After the Flag Fell

Inspired by the Humility chapter of The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen

I meet up with the ranks of my military Marching forward to vanquish our evil foe The men bravely clash with our adversary Tension builds as our advance becomes slow

The tide of the battle turns against me Enemy forces surrounding us all I panic looking for a way to flee Crying, I watch my flag on the clock fall

My opponent reaches out with their hand “Good game” they say before I flip the board The shame felt in loss they can’t understand I cover my eyes as tears of defeat poured Such an unmanly sight that I’ve become My opponent assures me I’m their chum

Perspective

Inspired by the Reasons For Hope chapter in Rebuild by Graham Boyd and Jack Reardon

Stuck in this dance with a gloomy monster

It mocks my existence imitating me

Matching me perfectly like an imposter

Studying with horror I want to be free

There is a ruckus in this dreadful world

My comrades have broken free from their bonds

Demons follow them as if they were hurled

I ran seeing how these terrors respond

We find a bright light stronger than anything

Entering it we find a vast expanse

Looking at this new fire gives me a sting

The specter so small I forget to glance

The universe is larger than I knew

No fear for my foe knowing what is true

Between Dionysus and Themis

Inspired by the Temperance chapter of The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen

Dionysus offers me all that pleasures
Much wine and food that bring me to madness
I’m joyful that he gifts me these treasures
In the end though all I feel is sadness

In comes Themis to save me from despair
She teaches me that I desire bad things
That what fills gluttony runs like a hare
I learn to enjoy all that the world brings

Themis says to see her again to climb
Though it’s hard this is where I’m made happy
Everything of value is worth my time
Hades will meet me so I’ll be snappy

Before I ran away from the god of death
Now I find myself lucky out of breath

Leaving Behind 2020

 We’ve all just celebrated The Winter Solstice

Although it’s normally the happiest time of the year we are surrounded by darkness

It’s the darkest time we shall experience

But light slowly returns and the sun creeps up higher and higher everyday

We’re given a much needed injection of hope

Although it’s going to be a long time before the snow melts away

There will be more dreadful storms to come

The Summer Solstice is still very far away

Until then keep your distance