I’m calling this poem, ‘How to Give Up Hope’
For four Novembers, I have been wishing for words to write it
They have escaped me
Forgive me, though I cannot forgive myself
I have no wisdom-filled ink
Except to write, be careful of virtue, it may enslave you
Tie you to the table and leave you starving, Hope
For this reason, you must
Give up, Hope
I never received my concocted potion
The one I’d ordered, for I’m an adult
May it stave off the foggy notion I’ve forgotten who I was growing to be
I’d ordered it to compliment my life
I mean -balance my meal
That’s what adults say, don’t they?
It’s okay, the delay, but bring it, damn it!
Said with a smile that hopefully hides
My slight disgust with myself for wanting, no -needing- the potion at all
Bring it
Before I am faced with the oh-so uncomfortable
To leave here bright-eyed and examining
My un-slurred self-talk
My speech 
Man without a mouth
Never speak this Way again
Sound without a source
*****************
The ‘So What Genius’
Deny, deny with each breath
We know what you are
Somebody kiss him.
Run, go kiss him. Somebody!
The affable man.
I guess I pity you
Is that okay to say?
I mean, you have these lofty goals
That you will not attain
You have the choice, you know?
On how you use your time
But do feel free
Whittle-away on me
Whose God has crossed The finish line
I look at this skin
I see it, I see hope
Splotchy, yellow-blue at times
Like the shades of a bruise
Slow-moving
At the pace of a lizard’s cool blood
Sometimes
Yet always
Legs to carry it and a thick exterior
To protect it
Should it pain me or try to run
Is all I know to do
Us, we set our jaws
Our chins, one dimpled, one not
Defiantly thrust
*****************************
Next, we decree it
A battle-call for Love’s sake
Blessed endeavor
