more

as you get older you have more responsibilities,
more freedom. you can do more.
stay out late, eat what you want, work, buy, exercise,
choose. smoke, drink, sex. all of the above.

more choices = more freedom

there is freedom in less.
there is freedom in not having to do
any of it. having the freedom to say no
i don't want to.

more freedom = harder to say no

m ss ng l tt rs 2

v w ls r mp rt nt

m ss ng l tt rs 1

m ss ng l tt rs ar l ke m ss ng t eth
y ur t ng e w ll f ll in the g ps.

all dogs go to heaven

if only my mistakes could be unmade by an oxy spray

is saying sorry

really enough? i didn't think you were one of those
who cared what people did with time. maybe you
care about what people do with your time and
i was too selfish to say that that time was yours.

i read poetry the entire time while you spoke
and others spoke about things that i thought
i knew enough about. you approached me
and i didn't see it coming.

all i saw were heels that looked too
old to be worn by my peers. you said
"outside is a nice place to read"
i said "i'm sorry"

you walked away as you said "it's okay,
well it's not okay, but..." and you stopped.
you left me hanging on your words.
i wonder if sorry was enough for you

the feeling of sorry or being sorry
or saying sorry. knowing that i can't
give you back your time or the respect
that i took from you.

all you had to say was "i forgive you"
or "it's okay" and you did, but you
didn't. "...well it's not, but..." doesn't
sit well with me.

and i deserve it. all i am now is sorry
in every way, shape, form and i can't
stop because i didn't hear "forgive"
like a song on repeat i keep repeating

sorry, sorry, sorry until you press the
"forgive" button and all is well with me.

monsters

live in the mind and in the
dark you seek them.
your hope is in your
blanket and your
nightlight.

as the blanket becomes
foggy and it gets
harder to
breathe.

what will you do?
you must
breathe.

in one
motion.

uncover.

breathe
slowly.

open your eyes
and see
nothing.

get up and wipe off your
sweat and turn on
the light that
reveals.

the light blinds and then you see
the monster beside your bed.
now that you see him
are you not
scared?

freed slave

freedom. that's what people think of when they think of America.
"I believe in America..." that's the first line to the Godfather.
believing in America means believing in the American dream.
start from scratch and become rich.

but it's not enough. you want your kids to live the dream too.
start from riches and become richer. from generation to
generation, it becomes more about the individual.
it used to be about family.

each generation gets more selfish. looks for its place
in the world. for purpose. so they look to pleasure,
luxuries, and if anything gets in the way of it
they will fight for the freedom to have them.

the freedom to do what you want. to play video games
all day. to eat what you want and when you want and however
much you want. to have sex with whomever you want.
if it doesn't hurt anyone then it's ok.

i wonder if people see what i see.
this freedom that has enslaved us.
why do we smoke, drink, pleasure.
because we can.

i challenge you to stop. why?
because i can and i don't think you
can. try to stop. you'll find yourself
to struggle. as i do.

is this the freedom that our forefathers
dreamed about? it used to be simple.
work hard. love your wife. teach your
children. help your neighbor.

these aren't enough anymore. we are taught
to want more. there has always been a desire
in us for more. this longing to know why you
are here. who created you.

the longing for God is still here. it is filled
with cars, shoes, clothes, money, and other
things. but when you are old and gray and
your lust for women is gone

where will you turn to. retired, living off
your pension, collecting seashells on a
seashore. maybe you'll enjoy it, or you
will realize that you've done nothing with life.

find freedom. it isn't this. whatever this is.
look for freedom and escape the prison
of your mind and spirit. there's more.
there has to be.