By Tia Richardson

What the hell is going on out there?

Trust is broken, at best

And the world isn’t fair

All things that seem even

come with a cost

People are lonely, confused, or just feeling lost

Its no wonder we want space, damnit

What do you expect when chaos runs the gamut

Weirdness and trickery are running the whole show

What the hell did I sign up for?

What is this game we seem to be choosing?

Where no one is winning and all seem to be losing?

Its not a fair one, I can give you that

Some days I’d rather be meat in a meat shack

Then wake up one morning and throw my lot in the hat

Working all day just to feel ok

Toiling and soiling just to get by

It’s no wonder no one wants to try

or even consider there just might be another way

Waiting for whom should step out on a limb one day

Well you know what? I’ve had it!

I’m tired of being a jacked up wild rabbit

Chasing and being chased and running away

to places where all is fair game, so they say

It all just ends up being a bad habit.

A pile of guilt, and then shame

Standing knee-deep in it, wondering who’s to blame

Well you know what? I’ve got it!

I’ll take my pity-pot and sell it

To the highest bidder, that’s for sure.

I wonder who will buy my pity-pot?

It’s gilded and gold, built for the road

A long-haul, with pockets for extra tears and complaining

Better cast your luck now before it starts raining

Last I checked there’s going to be hail, and thunder

With all this carrying-on its no wonder

Why not throw your fate to the dogs.

It’s better off there.

A foolish person once said,

“You’d better beware”.

Don’t take your chances

Don’t try your luck

Better hold your breath

And go swim with the ducks

That might well be true

But you know what I think?

All this is a load of garbage, a rotten stink

And if you’ve read this far, this one’s for you

Get out your wild horses

Your bridles, your whips

Come to the knowledge pool

Let’s take a dip

A drink, a breather

A breath of fresh air

While your horses water, let’s guess

What’s in there?

What’s in that bright shiny pool

That radiant beacon

That brings so many near?

It is your soul, just being

Just barely aware

Of its presence

Until we become aware

Living as Thinkers

What we once thought

Was true often is not

Until mirror held to the Soul

And our eyes gaze in there

We see more than ever was mentioned

We can see that we care

Its just buried under layers

Of layers upon layers

Of life ’till we look

through life’s wear and tear

And see that under the baggage

Struggle and strife

Life wasn’t just about living –

But about – life.

It’s in the giving, the sharing

And reciprocity

and thanking, and caring

the bond between you and me

Its what happens when weapons are put down

And we turn and look with a caring heart, not a frown

What get’s you down? What rumbles your thunder?

What do you grieve? About what do you wonder?

What burdens you carry;

for what do you care?

Do you know the strength in your heart

what lives in there?