cab, better yet bring you a sober
pal,
Getting home intact rooted in luck than actual fact, more
than likely you’ll end up in a crash,
If your ride ain’t halted first, prepare those excuses once
the cops come for your license.
Here comes another, driving ‘round with precious cargo
onboard,
Pulled up to the side of the road, little one snoozing up a
storm,
Locked the door then walked into the store, fiending for
ciggies and nothing more,
Sweltering outdoors but took the keys with ya, ain’t nobody stealing
that ride and child from ya,
But as is always the case got side-tracked, rare are they
that go in with no sudden additional plans,
Got the smokes and more to go with it, more than thirty
minutes had elapsed,
Back to your ride you go, something doesn’t seem right,
Sensing no rhythm or movement from your little tyke,
Called the cops and medics, now your misjudgement belongs to
the public, a crowd gathers, frantic scenes recorded on phones, made the rounds
before the media got a hold,
Now you’re front-page news, the scourge of the masses, you left
him to bake to death while you indulged your unhealthy habit,
Should have learned from those that walked before you, but
instead you tried their shoes,
Good luck sleeping well at night, his face will haunt your
dreams, your poor unfortunate child.
Kids enslaved by screens, apps a portal to another world,
Free to create their own imagined experiences, keep up with
appearances, whether the genuine article or edited and filtered,
Oversharing an inevitable side-effect, winning friends and
influencing but not quite how Carnegie scripted it,
Outdoing one another in ways mind-boggling and in some cases
frightening to please faceless crowds not even worth mentioning,
‘Monkey see, monkey do’ seems to be the order of the day,
peep at the risky games they play, common sense locked in the drawer then the
keys thrown away,
Poking the Grim Reaper, trolling others, acting the fool
just to please strangers,
Shenanigans involving gnarly substances, stunting with no
safety equipment, striking a pose on spots precarious, whatever lights up their
IG and twitter pages,
Dancing and acting the fool on that medium loved and loathed
in equal measures, named after the sound made by clocks,
Sussed as a potential spying tool for the CCP but for the
rest just another vehicle for ‘look at me!’
Dicing with death for the sake of chasing clout and thrills,
no sane mind has time for this shit,
Some paying for it with their lives, talk about dumb ways to
die,
That epitaph bound to be laughable, ‘here lies so-and-so,
perished in ways unnecessary and avoidable,
How’s that for a legacy? A life of promise reduced to head
shakes and mockery.
No doubt some of y’all be triggered, let’s throw you a bone,
Y’all be sharing the triumphs and struggles, no need to go
through it all alone,
Built your own communities, albeit one detached from
reality,
Can’t say such a life is healthy, it could cost you your
sanity eventually,
Can’t paint all users with the same brush as all the fools
and braggarts highlighted above,
There are those that promote goodness and encouragement,
creativity and self-love,
Just a shame that loud mouths are drowning ‘em, it’s always the
deplorable and ignorant,
No different than the real world where the smart are quiet
while the stupid are confident,
By all means, live as you please, but do remember to touch
grass now and then, get you some sunshine and fresh air, feel the wind in your
hair,
Go for a walk, run or hike like a functioning human being,
Perhaps find a purpose and a calling, away from the world
beyond that magnetic screen.
Comes down to choices, always has and always will,
Even when the fallout is no happy ending, only you have the
final say on your destiny,
Can’t force others to go against their will, let ‘em find
out the hard way,
No better teacher than experience, they’re asking for it,
let ‘em pay,
Still, should’ve known better, been proven time and time
again that certain acts have the possibility of a point of no return but still
they can’t or won’t ever learn,
They say to take risks and push the envelope but never
forget the limits,
What you get away with today might one day lead to your
destruction.
They say happiness is an inside job, a state of mind and a
daily choice to make,
So it makes sense, those claims that it’s folly to tie it to
that which one has little to no say,
Easy to pin it onto others, places, things and accomplishments
that add colour to one’s days,
But upon closer inspection seems like a dangerous game to
play,
No matter where you’re at, whether flying high or struggling
below, born into privilege or languishing in the struggle,
There’s much to be grateful for, happiness has a trigger,
peep at your surroundings, delve into the attic,
If necessary take the initiative and go on searching,
provided you’re prepared for serious grinding, good luck with the pursuit, hope
you gets yours too.
“I’ll be happy if I get this or that, him or her”, the
phrase been thrown around,
Likely had escaped your lips, nothing to hang your head
about,
Delaying gratitude in ways misguided, going all in on what’s
beyond control,
Odds of victory at fifty-fifty, most of life’s offerings
temporary, why rely on uncertainties?
Why give your power onto others? You certain they won’t
fumble that bag? They can prattle sweet nothings ‘til the sun is setting, they
may jump ship and leave you wondering,
The one you run with, exchange rings with becomes the one
you fight and disagree with, ride endless rollercoasters with, the one you go
to the end with or part ways with, care to put all your eggs in that basket?
Maybe a certain status or place is the way to go, on paper
looks a sure winner, but that’s provided you’re ready and willing to jump over
inevitable hurdles,
Climb the ladder if you must, whether at play or at work,
expand your horizons, go explore the world,
Happiness achieved, surely, but its staying power debatable,
Ever hear the saying ‘more money, more problems’? Fake
friends, taxes, responsibilities and enemies? And suppose you came home full circle
or found you a new setting, what happens when the honeymoon fades to oblivion?
Back to old familiar feelings of normalcy, what’s new
becomes routine, hope you’d planned for the next one after your promised land
becomes another beaten path,
Simply put the search is never-ending, a perpetual wild
goose-chase straight to the grave, wear it as a badge of honor if you like,
conditional happiness seems a waste of life,
And here’s a hard fact for ya, Playa, goals and dreams won’t
always materialise,
What have you to fall back on if what you worked toward
ain’t realised?
Forget about if and when, take a hard look at your now,
Surely you’ll mine from the rubble precious jewels worth
grinning about,
Choice was always yours, might be difficult to wrap your
head around but sit down for a minute, ask yourself the following now;
Got friends and fam that’ll ride and die for ya? A roof over
your head and food on the table?
Ways and means to make a living, overcame battles that would
have broken many others?
Can still laugh over the silly and absurd and get emotional
over songs? Got access to clean air while your heart smiles at the sight of
children, cats and dogs?
Got something to look forward to? Both short and long term?
If the answer’s ‘yes’ to a few then happiness becomes you,
why keep yourself waiting?
If you’re lacking then by all means, leave that comfort zone
and go on searching, whether or not you emerge victorious it won’t mean shit if
you can’t appreciate the process,
No one said it would be easy, no walk in the park if it’s
worthy,
Baptisms under fire are what breeds growth and development,
can’t claim the prize without it,
But do take heart if it don’t work out, you still would’ve
proven your mettle, you’re better now than when you started,
For those reading this, wondering ‘bout those from
beginnings wretched, not blessed like the rest, due to circumstances that sent
them to hell,
Two ways to go about it, rise up from the ashes or
self-destruct, happiness a byproduct of the former while no explanation
necessary for the other,
Choice is yours but if the latter prepare to work for it,
don’t expect handouts or fair play because you drew the short straw from the
first day,
A closed mouth won’t get fed and layabouts go nowhere, do
away with entitlement, you don’t deserve what you don’t earn.
And if you, Dear Reader, are reading this right now, better
crack one ear-to-ear now,
Woke to see another day, a clean slate on which to stamp
your name, another step to take on your road to something great,
Count your blessings daily, happiness will follow,
guaranteed,
Remember to savour the journey before you attain that which
you seek,
Find the joy in your life, back yourself and to hell with
the rest, you’re permitted to be your best self, the right ones will be with
you to the end,
It ain’t no race, Kid, it was always a marathon, take your
time then gun it ‘til the wheels fall off, the grand plan was staring at you
all along.
Never was one to get caught up in workplace politics,
Never wanted to be there, either, but that paycheck is a
powerful incentive,
Got along well with fellow workers in general even if we’re
treading different tracks,
A team environment encourages camaraderie as long as you
don’t slack,
But in that type of setting you’re also bound to clash with
others,
Really not much to say, each individual’s an acquired taste,
For every three friends made, two more might not vibe with
ya,
One of life’s unfortunate truths, suck it up and get on with
it,
Such was the case a few years back, a fellow worker and I
did we clash,
For reasons that’ll get eyes rollin’, old gal forever fixin’
for a killin’,
Couldn’t care less so long as she minded her own business,
her problems with different races a heavy burden, gotta bear that shit alone,
narrow mind and all,
All about that W.A.P, not like Meg and Cardi, the one
between ‘01 and ‘73,
Worked together for the Public Service a few years back,
stayed in our respective lanes for the most part,
But when paths intertwined there was a stand-off of sorts,
shit never popped off but did remind her in subtle terms the translucence of
that fake granny demeanour,
Been asked at first contact my proficiency in English, Bitch,
what language do you think I’m speaking?
Seen her do it to others, got nothing but backlash for all
her troubles,
Never was going to win any popularity contests but fuck it,
gotta wear that false sense of patriotism,
Sure as hell got triggered when this young whipper snapper
corrected her on her ignorance regarding different cultures,
Welcome to the present era, Madam, the days of Curtin and co
are gone, can’t turn back the clock, so grow the fuck up and quit hating.
Data entry our key responsibility, sometimes scanning and
mail sorting, it was straightforward and uncomplicated, the pay was lit and the
hours convenient,
Clocked in four to five hours a day, sometimes double during
peak periods,
It was a different era, before folks lodged their taxes
through mediums electronical,
Always did pride myself as a rather handy typist, a youth
spent gaming and writing endless reports for school assignments prepped me for
this,
Fingers running rampant on the keyboard, churning out a
million figures per minute, but alas, your boy’s heavy-handed, and for fellow
workers there were glaring consequences,
Hitting those keys like Travis Barker destroys kits,
disturbing the peace most likely, but the neighbours seem cool with it,
Oblivious to the symphony I’m creating, earphones plugged in
and in the zone, but for you-know-who this maestro was a merchant of chaos,
Came to a head one day, felt a tap on the shoulder, wasn’t too
crazy about the interruption but her request I accommodated,
Agreed to cool these hands, for a while it was
weightlessness on that keyboard, could only keep it up for so long, before they
knew it the drummer boy came marching home,
Asked for a second time, did she, this time with a hint of
irritation, give an early-twenty-something-year-old some sass it shall be
reciprocated,
Made glorious music on those keys, damn near broke those
precious tabs, those within the vicinity shifting, they knew a collision course
was at hand,
Could have doubled as the fireworks on NYE, perhaps the
opening sequence from Saving Private
Ryan, really went to town on those keys,
‘Take that you backwards old crone’, none of this shit was my problem,
Finally, belatedly, she saw the writing on the proverbial
wall, collected her gear then fled to the other side, away from the machine gun
fire,
‘Bye, Felicia,’ thought I, smug satisfaction etched across
my mug,
Looking back through a grown man’s eyes it was immature and kind
of petty, but any chance to razz a prejudiced old bitty is a once-in-a-blue-moon-opportunity.
They say all good things come to an end, cliché been used to
death,
Surely at the forefront in the minds of young’uns when that time rolls ‘round again,
Thirteen years you climbed up the rungs of the system, saw
off every challenger, no rematches needed,
Thirteen years led to the final level, where the big boss
lurks in the distance, answers to three little letters, we’ll get to ‘em later,
For now a brief recap of the past six weeks, that cherished
intermission over summer,
Last remnants of adolescence and of a carefree existence,
Drove interstate to visit extended fam, behind the wheel
still under supervision,
Red P’s in the horizon but taking it step by step no need to
be rushing,
For the first and final time, the summer break came with
some homework,
Mounting responsibilities, the kid gloves are off,
No more coasting on easy mode, gonna have to start giving
more and more fucks,
Welcome back to class, Cowboy, the final level underway,
demanding nothing less than your absolute best, better bring your A-game.
Ain’t much changed since ‘02, perhaps a new student or two,
another switched schools,
Same teachers for each subject, the levelling up might as
well had never happened,
One unwelcome change, though, those assignments made a
quantum leap in difficulty,
Also in quantity, soon enough juggling five different ones
simultaneously,
No rest for the weary, shit is true in more ways than one,
free days are numbered, better ration ‘em like diamonds,
And even then you ought to be studying, tests and exams at
every turn,
Teachers sure to guilt you on the regular, having a life
beyond revision means you’re slacking,
Matters of scholastics and grades are important to be
certain but there’s also social standing,
Two ways to make one’s self known among the populace, the
good and the bad,
To align with all the big players or be the proverbial
punching bag,
Never was interested in the former so you slowly became the
latter, refused to conform and blend in so now they’re endlessly trolling,
Hazed and dunked on but whatever, you won’t be stuck with ‘em
forever, but feigning indifference will only amplify their actions,
Slowly but surely that stone face will break down, as you’re
about to find out, it sure does get lonely when that support system dries out,
Away from the classroom and playground politics, still no place like home, always did serve as a sanctuary, but would come to learn gradually that safe spaces aren’t immune to hostility.T
Part of school sport, at that point never lifted before,
Travelled by bus with fellow signees and a couple of
teachers,
Can’t forget first impressions when we made it to our final destination,
Seemed like a jungle of steel parts designed to pump one
into jacked-ness,
Posters on the walls of honey-glazed folks, looking ripped
and yoked, hard work does pay off,
Heaved and lifted what I could, no structure, it was all
experimental,
Worked the mirror muscles, mainly, but in the end felt
indestructible,
Was a chubby kid previously before graduating to skinny
teen,
Little did I know that day life’s path was laid before me,
Years later still at it, can’t believe it’s been almost a
quarter century,
Still no expert, though, forever a student, learned plenty
along the way, the decline in gym etiquette included.
Ain’t trained in a public space for years and years now,
The bedroom, two dumbbells and a punching bag’s sufficient anyhow,
The body can work wonders when the mind is determined, sets,
tempo and reps manipulated, if jailbirds can get swole sans fancy equipment
then surely a homebody is more than capable,
Home’s where the heart is, so they say, when it comes to
grinding sure seems that way,
Got very little say in a public space where rules are
scrapped day by day,
Fools be leaving benches unwiped, nasty sweat patches
glistening under gym lights,
Failing to re-rack what they’d been using, in their wake
potential tripping hazards,
Others hogging equipment like they own ‘em, oblivious to the
queue forming around them,
Not far from them, in front of the mirror, egotists glued to
their phones when they really should be hustling,
Not just taking pictures or recording sessions, talking
‘bout full on scrolling and possible cyber chatting, priorities out of order
but that’s how they’re rolling,
Gone are the days of heads down and popping, nothing but
blood, sweat and tears,
If you ain’t here for business then what the hell are you
doing here?
Then there are the rats side-eyeing and engaged in some
not-so-subtle sightseeing,
Shit is predatory and a violation, but another special group
must be mentioned,
Those calling out bad behaviour but not always for reasons
legit,
Hurling accusations of perving upon unsuspecting strangers
just going about their business,
Spreading that shit online, hoping that their targets be
named and shamed,
Pretty serious labelling there, you see why many opt to live
like hermits?
On top of sharing space with the inconsiderate, high chance
now of baseless finger-pointing,
So I stay put in here, my own sanctuary, sure beats blowing
money on those hectic fees.
Can’t stress this enough, no one’s lumping them under the
same umbrella,
The majority still in it for the right reasons, striving for
self-improvement and lending a hand where it’s needed,
Respect, overall, still rules above all, camaraderie built
within these walls, countless friendships and relationships are born,
Sadly there exists the foolish few ruining it for all, is it
really too much to pick your shit up off the floor?
To get rid of distractions until after the session, surely
your health is more important,
It’s no internet café, club or social space, shut up and run
you some miles and lift you some weights, gotta lock in and stay on course,
you’ve barely worked up a lather, ain’t wobbly like a newborn colt,
Might as well rock up with blinders on in case those eyes
stray towards the forbidden,
Folks from both genders flaunting their assets but get offended
when others be checking ‘em,
Talk about simultaneously self-promoting like they’re hoping
to be spotted then crying victim when that secret objective is completed,
A glance ain’t always intentional, and if you’d put in the
work they’re sure to be inspired by ya,
You’re hawking your junk all over social media so what’s the
difference if they notice ya?
But if those eyes linger for too long and they’re sending
not-so-subtle-signals, could be a sign of some nasty intentions in which case
they deserve to be reported,
The long and short of it, the gym’s a shared space and there
are rules in place,
Disrespecting where you’re visiting, fuck outta here with
your self-righteousness and sense of entitlement,
Go hard or go home, it’s a time honoured rule around here,
leave your ego out of it, hard work trumps clout-chasing, stay in your lane and
make you those gains.
It’s the social media age where everybody’s an expert,
‘Influencing’ the new sought after calling, the cheat code
for easy access to vocations once elusive,
Modelling or fitness, travel experts, dancers and actors,
perhaps a combination,
Screw the qualifications, just slap it on that ‘about me’
section,
Among the posers, braggarts and performers looking to get IG
and Tik Tok famous, some branding themselves lifestyle and relationship experts
looking to sell you something,
‘Be an alpha version of yourself,’ says they, a better you
just a follow away,
Hawking ‘courses’ to the masses teaching ‘em to live like
bosses,
But a serious relationship doesn’t seem a part of the
syllabus, at least not for most of ‘em,
Why stick to one in the face of endless options? FOMO and YOLO
come together at the expense of true love and commitment,
But differences apply when it comes to opposing genders, as
you’ll find out a little later,
So strap yourselves in, get ready to set sail, the forecast
points to wild and choppy waters.
Everyone knows a cheater, their reputations precede them,
Clinging to ‘em like a bad smell, following them straight into
hell,
Infidelity once committed is mighty hard to remedy,
The bond you once had virtually irreparable, such betrayal
damn near unforgivable,
Hell hath no fury like a partner scorned, they’ll be crowin’
from their platform like Foghorn Leghorn,
The deed once an act of shame but becoming all-too
commonplace, different day another victim, despite known consequences,
Yet ‘coaches’ and dating ‘experts’, even so-called ‘writers’
are giving the green light to their naïve followers,
Though the motives for such actions differ across the
genders,
In both cases boredom with your other is somehow an
acceptable excuse,
Definitely if one feels too superior, it’s a privilege they
are free to abuse,
Shit becomes addictive, it’s an extreme sport of sorts, the
ever-present thrill of getting caught somehow overpowering guilty thoughts,
Talk about living among sociopaths and the narcissistic,
It’s the world we’re living in where hurting those that love
us most becomes an act all too exciting,
‘Send the fucking asteroid,’ no doubt many are thinking it,
the decay’s gone too deep, worms and other vermin preparing to feast.
Though both sides have boredom with their others and the
thrill of the action as common motivating factors, others all but exclusive to
both sides must also be taken into consideration,
Males taught they have the right to fuck with others on the
side,
Emotions left out of it, just a meaningless encounter, she
needn’t know what he gets up to on the sly,
Females can and should hook with others to strengthen
existing unions, good for the self-esteem which in turn make them better
partners,
A victimless crime as long as they’re never ever caught,
cheating out of love, that’s what they’re being taught,
But here’s the kicker for both sides, their other halves
aren’t allowed similar pleasures,
‘Kick ‘em to the gutter and find you another’, say their
respective teachers, suddenly infidelity redefined as an evil act of folly,
Guys being taught that she cheats out of emotional
fulfilment and a sudden lack of interest but when he does it’s just for kicks
so the missus needn’t overthink it,
Hers is an act of betrayal, a total heart ripper, ‘she’s for
the streets’, they’re being told, ‘you deserve better, King, to hell with that
hoe,’
Meanwhile, for the female’s side, if he cheats he’s the devil
personified,
Whereas she does it to expand her horizons and/or because he
left her wanting and dissatisfied,
‘You deserve better, Queen,’ they’re being told, ‘kick him
to the curb, ain’t worth wasting tears for that turd,’
Fuck that for a sick joke, how does one side get a free pass
for a disrespectful act?
Nobody likes a coward, near-impossible to piece together
broken glass once it’s shattered.
To the proponents of such behaviour, gotta ask y’all a
simple question,
If you ain’t looking to take a relationship serious then why
not continue on your lonesome?
Stay independent if you’re looking just to hit and quit, no
one waiting at home to concern yourself with, you never wanted strings attached
so why not remain detached?
And if there’s trouble in paradise, surely it’s better to
work through ‘em together, or part ways if the union has run its course or
issues are irreconcilable,
Aren’t discipline and self-respect hallmarks of a true,
so-called ‘alpha’?
In addition to leadership qualities, integrity and an ability
to keep one’s self together?
Being a slave to one’s urges and nether regions, it’s a sign
of weakness if you really think about it,
That be some beta simp shit, the short term gratification
delaying inevitable destruction,
And you’re big mad while reminding your disciples that
having the tables turned is unjustifiable?
Pot, meet kettle, if anyone deserves a taste of it better
look in the mirror,
You of all people should’ve known that not all have it in
‘em to be committed,
And for the record, no one’s giving them a pass, on the
totem pole they’re in the lower rung with the rats,
If both parties agree to an open door policy, spreading the wealth
to the like-minded and interested, that’s their own damn business,
To each their own, but don’t assume such an arrangement will
get everybody’s vote,
Some still believe in exclusivity and loyalty, ‘til death do
them part,
One should be so lucky to find someone that goes all in, it
takes a real piece of work to discard ‘em over cheaper thrills.
So cut the crap, ‘Coach’, misleading and deceiving your poor
‘stans’,
Declining common sense and social media, they kinda go hand
in hand,
Go ahead, encourage them to be liars, weasels and
degenerates,
Presumably you’re right beside ‘em in the trenches, a not so
happy ending is where y’all are headed,
Think a mountainous conquest is impressive? Maybe to your
homies at the club but a real one ain’t having it,
Don’t nobody want to get with the village bicycle, a tunnel
that been ran through many times over,
A fool bossed by the appendage from where he urinates, you
sure you ain’t carrying nasties up to and including AIDS?
Such a life might seem a dream at first but it will quickly take
its toll, too many bodies to keep track off, begging for more of your time,
it’ll mess the body and the mind,
Then you get all up in your feelings when your other half
turns the tables? You reap what you sow, Farmer, gotta face the consequences,
And if ever in the future you decide you want to change
direction and give that family tree some extra branches,
Putting your best foot forward but all the good ones aren’t
buying it,
Can’t turn back the clock and neither can your minions, you
can try to keep it a secret but a past victim of your philandering is sure to
expose it,
This game you’re playing has an age limit, at some point you
will hit the wall,
There’ll come a day where no one will be checking for ya but
alas, a fulfilled and stable life might be out of reach for ya,
You may successfully make amends and reinvent yourself, but it’ll be a mighty tough stain to erase,
‘Once a snake, always a snake,’ they say, still on the hunt for future prey,
So take a break from the moment and take a look forward,
think about that for a second, does it sound at all appealing?
If not better change your ways, stop ripping hearts, bad
things come to they who take others for granted, better wise up and stop the
cap.
The titans enter the arena, muscles twitching, nostrils
flaring,
Chomping at the bit for a killing, just kidding, this ain’t
no gladiatorial meeting,
One could be forgiven for the comparison, debates and discussions
in a public space are quick to become warzones,
Daring to poke holes in one’s safe zone will elicit enough
vitriol to melt the ozone,
Ever see folks from different strokes in a public setting,
be it face to face or online, talking ‘bout any subject with extra spice, watch
how quickly civility melts into catastrophe,
It’s shocking, really, how quickly Jekyll replaces Hyde at
the flick of a switch,
Judging any and all outsiders, never budging an inch, before
falling to pieces when they’re offered a challenge.
Picture this, two or more folks engaged in conversation,
Inevitably touch up on subjects contentious, explosions are
imminent,
At first remaining dormant, participants dropping their
respective pearls,
Can and should stay at this pace but often things will take
a turn,
The heat turned up slightly, rebuttals galore,
Clap backs of the provocative type then brought to the fore,
Then it’s all-out war, healthy discussion replaced with
shrieking and shouting,
Metaphorically exchanging haymakers like Ali and Frazier,
Pre-schoolers display more restraint and civility, adults
can and should know better,
Personal attacks and phantom accusations, go-to strategies
for petulant children,
Big guns brought out to score points, sob stories to tip the
odds in their favor,
Is this still a healthy debate or another case of victimhood
flexing?
Then they’re calling for the other to be silenced as their
built-in Ministry of Truth is crumbling, not-so-subtle way of surrendering,
talk about pathetic,
At the best of times can end in one of two ways; with both
sides seeing eye-to-eye or agreeing to disagree,
But types like these? Not a chance, more often than not
ending in a rage quit.
Not too long ago, in an average setting, people from all
walks can come together,
Chop it up and exchange ideas, keeping it fair and
professional,
Can end on good terms whether or not they find a common
ground, nowadays you don’t see much of that around,
Often times becoming personally invested, enough to call for
the opposition to be silenced,
Are they that big a threat to your very existence? Each
individual’s entitled to their own opinion, who are you to harangue and control
them?
And rebuttals of ‘fake news’, ‘bias’ and ‘prejudice’ in the
face of their legitimate counter-arguments speak volumes of your ignorance,
Interactions with the others should be an exercise in
expanding one’s views and horizons,
One needn’t leave the hill on which they’re dying but it
would do ‘em a world of good to learn about and understand another’s visions,
It can strengthen one’s own convictions, in the process they
become well-rounded,
Only they with real strength of character can take in
additional information without ever feeling offended,
One’s stances influenced by what they see and hear anyway,
all but overpowering the foundations on which they’d been raised, life’s ups
and downs in conjunction with what they consuming being the building blocks of
it,
Knowledge is power, though, the ones tasked with informing
the masses misusing and manipulating, looking to misinform and divide as they
toy with emotions,
Real ones check all facts first before jumping to
conclusions, the gullible fall for it without questioning, while a narrow mind
twists it to suit only where they’re invested,
Back to the combatants, why spill your personal history and
so-called ways in which you’re hindered whenever you’re cornered, seek help for
those 99 problems, playing victim ain’t no solid argument,
Can only lean on alibis and excuses for so long before the
act wears thin, real strength and bucking the odds is what creates heroes and
legends,
It was never about winning or losing, merely a means to
learn off of one another,
It’s ironic in a way, on the surface seems a conflict but in
reality teamwork comes into play.
Again, must reiterate, it won’t always play out this way,
There remains those that have a handle on their emotions, unlike
the overgrown children,
But such is the world we’re in, running on emotions over
reason,
They say variety’s the spice of life yet many are threatened
by differing flavours,
What works for you might not for another, can’t make that
proverbial horse drink the damn water,
Ain’t no real debate if your sole purpose is to force yours
upon them, if your arguments are rooted in dogma long since hardened, time to overhaul
your default setting,
Newsflash, Fool, trying to cajole, strong-arm, intimidate
and shame ‘em into whatever cause for which you’re crusading will only turn ‘em
off of what you’re endorsing,
Nothing good comes out of coercion, you’re no better than a
megalomaniac dictator lording over their citizens,
It’s a discussion and not a scuffle, no need to get
aggressive and personal,
Then you call for the other to be censored? Take a trip back
in time, how do such actions benefit a given population?
Drop your two cents and let them do the same, that’s the
name of the game,
No one really loses when you both walk away enlightened, it
was never really a competition,
Keep that in mind next time you join the fray, there’s a
right and wrong way,
More to the point, leave ‘em alone if you don’t fuck with
them, no need to light fires where they’re not needed.
On the other side, Betty White ascended up the sky,
Kicked off a year of passings of the high profile kind,
‘16 was the warm-up, ‘22 said ‘hold my beer’,
Bob Saget, Meatloaf, Sid Poitier, Warnie and Gil Gottfried,
Rod Marsh, Estelle Harris, Andy Symonds, Ray Liotta,
Pages turning on the calendar, piling up with goners,
James Caan, Archie Roach, Judith Durham, ONJ and Pele,
Gorbachev, Shinzo Abe, Queen Lizzie’s passed away,
Dame Angie, Robbie Coltrane, Coolio, Twitch and Kirstie Alley,
Lord knows many missed, ink staying fresh on the obituaries,
Looks like covid’s here to stay, cases kicked off more than 30k,
Omnicron crowned the king, no longer just a passing thing,
Spare a thought for Charlise Mutten, you deserved better, Little Girl,
Peep at American Samoa, where that tsunami done unfurled,
Andy O’Keefe arrested once more, Novak banished from these shores,
Ash and Rafa crowned the champs, while in Ukraine brews a pending war.
February
Australia claimed the Ashes, Whoopi threw a massive fit,
Winter Olympics in Beijing, Zhu Yi, Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim,
Valieva felled by a doping test, Norway proved heads and shoulders above the
rest,
Back home that Religious Discrimination Bill kicked off nationwide unrest,
Koalas deemed endangered, still reeling from the fires before ‘rona,
Guess who’s back? That’d be Jarryd, retrial for that motherfucker,
Then the contents bubbled over, a new nightmare been unleashed,
Russia done invaded Ukraine, will there be a World War 3?
March
Kyiv under fire, Russians bringing in the pain,
Can’t call it a surprise, Putin is both mad and vile,
But just when all seemed lost, that the blue and yellow would count the cost,
The Megalomaniac’s plans hit a snag, didn’t count on victims fighting back,
Meanwhile here at home, floods done stormed the east coast,
NSW and QLD copped a drenching, before you know it VIC is swimming,
Kim Kitching left the building, mean girls bore the brunt of the finger
pointing,
Plane crash in China while back home an infant dubbed the youngest victim of
‘rona,
Ash called it a career, SA got a new premier,
The Oscars making headlines once more, The Slap Heard ‘Round The World made it
so,
Cue mass cuck and simp jokes, ‘comedian’ now among the riskiest roles.
April
Will and Chris got the world tripping, back home at the
Easter show another young life taken,
An election been announced, time to head to the polls,
While in New York a deranged fool shot up subway folks,
Didn’t fit the narrative, media couldn’t run with it,
While the best new show in Hollywood is playing, that of Johnny, Amber and
their mudslinging,
The latter branded dirty in the sickest way, the former never should’ve been
cancelled,
No real winners in this writer’s opinion, both were foul and quite repugnant.
May
Finally, belatedly, the first female main event in boxing,
Taylor beat Serrano, sure was fun and exciting,
Philippines has a new President, so much for those history lessons,
Voted in the son of the dictator, what the fuck were y’all thinking!?
Then there was that all-conquering organisation catering to folks of a certain
tone,
Burned, Looted and Murdered their way to the fore, placed the mainstream in a
chokehold,
Turned out they were lying and swindling, finessed many fools,
Sympathy in short supply to those that backed them over lies,
Shootings in Buffalo and Orange County, ‘Murica motherfuckers!
Sweden and Finland joining NATO, must be awkward for Putin’s supporters,
Australia has a new PM, ScoMo never stood a chance,
Another school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas, Yanks and guns an unholy
alliance,
Johnny all but exonerated, woe to those that got him cancelled,
How do you like them apples, Amber? The shit stains linger forever.
June
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, her last hurrah of sorts,
Australia qualifies for the big show, cheers to that Wiggles fan in goal,
Vivid back at last, inflation left its mark,
Upped that minimum wage but taxpayers be copping it hard,
Memo to Ms. Wilkinson, loose lips sink ships, way to jeopardise Britt’s case,
Now your job’s on life support while the case been delayed,
Earthquake in Afghanistan, Golden State crowned the champs,
Roe V Wade overturned, triggering Bedlam across the land.
July
Floods raging on the east coast, taking lives, taking homes,
BoJo called it quits, scandal after scandal left him in the skids,
Unrest in Sri Lanka, bullets shredded Shushou
Abe,
Nick Kyrgios on a roll, Elon fumbled taking twitter,
Webb’s first deep field sure was something majestic,
Comm Games kicking off, Aussies burdened with expectations.
August
Comm games came and went, Australia won as expected,
Emma, Kyle and Cody, media spinning bullshit stories,
Earthquake in the Philippines, Pelosi in Taiwan,
CCP seeing red, in their eyes that’s disrespect,
Al-Quaeda took a hit, Al-Zawahiri bombed out,
Twenty years after 9/11, sweet revenge without a doubt
Paul Green checking out, Salman Rushdie hacked to ribbons,
Writers and comedians under threat, offended radicals sure are dangerous,
Cancel Culture came for Andrew Tate, ScoMo busted for power grabbing,
Whispering Jack has cancer, luckily ducked the grim reaper.
September
Chris Dawson found guilty, sure did take them long enough,
UK has a new PM, answered to the name Liz Truss,
Serena hangs her raquet, Fed will follow soon after,
Tragedy in Buxton, the driver being the lone survivor,
Queen of England passed away, ended that 70-year reign,
Hers are big shoes to be certain, King Charles awaiting coronation,
Black Little Mermaid, Mahsa Amini kicked off mass protests,
Word to first-world whingers, this is what it means to be oppressed,
Geelong beats Sydney, Optus hacker running rampant,
Italy has a new PM, female, conservative and right-leaning,
Storms in the Phillippines, happens damn near every year,
Hurricanes in Florida, TV coverage looking kinda biblical.
October
Panthers make it back to back, mass shooting in Thailand,
Medibank and Optus hacked, bigwigs felt their customers’ wrath,
Lidia Thorpe lost her post, that bikie boyfriend undisclosed,
Promised to bring fire and chaos, undone by her taste in blokes,
Liz Truss makes history but not for reasons flattering,
One month, over and out, shortest term in history,
Rishi Sunak the new PM, Kanye West done played himself,
While Down Under Cassius Turvey sadly met his end.
November
Halloween crush in South Korea, Brazilian general election,
Elon Musk bought twitter, chaos ensued shortly after,
Isis brides were brought home, Western Sydney feeling jacked,
They went abroad to side with killers, why in hell would they bring ‘em back?
US midterm election chaos, Donnie back for another round,
Embarrassed himself as usual, Trump ship once again ran aground,
Hackers turning up the heat, kicking off mass anxiety,
Black Panther Wakanda Forever, Chadwick Boseman sorely missed,
Poland bombed, turned out accidental, MH17 bombers guilty,
East coast still be floodin’, earthquake got Indonesia shakin’,
FIFA World Cup in Qatar, controversial from the start,
Danny Lim beaten up, coppers once again look like thugs,
ScoMo censured, Kanye drowning himself deeper,
Lockdown protests in China, talk about going backwards.
December
Chris Dawson gets 24, Higgins trial goes up in flames,
Australia lost to Argentina, Lionel Messi still got game,
Eruptions in Hawaii and Indonesia, more headaches for Donnie Trump,
Back at home the interest rates are still on the up and up,
Umar Patek released from jail, the ultimate act of disrespect,
Sex ban in Indonesia, Brittany Griner bailed from Russia,
Meg and Harry’s documentary, not-so-well-received, predictably,
So much for mending bridges, the final insult to the family,
Cop killers in Chincilla, A-League chaos in Victoria,
Spinach packets contaminated, even Popeye won’t be checkin’ it,
Argentina wins the World Cup, Lionel Messi dubbed the GOAT,
Civil unrest in Peru, Trump charged for riots at the Capitol,
Ruddy the US Ambassador, Penny Wong in China,
Zelenskyy rollin’ into DC, youth crimes in QLD,
Comanche won the yacht race, heatwaves in the east and south,
Warner’s double century, don’t ask ya boy what that’s about,
Twitter beef between Andrew and Greta before an arrest for the former,
Pele bade farewell, Viv Westwood and Barbara Walters, sure was a year of
departures for the rich and influential.
That’s about the size of it, been quite the year, hasn’t it?
Great for some, a downer for others but that’s the way it goes regardless of
the numbers on the calendar,
Everyone got different experiences but we’re all headed towards one
destination,
Now we’re here, coming from multiple directions, it’s time to draft those
resolutions,
Ensure it’s one you can commit to, even better if for life, take it one step at
a time, baby steps and you’ll be alright,
Farewell, 2022, for better or worse it’s in the history books,
Bring on 2023, go and get yours, wish y’all the best, let’s see what awaits us
‘round the corner.
Postscript:
2012 I started this journey when the Mayans predicted that
the world would crumble into memory,
Unaware that this was the first step to a whole new beginning, apprehensive at
first but quickly hit the ground running,
While folks were wildin’ out on Gangnam Style and trying to track down that
twisted warlord Kony,
Yours Truly was learning a new art that would change life’s trajectory, Pops
was the catalyst but ultimately I’m the author of this story,
Nervous as hell in the beginning but damn near quickly felt some strange sense
of belonging,
Days of being stateless coming to a warmly welcomed conclusion,
Doors flung open, suddenly, a bright new chapter written, never too long in the
tooth for new experiences, the universe might be onto something.
Life been good in general but for the longest time felt distrustful and isolated, Everyone got their demons born out of missteps or circumstances accidental or intentional though the world and others can and will add to it, Once a young’un with a sunny disposition, had my moments but overall looking towards a bright future, Years between 15 and 27 begat various tests of the mettle, good days and fond memories preventing total capitulation, At first glance had it all but upstairs it was messy in the attic, fuck the world and all the phonies in it, the shadows is where I feel comfortable, Then one day out the blue Pops decided he wanted to learn kung fu, gotta admit I was intrigued, for the first time ever wanted to go to school, This fine art unlike any previously studied, required little of brute force and more that was focused and penetrating, Relaxation is key, tall order for one accustomed to relying on strength, Feeling like a fish out of water but overall welcomed the challenge, Firm friendships an additional bonus, the lifelong drifter finally found a home, Do I dare knock down these walls? Been up for so long they’re riddled with moss, Fuck it, take a chance, let ‘em into your world, isolation seems absurd, And so I permit ‘em, many more after that, so long as they’re decent, ‘twas a wise decision dare I say it, 2012 closed on a high, the world remained intact, but the Mayans weren’t off the mark, Experienced a rebirth like I’d been brought to the light after years lingering in the dark.
That was the life for the next eight years, far from perfect to be sure, Even under the warm sun perfection remains an illusion, Old me would’ve handled it differently, stumbling and tripping en route to a messy victory, Through ways bitter and manic rather than methods rooted in coolness and maturity, Did this strange art play a part? The need for a relaxed state surely left its mark, No hothead can master it, practicing then teaching it triggering opportunities for continual self-improvement, Taming the beasts within gaslighting and mocking almost daily, the host body realizing, finally, that there’s good in almost everybody, Friendships formed for the first time in years, some of ‘em becoming second fam, Ten years earlier never would have conceived of it, script was flipped but for that I’m glad, The positives extending to the daily grind, making bearable the morning and afternoon commute, That nine-to-five damn near flew, the clock moves quicker when there’s something to look forward to, Even in ’18 when the health went south, kept up the hustle ‘til the struggle escalated, Can’t keep a good man down when he’s fuelled by hope and determination, ’19 came and went, felt like happy days were here to stay, But what comes up must come down, damn cliché we must learn the hardest way.
World shut down by an all-conquering virus to kick off the
2020’s,
Whole world in lockdown to the detriment of businesses and economies,
Took its toll on everyone, peoples’ true forms revealed one by one,
Saw the very worst of humanity, different day but ever-widening divisions,
waging war over differences, friendships once solid now they’re crumbling,
A return to the Academy looking less likely but still within the realm of
plausibility,
Counting down the days mentally but overpowered by the bitterness of reality,
Being immuno-compromised in these strange times, living with folks vulnerable
forcing one to be more cautious,
Stockdale Paradox came to life, will I be back in time for Christmas?
Two years later still adrift and floundering, another lesson in the folly of
misguided optimism,
Finally snagged by the beast in mid ’22, for one week knocked out by an extreme
flu,
Had me a dream that seemed so strange, jolted me awake and more or less sealed
my fate,
It was time to move on, so ends the glorious spell, we can try and try but the
story won’t always end well.
Out from the safe zone, walking on, alone, Came full circle in unplanned ways, felt like the train been derailed, Perhaps it’s for the better but somehow feels the opposite, One of life’s harshest lessons came to life, that they’re never permanent, these fun times, Pain and change are what keeps the wheels turning, can’t have one without the other, Can’t cry over spilt milk, wipe that shit then move on forward, Can’t lie, though, the demons are roosting, day by day the wrong layers are peeling, Fading into the shadows, Scorpion’s MK9 victory pose, maybe this was my place all along, Heart frosting, sun setting, colours fading, might as well be flat-lining, Could have regressed to old ways had it not been for a silver lining, Ain’t no reset back to day one, friends met along the way still here, Interactions further and fewer in between but somehow the bond remains pristine, Cheer up, Young Man, not all who wander are lost, Something worthwhile might be ‘round the corner, hard to predict the future, Some days wondering if I can even stomach it as long as we’re keeping it one hundred, Might as well keep going while the heart’s still beating, didn’t get this far just to pack it in, If pride is the sole motivator then so be it, go with the flow and resist overthinking, Opportunities may pop up unexpected like the one previously encountered during the year that we were supposed to meet our makers according to those from an ancient civilisation, It’s been quite a ride, just want to let y’all know that you’re appreciated, Showed love to this jaded wanderer, eight years of memories and life lessons in equal measure, Sing it loud like Elsa, gotta ‘let it go’, holding on for too long will rip those palms open, Barely reached the midpoint, still plenty of chapters waiting to be written, Once again, from the top, right fist, left palm and bow, We’ll meet again someday, but it’s a fond farewell for now.
