Shadow

there is something sticky in my feet
it drags along the sidestreet
it’s not the smudges of dog feces
it’s not the dried skin leather of mice

it’s like a second layer of skin on my face
like a large red paint on my countenance
that I cannot see for myself
like a fermented smell that permeates

but did you know,
like a sticky gum in your hair,
there’s a trick to rid of its gloominess
either cut the hair for a new look
or get the ice and freeze it for awhile

bright sunny day isn’t too far away
just look up,
it’s right there.

11.4.2021

Pain

I stopped smoking five years ago
but it’s creeping back into my memory
iron-rust like taste of cigarette tars
lung piercing acidity
is a luring trap against this pain

started chewing on colorful starbursts
it’s saccharine strawberry lemon
that soothes acrid pulses of this pain
but it’s a cookie trail to a slow diabetes
staring out the window of fall sky,
I wonder when this pain will be over.

11.3.2021

Inanimate

I’ve come to embrace the silence.
Like a silent book on a top shelf
observing the world repeat in
dully peaceful pace,
I watched fireworks
of laughter, anxiety, and confusion.

Is youth a sin?
I saw youthful ones gnawing
at the rice bag sagged like
an old man’s belly, spitting at the sick,
lying through their teeth,
laughing at the ones crying for life.

who is wise anymore?
running from the shadows of pain
of loneliness, of criticisms, of judgment,
are we still making a fool out of ourselves?

11.2.2021

Ants

stranded alone in a dark river,
the moon, pinned high above,
only solaces the ant’s waiting
and hopes for a new beginning.

the ant stretches its six legs
grasping onto ephemeral reflection
of the moon on dark river,
its every breath to save the moon.

standing alone in the dark river
I stare at the ant, whispering words
perhaps as a prayer of some sort.

10.27.2021

Race

at one point, I forgot how fast I was running
time flew by, I just work my legs to fly
I opened my eye, realized I stopped breathing
with ease, just gasps at a time

flash of memories, bright light in the sky
warm shine from the sun, it could’ve been fun
just waiting, yes the waiting, for days to come
there will be smile, there will be warmth, there will be hope.

10.25.2021