Let It Bern

For those that were around, remember the uproar that Pink Floyd done caused?

‘We don’t need no education’ blarin’ from the airwaves, got old heads everywhere in a daze,

Got society in a panic before N.W.A ordered young’uns to Fuck The Police,

Nothing like a hard-hitting anthem to flip the bird off at authority,

Could use some of that energy now, the education system’s trying to go woke,

Spectacularly so, taking it to new lows, it’s beyond a sick joke,

Peep at the seriously fucked-up fools running that place at NYC,

Reading, writing, arithmetic appear to take a back seat,

Never too early for the birds and bees, apparently, a lame script and milkshakes weren’t needed for this shit,

These fools fixin’ to stunt youthful innocence? Try not to hurl when you read about this,

Six-year olds should know only one type of playing by their lonesome,

The type where they play games all alone, not what grown-ups do under orders from their hormones,

Don’t be teaching ‘em ‘bout Jackin’ off or Jillin’ off, beating the meat or finger-painting,

$55k in tuition led to this, pity their poor parents,

Off with their heads, those that gave this the seal of approval,

Takes a sick mind to believe this is applicable to six-year old pupils,

Let ‘em read picture books, teach ‘em new words to write and spell,

Sharpen their grammar, teach ‘em art and music, guide ‘em through basic math problems,

Save that nocturnal shit for the teens at least, y’all are way past that proverbial line,

Y’all should be locked up for trying to ruin young minds,

Parents, mind your kids, be their first port of call,

Education shouldn’t be confined within classroom walls,

‘Hey! Teacher! Leave those kids alone’ got the masses twisted back then,

Might be time to let it loose again, someone gotta save the children.

You’ll see ‘em in the news, pass ‘em sittin’ on their patios, some got their heads in the clouds,

Creaky vessels, long-retired, once were warriors once were proud,

Gawked at like old relics propped up in the Museum of Natural History,

With varying degrees of admiration but from others scorn or pity,

Talking ‘bout former gladiators made a living through their physicality,

Fighting, tackling, climbing, lifting, stacking muscle for serious preening,

Not for the faint-hearted, it takes a special type of insanity,

Success not guaranteed and broken dreams are many, the summit’s reserved for the bold and gutsy,

But there’s hell to pay for putting the body through the ringer, in twilight years the the fallout become apparent,

The tools of the trade – strength, power and dexterity – become a distant memory,

Like ageing structures the joints once firm and dependable rendered rusted and creaky,

The consequences run deep, it’s a horror show down below,

The unlucky ones barely recognizable, often left forgotten and broke,

Check out some examples, the once garrulous icon rendered mute and shuffling,

Some of his peers, other former battlers, trapped in a haze from which they are defenseless,

The former master of the iron now immobile, hard to believe they once called him king,

Former living marble statues damaged, years of shooting up fucked up major vital organs,

Prime years seemed endless, their aura unconquerable, invincible, almost mythological,

But time remains undefeated, even B-Hop succumbed to it, save your breath ‘cuz Ponce ain’t found no fountain,

But hold onto those tears, keep the violins in their cases,

They had a dream and damn it they achieved it, peaks and valleys encountered but still they emerged triumphant,

That much must be celebrated, their hustle and fortitude respected,

Post-retirement struggles vary across warhorses but united over satisfaction and contentment,

Might make minor adjustments if they can re-run it, but for the most part wouldn’t change any bit of it,

Dangers lurked in their chosen adventures, certainly compared to other vocations,

They knew it from jump and accepted ‘em, fuck the naysayers calling ‘em reckless,

Your judgment is unwarranted, don’t talk down on what you don’t know,

The sacrifices were more than worth it, can’t stay drowning in sorrows,

The past is gone, legacies set in stone, save your gasps for horror films,

Like ‘em, loathe ‘em, admire ‘em or revile ‘em, in the end they did the damn thing.

There you go, hunched over that computer,

Locked and loaded waiting to hear from her, the highlight of your hours,

Met her on IG, shit’s so 2020’s, pics and vids got you hot and bothered, snagged you hook, line and sinker,

Liked and commented on damn near all her posts, even slid into her DM’s,

Left you on read again and again but your needy self wasn’t having it,

Then it caught your eye, a link in her bio, signed up for it pronto,

It’ll cost money and your dignity, lust and obsession obliterating reason,

Likened yourself to her savior, the one helping to keep her in business,

Burning a hole in your pocket but gotta live up to your calling,

As long as she’s churning out content you remain her willing customer, to hell with the real world and real people, got you a girlfriend even if she’s virtual,

In your mind she’s yours alone despite other gawkers in the ranks,

Y’all vying for her attention but she’s only looking to make bank,

Mad flexing that simp game just to please, feeding her lines topped with extra cheese,

Got you thinking you’re hitting homers but you know not the tricks up her sleeve,

Here she’s responding to you but don’t get carried away,

She don’t want no date, just hawking incentives for your extra pay,

Give an individual power you’ll see their true character,

Stroke the wrong ego then the mask will slip away quickly,

She was sweetness personified but excessive praises flicked a switch,

The pettiness is out along with that toxic celebrity mentality,

No more Miss Nice Girl, get ready to have your world upturned,

Your lovesick platitudes countered with haughty derision, can’t underestimate the chilling power of words,

Treat her like a goddess she’ll treat you like a peasant, just another disposable source of income,

So she turns it up a notch to reward you for your pandering,

Demanding that you prove your devotion through tasks base and humiliating,

At her command you’re acting the fool and debasing yourself in public,

Her taunts cut deep, call it the fallout of your simping,

Gave her your balls on a silver platter for the sake of some phantom relationship,

Sooner or later it’ll hit you, you’ll never have her and you’ll never hit it,

Once you’re used up, cleaned-up and finessed, talk about hard medicine,

You ain’t no alpha or nobleman or king, just a sucker and object of pity,

She’s doing what she can to get by and survive, you chose to be her patsy,

She’s hustling hard like the masses by any means possible,

It’s worked for her with flying colors, for all her faults you can’t stay mad at her,

Don’t hate the player, Bro, you chose to fall victim to the game,

Save your tears once you crash, it’ll only add to the shame,

Lead with your mind next time, keep your dick and ego on the shelf,

Hate to say it, Homie, you’re going out sad, yes, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF.

It’s often said you can’t love another unless you love yourself first,

Being kind to others be child’s play while an inside job requires hard work,

Expectations, everybody’s got ‘em, ain’t no crime not to live up to ‘em,

We’re only human, we win and we falter, fuck ‘em if they’re blind to your genuine efforts,

No two people are the same, differences extend to capabilities, save for rarities and extreme anomalies,

Gifts and natural talents, everybody’s got ‘em, for some immediately apparent, others may search far and wide for it,

But there has to be a balance, hence the existence of weaknesses,

Folks be mad-flexing on the surface, ain’t nobody buyin’ it, behind the scenes secrets heavily guarded,

With dedication they can be corrected, life’s about perpetual growth and learning,

You’ll stumble and fall, too, but you gotta trust the process,

It’s an exercise in futility, tying self-worth to what you can and can’t do,

Why let mistakes and failures totally consume you?

Setbacks are a pain, that much is understandable, but will you take steps towards redemption or chip away and crumble?

Realize, too, there’s always someone better in some aspects, but that don’t mean you’re useless and pathetic,

They may have a greater aptitude for it or perhaps a greater level of experience,

You won’t always have the answers but no shame in admitting temporary ignorance,

And you may dominate in other areas, rout the competition with your abilities,

They’ll look up to you like their idol, yet you’re hung up on perceived deficiencies,

Meanwhile you’re neglecting what you’re blessed with, gotta nurture ‘em or lose ‘em,

What you take for granted you’ll part ways with, don’t let your assets become your losses,

Continue to learn and grow, become a jack of many trades,

Master the ones that matter, but missteps need not end in shame,

You must be brave enough to own ‘em, only then will you be forgiven, then make a conscious effort never to repeat ‘em,

Perfection’s an illusion, to master all things, literally, is an impossibility,

If the key to your self-esteem is their approval, that’s some next-level insanity,

Reclaim your self-worth from the hands of others, they don’t deserve such power,

You’re limited edition, never forget it, fuck ‘em and their expectations,

Twenty four hours in a day, each one nudging you towards the end,

They’re gone forever once elapsed, will you waste ‘em warring with yourself?

Throw off the shackles they’ve placed upon you and the ones self-inflicted,

Live a life that makes you proud first and foremost, only then will you be truly living.

There you go again, daydreaming, same old subjects that the mind’s regurgitating,

Comparing notes, mental inventories of various conquests, fame and former glories,

Not sure if you made the grade, the competition’s rather stiff,

Eyes may roll and heads may shake when they learn with whom you’re competing with,

No this ain’t no classroom shit, this is proper grown-up shit, somehow your missus is your secret competition,

Yeah that’s right, kinda strange ain’t it? First let’s take a history lesson,

Seemed innocuous, that chance encounter, love found between polar opposites,

She was gifted, photogenic, talented, that combination payin’ dividends,

Him from shakier foundations but defied the cynics, haters and the party poopers,

Chance encounter on the subway after hours, protected her from pesky would-be predators,

Got to talking, kept her company ‘til her ride arrived to come collect her,

Exchanged numbers, ain’t missed a chance to steal those precious conversations,

Year and a half together ‘fore he sucked it up and asked her for her hand in marriage,

Lived happily ever after, that one can’t be disputed,

But behind the laughs and tender moments a flame threatens to blow a gasket,

Her earning power, life achievements, public image, they be dwarfin’ all of his,

Got him paranoid that they be judging why she’s the one supporting him,

No he ain’t no hype man, slacker or hangers-on, certainly not some trophy husband,

Dude more than earns his keep, time ain’t dimmed that heart, ethos and the work ethic,

But he can’t outshine her nor outwork her, got him running on that hamster wheel,

Legs churning, hiding to nothing, in his mind he’s still inadequate,

But it don’t have to be that way, step off and count your blessings, bro,

She chose you from a line of suitors, surely you are someone special,

Why focus on perceived deficiencies than what you’re bringin’ to the table?

She’d have dropped your ass if you were useless and certainly if you’re unstable,

Part ways with this toxicity, ain’t nothing noble with going on like this,

Dudes be turning good gals off when they stay petty, childish, immature and jealous,

She’s your wife and not your rival, treating her as such will lead to your unraveling,

In the mirror lies your competition, it’s clichéd but the truth lies there among the drivel,

Fuck what others say ‘cuz if you play it right she’ll always choose to be with you,

That’s the long and short of it and it’s really all that matters, too.

Time flies, been more than twelve months and counting,

2020’s definition to extend beyond perfect vision,

Gonna make way for the year of catastrophies, cut a swath like tornados over the prairie,

Daily life changed, no revolution needed,

Dawn of a new normal, whatever that is, gotta get used to it,

Some didn’t make it but many still standing,

A testament to resourcefulness, will, courage and resilience,

The fallout a sight to behold, not in a good way, though,

Uncovered the worst in others, chaos and dysfunction, straight out of cartoons and crime shows, disaster flicks, too, for good measure,

That monster conquerin’ beyond the health and well-being of individuals,

Society crumblin’ to its influence, accusations flyin’ between nations,

2020 in the rear view but we’re still picking up the pieces,

At long last there’s progress, leaps and bounds to be sure, but a declaration of victory would be nothing short of premature,

Vaccines rollin’ out for front liners then the general population, a taste of freedom in some nations, the monster’s iron grip weakening,

But a wounded monster ain’t a dead one, victims numbering, still, in the thousands,

Gotta keep travel plans on hold, ain’t no telling for how long,

The ignorant and foolish are running rampant, in the Divided States, as usual, eruptions rival Vesuvius,

The cretins still attacking those from ground zero and surrounding areas,

Even others that resemble ‘em from all walks of life and circumstances,

Fuelled by hysteria, peep ‘em on the streets and social media, the choice comments sure to induce nausea, it’s a jungle out there, I’m telling ya,

Feels like the world’s gangin’ on ‘em, a hailstone of vitriol rainin’ from all angles, the Asians copping it from other backgrounds and races,

From those that are considered privileged, from the ones stereotyped as illegals and terrorists,

Even those they say require protection ‘cuz they’re being hunted like animals by law enforcement,

About time it got attention, where was it in 2020? No it ain’t better late than never, that’s little comfort to victims and their families,

To hear the authorities call it you’d think the matter’s insignificant,

Just bad days and temper tantrums, what an insult to the victims,

So Daniel Powter was murderous when he dropped that hit from twenty-oh-five?

Disgruntled employees got the green light to take another’s life?

Little kids tantrumin’ ain’t out there murdering,

Screaming, shouting and throwing toys in the corner their only acts of destruction,

The elderly and vulnerable the most frequent targets of these cowards,

Lack of guts got ‘em swervin’ those that shoot back without hesitation,

Fuck turning the other cheek, it’s time to take some initiative,

Can’t ignore ‘em forever, nothing repels a bully like assertiveness,

Speak up, give ‘em a piece of your mind, call ‘em out for crossing the line,

Remind ‘em of their wrongdoings, expose ‘em as dirty racists,

But if push comes to shove and it leads to fisticuffs, kick some ass if they want to throw hands,

They’re out playin’ ‘Slap An Asian’, clap back with ‘Break A Racist’,

Finish what they started, defend yourself but within reason,

Excessive force, though deserved, won’t earn you hero status,

‘Cuz the law might get you for thugging, ironically,

If they were on the wrong end would they view it differently?

If that had been their mother, father or grandparents how will they react?

Something for you to think about, Officer, racists deserve to be cracked,

The law’s fucked if bad days and tantrums can excuse hurting others,

The law needs reviewing if self-defense can lead to punishment,

But a word to the judged and frustrated, don’t compromise your dignity and character,

It ain’t wrong to curse the perps but leave their race and culture out of it,

Can’t conflate the innocent with the degenerates among ‘em,

The fire’s already blazin’, why dump more gasoline on it?

We are but one family, according to Bruce Lee, differences shouldn’t breed pettiness,

We all bleed the same, eat the same, come into the world the same, sleep, piss and shit the same, the fear and hate is such a waste,

It’s the 21^st century, how’s this bullshit still happening?

After years of evolution and enlightenment, it’s time we acted like it,

Gotta keep holding on, it’s still a big bad world out there,

Regardless of race, creed and culture, we’re all in this together.

Hey, you! Yeah, you! Do you have a dream?

A goal or ambitions, whatever you wanna call it, does it keep you hungry and agitated?

Does it stir fear from within or disbelieving laughter?

Got you feeling like you’re staring down an army of Spartans?

If the answer’s yes then you best go after it,

The path may be arduous but guaranteed to be rewarding,

Doubts may spring up, from the outside and in, naysayers may come out the woodwork while the mind be playin’ tricks,

Even your nearest and dearest may be sceptical, may feel like a special kind of betrayal,

Don’t take it personal, they’re just looking out for ya, but don’t capitulate, gotta do what’s best for ya,

Sticks and stones may break bones but don’t underestimate words,

Fuck what so-called tough folks say, well-structured put downs can also hurt,

“You can’t do it,” “it’s impossible,” “it’ll never happen,” “you will fail,” imagine all of that thrown at your face,

Can be disheartening but you must stay strong, grit your teeth and soldier on ‘til you prove ‘em all wrong,

It’s your life, Pal, your vessel sailing through that ocean,

Buck stops with you, Captain, dream thieves can’t steer you in the wrong direction,

Slow and steady wins the race, fools are always rushing in,

Chomping too much too soon can and will spark indigestion,

Efficiency is key, start off with them baby steps,

Break it down piece by piece so you don’t feel overwhelmed,

Keep this in mind when you run into bumps and potholes,

Might spring from out of nowhere and come at you in droves,

Knock ‘em down bit by bit, never mind the hits,

Stumble and crawl if necessary, you’re still ahead of the bored and lazy,

Fuck the cuts and bruises and the stress and worry, it comes with the territory in your pursuit of glory,

‘Cuz in the end when it’s all said and done, when you’ve finally had it won,

The blood, sweat and tears will be worth it, that winning feeling simply gratifying,

Keep that in mind if ever you feel like quitting, it may happen from time to time,

Remind yourself why you started, why you chose to take this fight,

Don’t fear failure, you’re still ahead of those that never tried,

Could happen along the way, dust yourself off after you have a good cry,

Learn from your mistakes and keep trying, quitters are never rewarded,

The end game is clear for those that heard the call but ignored it,

It’s called regret, small word with gigantic repercussions,

At the end of one’s life the impact will strike with a vengeance,

Goals unfulfilled will hit harder than a Tyson uppercut,

Everyone’s got ‘em on some level, but severity varies from person to person,

Some might wish they’d taken life easier, that they’d chilled for two seconds,

That they hadn’t taken relationships for granted, such a load to bear on one’s deathbed,

Then there are those that missed their life’s purpose, out of failure or cowardice,

The former is life’s cruelty at work, the latter the result of personal shortcomings,

The pain must be unbearable, lamenting what could have been while awaiting death’s embrace,

It must suck staring at one ‘what if’ after another right in the face,

Don’t let that be you, Friend, you deserve a much better end,

Be bold and be ruthless so you can rest in peace contented,

It’ll be ups and downs but you gotta keep going,

Leave your mark and fly high, leave ‘em something to remember you by,

You never know just how far you’ll go, only one way to go about it,

In the end you’ll thank yourself when you stand triumphant after mission’s accomplished.

The morning sun playing host to this meditation of sorts,

Carried out while running, gotta keep that engine at top notch,

Body’s poppin’, sweat is pourin’ while thoughts are out the gates racin’,

Almost as hard as its host body, the lungs and joints feeling wobbly,

Somehow the memory of you emerged from the abyss, how’d it come to this?

Been half a decade since our last meeting, got me wondering where you at and how you’re doing,

Feels like only yesterday when I ran into you by chance,

Sure was random and unexpected, been some time since we’d hung out last,

Chopped it up as we strolled through the park, picked up where we left for the most part,

Ain’t nothing changed, you and me were still the same,

That was before you dropped a revelation that I didn’t see coming,

That you’d just come from the courthouse, your delivery casual and straight-shooting,

Got caught up in some bad shit, details of which will be spared here,

It ain’t nobody’s business, plus your explanation was kinda unclear,

Not that I poked and prodded, your summation did suffice,

Your day in court went well, you added, for that thank Christ,

Asked for my number before parting ways, said you’d give me a buzz,

Life’s busy and the battle ain’t over, exchanged best wishes before you set off in a rush,

That was five years ago, ain’t heard from ya since that day,

Wherever you are now, I hope you’re happy and doing ok,

Should’ve got your number, talk about a massive blunder,

Didn’t want to keep you waiting, seemed like you had other engagements,

Hope all your troubles, if any, have been resolved and that you’re winning in life,

That you’d fight on and persevere if you’re ever in strife,

Stay on the straight and narrow, may you achieve your goals and ambitions,

Maybe we’ll cross paths again, stranger things have happened.

Dear Nice Guy,
Once again you’re coming home empty handed,
Still flying solo, the position of co-pilot remains vacant,                          
Dressed to impress, maybe overdid it, it’s a Saturday night though, so no shits given,
Headed out several hours prior, expecting to hit a homer,
‘I’m a nice guy,’ says you, ‘the type that girls should be fawnin’ over,’
‘I ain’t a jerk like the others, I’ll treat her nice and proper,”
“Yes sir, I’ll be getting some later,”
Cute story, Bro, but your history suggests otherwise, that list of lovers sits at zero, you’re just one of those guys,
The ones that girls hate because your approach is so fake,
You lock onto a potential target, sell yourself like a sleazy preacher with that nice guy role you’re overplaying, but the night would end with your crash-landing,
See, you played nice just to get into her pants, proved to be another snake in the grass, no wonder she dumped your stupid ass,
Now you’re home, sitting on the couch and drowning your sorrows, before washing off the humiliation then crawling off to bed alone.

Day after day you wonder why no woman’s checking for ya,
Couples all around and you’re Nigel sulking in the corner,
Hate to break it to ya but it’s not that females are flaky and complicated, they ain’t swerving good guys for jerks and degenerates, they’re lies you cling to for self-preservation,
Look in the mirror to get to the root of the problem, yeah it’s you, Bro, quit blaming the others,
Think back to every interaction with ‘em, each and every woman,
You play white knight, damn near all-out simpin’, promisin’ her the world and everything in it,
Then when she decides to take her chances you go right for the jugular, demand she put out ‘cuz nice guys deserve rewarding,
That’s some creepy shit, Bro, you call yourself a gentleman? Now you’re applying force and coercion, way to cross over to criminal,
Imagine if the tables were turned, think you can stomach it?
What if she had her sweet-as-sugar front on but in reality was milking and leading you on?
What if she made you feel like a million bucks only to use you for a few fucks?
Bet it would hurt like shingles, how do you like them apples?
You could’ve retained some dignity, ironically, if you’d admitted to just wanting to get freaky,
You turned out to be the jerk among men with your hidden motives and ultimatums,
Those so-called ‘bad boys’ are winnin’ cuz they’re all about their business,
Giving no fucks about opinions, defying fear and nerves and just going for it,
No signs of insecurities and trepidation when it comes to meeting women, being honest with ‘em and laying all on the table,
Victory or defeat doesn’t matter to ‘em, they win or grow from the experience,
They’re clear on what they’re after, not ambushing like some fuckin’ predator,
That’s confidence and balls, dude, that’s what real ones do,
Take a leaf from out their playbook, what have you to lose?
Drop that fake persona and hidden agenda, be genuine and see what happens,
Spare her your life story but be upfront with your intentions,
Whether it’s a relationship you covet, the old hit it and quit it or just something casual,
Be out with it, Bro, you’ll earn points for being honest,
And if you fall short don’t kick up a fuss over it,
Don’t beg and plead or get mad at her, she’s entitled to her preferences,
You’ll do yourself no favors in a world where bad deeds and attitudes go reported,
Realize you’re not for everyone, don’t waste time bitching about it, rise above that rejection, just keep on moving forward,
Work on yourself daily, level up to boost your chances,
Self-improvement begets self-confidence, you’ll never play the fraud again,
Fortune favors the bold, Brother, the dating game’s no different,
Honesty is the best policy, heed the words of Billy and tell her about it.

Parked in front of the desk tinkering around on the Internet,
That work-related spreadsheet minimized, mindless surfing’s therapy for the mind,
Five minutes later playtime was over, but a little something caught you at the last minute,
There it was, flashing across the screen, bright colors surrounding huge block letters,
A feast for the eyes and primal urges they were offering, and it was free to boot,
For the first month, anyway, ‘twas too good to be true,
Jumped on it like a hungry lion, all manner of reason and common sense thrown away,
Locked the door ‘lest the missus found out, now it’s time for serious play,
‘Credit card details, please,’ that free offer won’t be forever,
‘No problem,’ says you, ‘I’ll be out before they ask for my dollars.’

Bodies grinding and sweating for your viewing pleasure, time seemed to stand still,
Eyes fixed on the screen, seemed an eternity since you last blinked,
Feeling like a teen again watching filth on the sly,
Worth the transaction, though, a break from day to day life,
One month went by in a blur, sixty minutes of ecstacy per day,
A quick dopamine fix guaranteed to keep the doctor away,
In and out your den of iniquity, the missus and the kids none the wiser,
But you’re setting yourself up for a haymaker right on the kisser,

D-Day finally arrived, gotta part ways with that free membership,
It’s been a wild ride, but time to move on, it’ll surely be missed,
Logged into the website, reluctance setting in, unaware that things are about to go to shit.
Looks like you ain’t getting off easy, should have read the fine print,
You gave ‘em your credit card details, too, now you’re in for it,
One month is up, now you gotta start paying, been living in sin now time to take penance,
That’s money out the bank, you thought it would be one month of free wanks,
Now you’re on the phone crying, demanding to get that money back,
Costs money to make calls overseas, though, and they’ve left you hanging,
Left out in the cold with no shelter while that money keeps draining,
Only a matter of time before strange shit shows up in those credit card statements,
No amount of explaining and grovelling will minimize the damage,
Cancellation’s impossible, gotta ‘fess up to your missus,
Call your in-laws for assistance, their background in I.T’s good for this,
So much for that secret mission, thought you’d get out unscathed,
But there’s always a catch, Friend, look in the mirror if you want someone to blame,
Now your missus is pissed at you, you should have known better,
Your kids are laughing at you, their respect for you temporarily shattered,
Thought with your dick rather than that brain, immaturity reigns even at the cusp of middle age,
Always keep that guard up, you had to learn the hard way,
You played yourself.