Home

LIFE'S LOWEST

GRIME DOESN'T PAY

You can take a hundred showers,
Scrub deeply into the skin;
But you'll never wash away the scum
That emanates from within.

Troubles are shared with others.
With a pleading in your eyes
You accept a shoulder and an ear
And thank them with your lies.


A black sheep with a black heart,
An animal searching for prey.
Pouncing and devouring
Then casually walking away.

But now there's no coming back
And to permit such is insane.
Like an inmate in confinement
You have only yourself to blame.

DISMISSAL

Your silence says it all,
The look that you cannot disguise.
Although you deny it completely
I can see it in your eyes.

Your words like needles constantly
Jabbing and punching holes.
My veneer has begun to weaken
But you cannot make me fold.

The condescension of the dismissal,
The arrogance of the conflict
As you try to instill anger,
As you try to make me quit.

Your prejudice is disabling
As I struggle to survive,
To overcome your perceptions,
To ignore your constant lies.

With you insecurity and immaturity
You are able to spiritually bruise;
But someday you'll awake from your reverie
And find yourself in my shoes.

BROKEN

No words could ever have destroyed
As the words that you have spoken.
No words could have been as devastating.
No words could have left me more broken.

Astonishment must have shown on my face.
Your anger betrayed by your eyes.
Seething like a tightly clenched fist
That you could no longer disguise.

I watched as you tried to control yourself.
With a deep breath the change had begun.
You attempted a more serene approach,
But the damage had already been done.

I don't remember what crossed my mind.
I only recall the gripping fear
And the realization that I didn't know you
Although you had always seemed near.

I dared not register panic,
But failed to hide my gasps for air;
And as much as I wanted to rationalize,
Seeds of uncertainly had been planted there.

So you gave me what I needed.
Performed your manly chore.
But you took away the memories
With words that will kindle forever more.

For one brief moment I was free of pain.
Kept the gratitude in my heart.
But the cold words from your cold voice
Denied me by ripping apart.

Since you have made it so clear,
I offer no resistance.
Now that I know my place,
I'll do my best to keep my distance.

THE CAD

"I can take care of you, you know,
Cruises and dinners, too," said he.
I  said "I'll think about it,"
With an aside to myself, indeed!!

"Let me buy you another drink.
Looks like you're getting low,"
Sure, I thought. Why not, I thought.
This evening is dull and slow.

He spoke innocuous words
And totally unaware
There were things he hadn't told me.
Conversations hung in the air.

He saw himself as a  party boy.
Told me of his escapades.
I suppressed the urge to yawn,
And let my mind drift away.

I declined a request to dance.
I could tell he felt let down.
I just shrugged and smiled.
There's lots of girls around.

He let me know he was a gentleman.
He was trying so very hard,
But asking me if I was drunk yet
Put me on my guard.

He repeated all he could do for me.
Could take care of me for life.
And though I did not answer,
I wondered if he'd checked with his wife.

She might voice an objection.
May not take it in her stride.
Just another low life bum,
Playing games and telling lies.

I AM NOT THE ENEMY

You can say I am bitter,
And I would not disagree.
I gave you the world.
What did you give me?

Your words were always hollow,
But I wolfed them down anyway.
You must have been amused.
It must have made your day.

There were times you scared me .
I feared for my sanity.
Believe it when I tell you
I was not your enemy.

I wondered why you stayed
Since we were virtually estranged.
When I had nothing left to give,
You gradually began to change.

I read the writing on the wall.
The atmosphere was turning dark.
Even on the good days
You showed very little heart.

Now you seem so resentful
Of the fact that I even breathe.
Whatever problems you have
Are problems I don't need.

I'm glad I made you go.
The loss is yours, I am sure.
In time I'll have moved on
And you'll be where you were.