An executive is practicing for his presentation,
clutches his pale chest,
holds the feeble wall for support
reeling from the detonation
that he once upon a time wanted to be a painter
Shaking his head to rid himself of this frivolity
he psyches himself up for the upcoming merger acquisition competition.

He fails.

A woman takes care of her 2 children
and in her spare time - Hah!
writes double-barreled poetry


when you're under the gun, there's nowhere to run


Let go of your life a moment
explore the extent of your ever-expanding soul,
cast to the heavens and spread across the unending sky
Become the dreaded thing - an artist!
call yourself bizarre and interesting names like:
Sting, Kevin Carlisle, and Wangzen

What are you afraid of?
that you'll cut a swathe of carnage
through your personal life
ruin relationships
ignore household chores
and personal hygiene?


Maybe


or is it that voice of self-hatred and remorse that tears you down
saying you're just not good enough
not that creative
could never do that
It's not like you.

Get a life! Grow a backbone! Flirt with the forbidden
suffer to love combustively
crown your desire
bask in the fire's glow

watch closely - despite all of my well-intended efforts,
I have never once spontaneously burst into flames
it all ends unruly anyway - what do you care?

jump over your shadow
suffer from a distended adolescence
become a giant in your own mind
get the double-barrelled incite
and blow yourself away