Those who wait

A poem about resilience.

Those who wait

We spend our whole lives waiting;

for what, we do not know.

And what do we have to show,

but years of broken dreams?

Always anticipating,

something better will arise

to fill our weary eyes.

Impossible, it seems.

With energy abating,

can we soldier on

when what we know is gone?

Is despair the theme?

Upon our nerves grating,

the droning of the days

stuck in this malaise

losing all our steam.

Are we contemplating

what happens if we fall,

or do we care at all

for those we leave behind?

All the time spent hating,

fists bang against the past.

Yet it will stand fast,

never us to mind.

With such things stagnating,

what are we to do?

Well, from me to you,

do not be so blind.

This I am here stating:

each day is a chance

for good to advance.

What is lost, we find.

Preceding the dawn

Evil delights in sacrifice. That one's decision could leave another at a loss thrills the wicked to no end. For the power they crave means others will suffer.

Good people do not get what they deserve in this world. They wind up martyrs for all their efforts. It is a sad state of affairs when the best we can do is to die.

Yet, the alternative is a far worse fate. Giving in to the darkness means becoming part of it. At least a hopeless fight means what we are on the inside remains.

Wonderful things can still be accomplished. It starts with people reaping what they have sown. May there be a reckoning for everything done and not done.

The future is uncertain, but the present is staring us in the face. It does not look good, but that is normal. It is the deepest darkness which precedes the dawn.

That we are still fighting means we are not beaten. The enemy has much to fear. They have taken their best shot, and now we will show what we can do.

Weight of the world

The most painful blows you do not see coming. Everything seems peaceful, but trouble is brewing. Though the shock may subside, you will not be the same.

When all is lost, we find our true measure. Will we persevere, or crumble beneath the pressure? The answer decides whether we are intact or if we lie broken.

Most will find the point where they cannot go on. Only a few can shoulder the weight of the world and press forward. This is where we prove our mettle.

Who can bear the heat of the crucible? The strong are forged in the fire, while the weak are reduced to puddles of goo. No one can put them together again.

Yet, the survivors do not escape unscathed. Such an ordeal leaves a permanent mark. But the alternative is to give in, and be ground into the dust.

If you stand up, be prepared to fall. But if you refuse to stay down, the wicked are mocked. All of their power cannot avail against one determined to rise.

Digging a hole

How many things have been ruined by someone determined to get what they want? Lust takes over, making men into monsters. Or maybe it reveals them...

Those who get what they desire are still not satisfied. That is because greed does not fill the hole, it just digs it deeper. And then, everyone gets sucked in.

That which we desperately crave will dry up and blow away. What is left will merely be the memory. It is there to remind us of all the time we have wasted.

What shall remain are the bones, with every bit of meat gnawed from them. But the desire will still be there. When there is nothing left, the soul still hungers.

Those who can be bought will sell themselves. And they shall serve as poor sustenance for their wicked masters. But at least their pride is still retained.

This is a world where you win only to lose. Hearts are placed upon the table, only to be swept up like plastic chips. For the odds are always in the house's favor.

Life without bondage

Freedom is not given... you must fight for it. There will always be plenty of people who will try to keep it from you. They cannot be allowed to succeed.

When we enter this world, there are those who will try to control us. As children, we need these constraints. But adults can make their own decisions.

With the ability to choose, comes responsibility for our choices. It is immature to expect others to suffer for what we do. No matter what, we must own it.

If a mistake is made, it is not the end of the world. Rather, it is an opportunity to turn things around. By doing better, we can eventually become better.

Dependence means willingly putting on the chains. And there will be no plans of ever removing them. But every day they will take you for a walk.

To be free from outside control, we must discipline ourselves. Or else the chaos within will take over and hold us fast. Living in bondage is no life at all.

Over and through

What do you do when you come to a mountain? Some will stay where it is safe. But there are those who against all odds will begin the arduous climb.

The real you becomes evident when there is no net. Only then will you discover your actual substance. Pride often precedes quite a precipitous fall.

Those who are reckless will make a wreck of themselves. Foolishness and courage have nothing in common. But there comes a point when both are tested.

One must not choose the hard way, unless there is no other. There are dire consequences for failure. Be mindful of this, and of the decisions you make.

Applause is there to distract and deceive. They encourage you to take your chances just to see what will happen. By surviving you put them to shame.

An honest stand is not taken while the cameras are rolling. In the quiet, we prove our mettle. While not always getting over, we can still make it through.

Liking and believing

If you want to control someone, find out what they want. Hold it like a carrot over their head. It is sad to say that most people are so easily manipulated.

The deception is hard to see through sometimes. After all, it does sound so good. But be sure there are those who will say whatever you want to hear.

It is not enough to like it, you must believe it. For then, you will fight to the death in the defense of a lie. Many shall fall believing themselves martyrs. 

The truth is often unpopular, and it seldom makes you feel good. It can hurt worse than anything else.  Eschewing the back, it goes right for the throat.

Still, lies are not a refuge. They cannot keep one warm and fed. Instead, trusting in perceived safety, you continue on the path that leads to destruction.

See what is there, not what is hoped for. Be wary of those who make grandiose claims. The only thing they will deliver is your head on a platter.