Swing In A Tree

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

"On the Outside"

Eye See You by David Chapman (in Adobe Illustrator)

Required attendance

Yet superfluous and unnecessary

once there

out of place

in the drunken alien celebration

every weekend of the year

Standing unnoticed

Sitting ignored

Free to observe

the tribal dance around the fire

Invited out of habit

Mandatory appearances

Yet resented and misunderstood

for Differences

pointless as a fork in a bowl of cereal

"Insight"

If they hurt you by their thoughtlessness

Don’t forgive

If they forget to say, “We care”

Don’t excuse

If they break all of their promises

Don’t condone

If they make you feel guilty

Don’t endure

If they place the blame on you

Don’t accept

If they make demands upon you

Don’t embrace

If they break your heart

Walk away

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

"Strings Attached"

young and unquestioning

my innocence drew you like a beacon

across the lake

flashing green with naiveté

beckoning for your awareness

my trust encouraged your deceit

allowing you to bind my soul

to your heartless control

artlessly I believed

the façade of friendliness and openness

not perceiving the glass walls

obstructing intimacy

not understanding false promises of family

affected affection fooled me

until I looked beyond your insincere smiles

and suffered the restraints

you attach to your love

"A Family's Spin"

Smiles—

masks worn to hide empty souls

Hugs—

embraces feigning loving devotion

Laughter—

covers of shrill condemnation and lies

Closeness—

disguises of endless discord

Piety—

prayers smugly offered for self-adulation

Family—

actors preforming prescribed scripts

"You're Not What I Want"

You strut into my life, mirrors for your eyes.

Bragging on your style and worth, all to cover lies.

You demand worship, attention thrown your way.

Staging life’s events, you’re an actor in a play.

You’re not what I want, so I’m stepping away.

You’re not what I want, so I’m leaving you today.

You take and take cruelly, all that I can give.

Draining all my love from me, just so you can live.

You see no one else, feed only your dark needs.

          Ignoring all the hearts you break with your selfish deeds.
                     You're not what I want, so I'm stepping away.
                     You're not what I want, so I'm leaving you today.

You expect to hold the world’s blind devotion.

Feigning love and care, your spirit lacks emotion.

You think I should thankfully kneel at your feet.

Allowing the abusive cycle to repeat.

You’re not what I want, so I’m stepping away.

You’re not what I want, so I’m leaving you today.