treason

does the abandonment of loyalty
ever come back to cast its shadow
over the accomplishments
you used it for

does it keep you up nightly
watching the windows and doors
for the imminent destruction
of whatever hope you have

the river you sold them down
was it as shallow as your heart
just as black and thick
as the blood that flows in your veins

i remember the moment
when you decided to leave
when you came back afterwards
rewards and accomplishments in handfuls

the value you feel now
soon will be diminished
by the betrayal and deceit
you left in your wake

i won’t be around to see your fall
the aftershock will ruin all around

good deal

albeit advancement takes time
though seen in days or weeks
whenever waiting for anything
always ends up feeling like forever
regardless of the measurement
the timetable bends to none
even if you feel owed
a rush won’t come around
those idle hands you wield
get you into more trouble
then when you try to help
breaking glass against concrete
cutting skin to reveal
blood on the floor
to be bandaged up
with old gauze
leftover tape
misplaced hope
misguided faiths
change is coming
the scrapes and bruises
those are part
of the deal

deceit

let it elude us
dashing past
via shortcuts
small bridges
steadfast on
shielded by
moonlight
old hope
the past
or reckless
youth
atrocities
guided by
desires
lies
lovers
in sequence
to the stars
rolling on
against clouds
darker there
before it ends
tell me once
the truth

sixtieth

if i counted up the weeks
would they allow me peace
to trespass my hollowed mind
how many breaths i’ve taken
as granted as the sun rises
maybe now i understand
the little things add up
even if they aren’t counted
never put in front
seen only to those attentive
to small actions underneath
the brevity of ignorance
befallen upon those within
man made confines
of walls adorn of strokes
the meaning assumed
though never fully reached
if the time is skipped then
what matter is it now
to set aside and wonder
if the next action
is the right one
if the next breath
is the last one

portrait

could i ever counter your actions
let the strides you take in vain
remove all my withstanding doubts
cover up the countless mistakes
marked up with unperceived flattery
side step to my stature
dance with me until you break
may the night last longer
then the harrowing fiction we tell
if i told you to be removed
would i see the truth in you
cut off a piece
see if you bleed blue
but the enemies of my enemies
whose lies upon lies
were thought to be true
could come up at any time
let my judgement be misconstrued
overwrought with inconsistencies
so the picture of you
i keep in my mind
is painted so differently
before my very eyes