Let It Bern

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.

There you go again, mad flexin’ in front of an audience,

Like a Roman gladiator victorious, arms spread basking in adulation,

The crowd exists only in the mind’s eye, as does the mighty Colosseum,

It’s in the pages of history, your sporting achievements,

The cheers have long ceased, Friend, it’s been more than a decade,

You’re still at the port preenin’ long after the ships have sailed,

What you’d done is fact, not fiction, always there to look back on,

But you’d let it consume you, overrun your mind, indulging in the spoils long after it had expired.

Still playing the part of celebrity like it was the 90s, blew through most of your money, you’re a king no more, just a retiree dining on faded glories,

Blinding ya to opportunities among oncoming traffic, the tale’s been told over and over, sit down and knuckle down, gotta write a new chapter,

You’re a star athlete no more, make peace with the past,

Find new mountains to climb, for all things must pass.

No doubt victories are overpowering, awakening the senses and keepin’ the party going,

Can try and try to up the high to the next level, thinking it can only get better,

Yearning for the past got ya holding like a baby koala clinging to its mother,

Newsflash, Pal, kings come and go and your reign is long over,

Time for a new beginning in greener pastures, a change of roles, ignore the fresh fears of failure,

Never know if you don’t go, if you don’t go you won’t grow, why not give it a try?

Regret’s the real motherfucker, especially at the end of one’s life,

Let go of what you once were and what you done experienced, no one can take it away,

Save it in the memory bank, look back on it fondly, but not all day every day,

Once is enough, once is forever, life moves inexorably forward,

Quit living backwards, personal growth’s never-ending, add to your life’s work, that’s the art of living.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, the clock struck twelve, we finally made it,

Saw off 2019, just the year before, now feels like the days of yore,

Stared down a new decade wide-eyed despite some frightening warning signs,

Mother Nature unleashed her fury, revealed the cost of complacency,

The nation’s burnin’, painted the sky red, it’s like the seventh circle, would’ve filled Dante with dread,

Reduced homes and possessions into toast, folks frustrated as the PM copped it most,

Firies and volunteers shone, without blinking they went straight to war,

Victory achieved but came at a great cost,

Can’t reclaim what’s irreplaceable, the properties damaged and lives lost,  

The year started rough but surely that had to be it,

No way, José, things are about to go to shit,

Bushfires, explosions and other natural disasters, political unrest and discord within the royals,

Forget the new Roaring 20’s, get ready for an annus horribilis,

A true test of mettle and patience in the face of unexpected surprises,

Heard whispers of a monster awakening in the Orient,

Stormed the news and social media, the world carried on despite warnings,

Shouldn’t have left that guard lowered, the monster wasn’t missin’ it,

The fallout felt across continents, social hierarchies ruined, death and destruction came, too, for the affluent.

Contagion became reality, harkened back to bygone eras,

Of plagues, pandemics and epidemics experienced by our elders and ancestors,

First three months seem like ancient history, unwanted changes applied to daily living,

Special events postponed or cancelled for the first time or in a while, gotta be a mind-fuck for those born in modern, gentler times,

Dark chapters from history repeated, in more ways than one,

We’ll cover those later, let’s first focus on this one,

The whole world placed in lockdown, life as we know it on hold,

The endgame’s unknown, mentally and emotionally could be a slippery slope,

Can’t go wandering far, unless you’re fixing to get fined,

Handshakes, hugs and kisses can put your loved ones in strife,

Home and work life came together, school, too, for parents and students,

Grinding to make ends meet while also playing teacher,

High-wire balancing act got ‘em stressin’, inching towards the end of their tether,

Families and couples separated, the monster kept modes of travel grounded,

Tragic consequences for patients on the wrong side of borders,

The economy’s in a shambles while society’s crumblin’,

Peep ‘em in the supermarkets, it’s a feeding frenzy in the ocean,

Grown adults fighting over toilet paper like a shiver of sharks on a carcass,

Fuck evolution, this here’s devolution, common sense and rational thinking obliterated, individuals regressing back to children,

Asians attacked for this virus, regardless of nationality, background and culture,

Fellow humans came swooping like a pack of rabid vultures,

It’s back to the Chinese Exclusion Act during days of the Bubonic Plague,

Yellow Peril reincarnated, the Asian race must take the blame,

Media headlines fuelling tensions while politicians empower the ignorant,

Compellin’ ‘em to acts of violence, high off of hatred and substances,

But what of doctors and scientists from the place of origin that warned of the beast’s presence ‘fore they were silenced?

The everyday citizens and those affected? They didn’t ask for this,

Treating ‘em all like accessories to murders, are y’all fuckin’ serious?

The spread was a global effort, exacerbated by deniers and conspiracy theorists,

Lit up tension between states, whole countries now divided,

Screw-ups rolling out the conveyor belt, hotel quarantine being in the thick of it,

We ain’t going nowhere with all these divisions,

From teamwork and cooperation there can be miracles,

The battle ain’t over but the light illuminates in the distance, only we are responsible for the speed of its arrival.

Stir-craziness in lockdowns and existing social tensions are liable to explode into something serious,

Kicked off with Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd lit the fuse, now they’re protesting on the evening news,

Five-O swore an oath to serve and protect, but does it apply only to certain lives?

For folks of certain skin tones it seems like one giant lie,

They’re marching in the streets crying no justice no peace,

Juneteenth ended slavery yet oppression still permeates society,

Disbelief simmered for too long, can barely keep the lid on,

In the midst of Covid and economic ruin, the contents explode ‘round the kitchen,

It’s all out anarchy, businesses are plundered and burning,

Shades of Watts and L.A, even Greenwood and Wilmington,

The anger’s understandable, must be exhausting constantly looking over shoulders,

Unfairly branded a criminal based on stereotypes on race and skin color,

The message is noble, it’s time to end racism, but y’all behind the movement dropped the ball with your actions,

How will lootin’ ease the problem? Even black-owned businesses are targeted,

Fighting fire with fire, innocent lives the collateral damage, like scenes from a war movie, what good will come out of this?

The picking and choosing among y’all is startling, does every Black Life really matter?

The rage is palpable for victims of cops and Caucasians, what of lives lost in gang crime and violence y’all started?

Y’all turned certain victims into heroes and martyrs, even if they were proven criminals,

Shouldn’t have ended six-feet under or seriously injured, should have known better, that cops got nervous trigger fingers,

Where’s the marching for David Dorn and Patrick Underwood? For Oluwatoyin Salau and Bernell Trammell too?

That lil’ kid from Chicago and Secoreia Turner? And while we’re at it what about young Cannon Hinnant?

Lost their lives to black-on-black crime and BLM riots, black-on-white for Cannon, the latter three were children, why don’t any of their lives matter?

How’s gaslighting POCs into playing victim helpin’ while forcin’ guilt upon White individuals?

How’s antagonizing other races a solution? What happened to ‘anti-racism’?

And why are y’all beefin’ with free-thinking Black men and women?

How are education and manners traitorous? Unlike y’all they’re rising above their own bullshit experiences,

Miss ‘em with that victim mentality, finding real solutions leave no time for hate and hypocrisy,

No doubt bad seeds exist in law enforcement, a solution’s overdue and we’re sick of waiting,

But good ones still exist among the ranks, leave ‘em be they don’t deserve your wrath,

Realize, too, that racists come from all backgrounds and colors as do the victims,

Stereotypes and labels based on appearances gotta be done with, period,

Social and economic ruin’s accelerated thanks to y’all, if that was the goal then mission accomplished,

2020 lit up many fires and counting and y’all are the ones dumping gasoline and lighter fluid.

Cancel Culture’s presence exploded, invaded the minds of the bored and insominiac,

Us VS Them is where it’s at, non-conformists be damned,

The extreme ends of both sides guilty, firing shots at one another daily,

In the eyes of the sane and rational y’all are equally loony,

Opposing facts rejected even when valid, what’s wrong with addressin’ all sides?

Folks be triggered by counter-arguments, brawling over beliefs and lifestyles,

Peeps softer than tissue paper, children display greater levels of resilience, pushing back will shake foundations then demo the whole building,

Calling others ‘sheep’ is green lit, as is throwing stones from behind that glass,

Cancel those that live and think otherwise, foolish words that fit the narrative get a pass,

Attempts to rewrite history by cancelling the ugly chapters, y’all living in Germany under Hitler?

Stalinist Russia? Castro’s Cuba? What are the positives of censorship and propaganda?

Suppressing parts history rather than learning from it, tell us, what are its benefits?

That’s some 1984 shit, it’s a disservice to future generations,

And censoring counter-thinkers? How’s that advocating free speech and tolerance?

That serves to suggest that y’all will crumble when you find your views challenged,

Others are starving and dying, the monster’s still running rampant,

Left wing, right wing, y’all are on the same bird, ponder that in between your whining.

All eyes on the Divided States beyond Epstein and his minions,

Four years in the making, guaranteed to get the entire world talking,

Tokyo 2020 called off in a hurry while this one’s immune to cancellation,

Stole the thunder from headlines worldwide, this here’s the election,

Battle between geezers, one questionable and the other vile,

A showdown for the ages, pun intended, between the bellicose and senile,

No golfing or swapping war stories over a barbecue, hold the whiskey, hookers, viagara and chialis, though the insults and trash-talking were nothing short of childish,

It was only going one way, the world saw it coming, Donnie pissed off one too many, came back to haunt him against Joey,

Defeat’s a bitter pill for the egotistical, can’t do nothing ‘bout it, though,

Questions raised, also, regarding how that soon-to-be-Octogenarian will go,

Memory lapses and foot-in-mouth syndrome, these be troubling signs,

Body’s breaking down, too, better have medics on stand-by,

Month-long clown shit over with, the people have spoken,

No surprises, though, if they’ll soon be saluting Madam President Harris.

But it need not be all bad, there exists some silver linings,

Look beyond the headlines and block out doomsayers, you’ll find what’s worth celebrating,

The absence of cars and public transport turned out to be nature’s perfect tonic,

Started healing itself, the air, land and sea, the reduction in pollution’s drastic,

The time’s right to pursue that long held dream, no more excuses,

Turning lockdown into a blessing, a year for fine entrepreneurship,

Opportunities for growth and learning, plenty of time for soul-searching,

True passions and talents are discovered, for some better late than never,

Creative juices flowin’, conspired to unleash inner entertainers,

Kept the public in stitches with at-home lockdown antics,

Family ties rekindled, got all the time in the world for bonding,

The monster held the world captive but could never dampen spirits,

Frontliners shone like true heroes, forget the comic books and sports reports,

Fighting fires and assisting the sick and unfortunate, they rose to the occasion,

Trying times stripped bare individuals, true colors done exposed,

But real ones still walk among us, shining bright as beacons of courage and hope,

2020 draws to a close, there’s two ways to look back on it,

As one to forget or the gauntlet that sharpened fortitude and character,

Moment of silence for the departed, sympathies to those hurt by losses,

Respect to the warriors on the front line, but to you too for crossing the finish line,

Did what you had to do to get by, went about your biz and raised your kids,

Fought to keep that head above water, you’re still swimming, life doled out tests and examinations and you passed ‘em with flying colors,

Credit, too, to the young and the students, toughed it out in unpredictable conditions,

Your determination served y’all well in addition to your teachers and parents,

It’s time for new beginnings, start drafting those resolutions,

Some hopes and wishes going forward, for the world and its inhabitants,

That nature will be respected, without it we are nothing, ‘bout time we treat it right, gotta stop pollutin’ it,

That cleanliness and hygiene continue to be practiced, we saw some dire consequences,

That nothing or no one will be taken for granted, that friendships, relations and families continue to be cherished,

That the little things won’t go unnoticed, the smallest sparks can also make a difference,

No need for a dance floor, DJ or fireworks, but do take time to savour and appreciate ‘em,

That folks stop arguing for the sake of being right, instead work towards a common ground that feels right,

That the unaware are taught and educated rather than bullied, mocked and belittled,

That the sins of the wretched are not dumped on their community, why should the innocent pay for their iniquities?

That folks be measured by their character, rather than culture, background, beliefs or skin color,

That people can still come together despite differing lifestyles, values and opinions,  

That the media will be responsible, as will politicians and leaders,

To hell with divisions and manipulation, fuckin’ hell can we all just work together?

Perhaps it’s wishful thinking, hoping that enough can strive to make an effort,

Need not require heavy lifting, just good old-fashioned dedication,

Strap yourselves ready, time to leave 2020 in the pages of history,                      

Bring on 2021, make it a great one, no turning back now, let’s get into it.

To persist or give up, the question’s raised during life’s many crossroads,

Each option got different outcomes, can’t always predict what follows,

May involve total commitment, no second chances once the path’s taken,

Could mean the difference between abject failure and achieving greatness,

Often hear about it when devising life plans or among troopers in perilous missions,

With it comes the extra burden of rapid-fire decisions,

In the game of love such a conundrum can arise, at times the brutal truth’s eschewed for comforting lies,

Such is the case when love’s declaration is rejected, one of two paths can be taken,

The spurned can take it on the chin and move on, or engage in actions that can tarnish reputations.

You summoned the courage and nerve, ‘fessed up to your special someone,

Ain’t no happy ending here, sadly they done turned you down,

Staring down a fork in the road, your rep depends on your decision,

Resist the bad advice, block out your delusions,

Choose the path of dignity, put in the work and level up on the daily,

Fuck the romance novels and movies, they’re works of fiction for a reason,

‘No’ means ‘no’, fuck that ‘I’ll try harder’ shit, there’s nothing you can do about it,

Realize that you’re not for everyone, what you have is irrelevant,

People got types and preferences, like it or not they’re entitled to it,

They ain’t into you, Pal, life decided you’re better off separated,

Suppose that wish was granted, you think it’ll be worth it?

Where you’re running yourself ragged but they freeze you out despite your best efforts?

Won’t be fun for both of y’all, such a life will drive you up the wall,

Sounds depressing, don’t it? Guaranteed you’ll end up damaged and heartbroken,

You’ll achieve nothing by begging and simping, except maybe a restraining order,

Likewise, you have no right to trash ‘em and turn ‘em into tabloid fodder,

Can’t accuse ‘em of abuse just ‘cuz they turned down your offer,

Don’t be spreading rumors ‘bout ‘em to dissuade other potential suitors,

Such actions expose your fragility, it comes at a great cost,

It ain’t sweet revenge, friend, just announcing how badly you’d lost.

Please keep your heads up, the ones stung by rejection,

Props to y’all for your courage, takes plenty to admit your hidden feelings,

It may hurt when love remains unrequited, it be like that sometimes,

Best to move on with confidence, look on the bright side of life,

You may not be for ‘em, but don’t waste your days stressin’,

Learn from your experiences and focus on self-improvement,

Cut your losses and let go, the best is yet to come,

There’s plenty of livin’ for you yet, to be spent hopefully with ‘The One.’

It was just a game of soccer, Friday sport among students,

Started out civil, descended into anarchy, school kids sure are devils,

Made doubly awkward by mixed genders, at an age where they can’t stand each other,

Boys inevitably come out swinging, the gentlemen within still non-existent,

Teacher playing multiple roles, coach, referee, scorekeeper and even firefighter,

At times putting out multiple fires, the heat of competition stoking young tempers,

Threats to halt the game fall on deaf ears, it’s like D-Day on Omaha here,

A tough kid named Davey’s among the ruffians, short and scrawny yet pugnacious,

Felt slighted when a girl nicked the ball from him, this was abject humiliation,

Saw red and shoved her, sent off immediately, red card wasn’t needed,

The game ends not long after, Lil’ Davey’s still in hot water,

Made to help pack up the equipment, that’s just half of his punishment,

Assaulting a fellow classmate and makin’ ‘em cry is tantamount violent crime,

He’ll be forced to pick up papers, sentenced to detention, the school equivalent to hard time,

Teacher demands that he write her an apology letter, here’s his chance for early parole,

Just had to say ‘sorry’ but immaturity butted in like an angry billy-goat,

Defiantly he picks up a pencil, scrawls his thoughts across that paper,

The message simple but the impact as potent as fireworks,

“I’ll get you for this,” it read, straight-to-the-point, no filter,

Just like that his fate was sealed, heard it loud and clear from the Teacher,

“Gather your things and go to the principal’s office, call your parents and have ‘em pick you up,”

“I won’t tolerate that from you, Kid, go home and think about what you’ve done,”

Davey complies, probably relieved to go home early on a Friday,

Done exposed himself as a fool and sore loser, but for him it’s probably ok.

Thursday afternoon, sports and recreation,

Get ’em out the classroom, young bodies gotta stay fit and active,

For some it’s a chance to blow off steam through healthy competition,

While others prefer to goof off for the final two periods,

Such was the case for a group ninth-graders, grappling and wrestling in the grass like they’re Stone Cold, Bill Goldberg and The Undertaker,

The year’s 1998 and pro wrestling was all the rage, boys will be boys and hormones be surging at that age,

Finally out the classroom, the aggression’s repressed for too long,

Male hormones crave physical competition, blame it on testosterone,

That fucking ‘hands-off’ rule, the bane of many play-fight sessions,

Settlin’ differences with fisticuffs will have ’em pushin’ for detention,

On this day the whole tribe’s locked in royal rumble but it’s all in good fun,

Covered in dirt, body slamming one another like they saw on television,

Got the teacher’s attention, there will be hell to pay,

Eschewed scolding and screaming in favor of mind games,

“Why are you guys wrestling? Don’t you know the rules? Hands-off policy, boys, quit acting like fools,”

“But it’s all fun, Sir, ain’t nobody hurt, no disputes here, that’s for the birds,”

“Perhaps you guys would like to perform in front of the whole school during the next assembly? Show them your moves and become instant celebrities?”

The proposal was fire, the boys were up for it, little knowing there was a rather big caveat,

“I want you boys to go home and start eating,” says Teach, “then rock up to school wearing nothing but your best briefs,”

“You guys will be SUMO wrestlers, are you still up for it?”

“Aw hell naw!” they all shout, “ok, ok, we’re done fighting,”

Satisfied with his mental victory, Teacher wonders off,

While the boys slink away for now, come the weekend the rematch is on.