Let It Bern

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.  

Another trip ‘round the sun, a new decade opening up,

On goes the calendar, midlife crisis in the distance,

Drifting further from that age of innocence, ‘twas a whole different period,

Various holidays, mishaps, tears and laughs,

Hijinks in and out the classroom, hanging with pals,

Teens and early adulthood, too, well in the rearview,

Been twenty years or longer, feels like I’ve been circumnavigating like Magellan,

Flicking through albums, milestones captured from the road traveled,

Pictures prove their occurrence but did they really happen?

At times feels like a dream, time and dates seem hazy,

Mind and heart says yes, every detail recalled perfectly,

So many miles accrued, though, easy to second-guess,

It must come with the territory, been a long and winding journey,

The clock and hourglass can be ruthless, that which controls all can rebel,

Memories stored then wiped, making strangers out of friends and foes alike,

Pulling out all stops to prevent such a fate,

Can’t have the final say but better than growing lazy and stale,

Gotta leave more and more behind, such is the paradox of life,

Years gained and steps taken forward, but in the process must accept profound losses,

It is what it is, gotta keep plugging on,

See where the road takes us, hopefully we’ll have it won.

Villified, crucified, labelled and ostracized,

You hear about ‘em now and then, would never want to share space with them,

‘Lest you catch something nasty or five, won’t be caught dead joining the hive, no point giving them your attention, save it for the ones that matter,

Once were civilians dissatisfied, wanting to get more out of life,

OF seemed their savior, their content making ‘em richer and richer,

Gotta stay ahead the pack, naughty pics can only take ‘em far,

Take it to extremes, the type of snuff that’d make The Pope weep,

One on one might not be enough, crank it on the up and up,

Two, three, four or five to play with? Why not take it to the hundreds and thousands?

Lily, Bonnie and their peers, what they do might be sick,

But what of all these dudes that play? All these enablers and super simps?

Can’t condone what they do, call it the height of degeneracy,

Ain’t no going back from this, it’ll haunt them for eternity,

Doing it for the bag, easy money and grounds to brag, they’re rolling in millions instead of rags, despite being branded slags,

Hate it or love it they’re out there hustling, you have the right to switch off and ignore ‘em,

You see ‘em putting out challenges, begging for participants,

100 losers, maybe 1,000, doesn’t matter if they’re married or minor,

Shoot their goals if you want but save some ammo for the fools they’re baiting,

Any sane, respectable mind would keep on walking, carry on their business,

So much to do and see, no time for these shenanigans,

Contrast with those that accept, the simps and the desperate, some already paired with another, slipping further and further down the gutter.

Surprise surprise, records broken and achieved,

Mission accomplished, R-I-P to pride and dignity,

Nothing to cry about, they gave it up for clout, they have nothing more to lose, but to the fellas it’s nothing but bad news,

You added to the degradation of society, how empty must your life be to partake in this filth so flippantly?

And to those with rings on their fingers, are y’all fucking serious?

Why betray your missus for glorified harlots? Now you’d sunk the dagger in her, was the cheap thrill even worth it?

If you’d done it for experience and cred, sadly the opposite happened, heads shake at the mention of your name, you’re just another body on her record,

Or maybe you were dying to meet your idol, probably dreamed of a happily ever after,

Sorry to break it to ya, she’ll never be into ya, just wanted to use ya to set some useless record,

Bottom line, you boys ain’t immune from scorn, if anything you deserve it more,

They had their own twisted reasons, but you’re the fools that helped make them famous.

So there it is, self-sabotage for social media clout,

Hundreds, thousands of trains through tunnels, might as well had made a deal with the devil,

And to the participants, look elsewhere if you want to be applauded,

Had your ride on the village bike? Good job, Fool, way to be productive,

Better keep an eye open for any of them symptoms, even if you’d worn ‘protection’, you may need to get tested, no telling what they could be carrying,

And so their shit show rolls on, more content posted for the lonely,

Not something to tell the kiddies, if they even have any,

So continues the fall of man, but perhaps talks of doom are misguided,

Many call out the debauchery, sane minds exist, still, among the lunacy.