You Still Pretend, Only Not Like You Used To

Lipstick and fancy dresses
lose their wonder
when learned
to be applied correctly,
and acceptance begins
falling in the wrong hands
like snow in a city gutter,
slowly melting and draining all identity,
only to leave that leftover black exhaust and sediment
to amass into emotional walls
and more makeup.

You can ratchet up your spine,
but you're still a lamb
in lion's clothing.

Used

I used to know this guy
who used to hug bears
a little too close for comfort,
and neither of us moved away
and lost touch.

Something

They dragged him into the courthouse
like a fallen god.
He stood,
raking rusted fingernails
through leathered grizzle,
and didn't speak.
The sound of the air in the room
deflating
was like the sound of
air deflating from something.

My Words

My words are not completely
unique.
If I were to write my reflection
without a mirror
it would probably look a lot
like you,
and I'm fine with that,
as long as I'm not
a famous poet.

A bumper sticker
is just a cop-out.

Circles

I've noticed a lot of negativity
and legalism
in the circles I run in.
It's always,
"Pick up the pace!"
or
"No sharp turns!"

Truism

The old saying,
"Conserve water, drink more beer,"
does not quite hold true.
It should be,
"Conserve water, drink less water
and other water-based products."