walks down the streets of
happy-town
where everyone has a smile
(can't have a frown
that's a killing offense)
his kingdom
his castle on the hill
with the pearly gates
and the throne of glass
and diamond
a crown of gold
with rubies
and emeralds
he strolls along the streets
waving to the people
his people
they smile and laugh
and shower him with gifts
and flowers and happiness
his chariot of ivory
his horses of obsidian
await him by his castle
on the hill
no dragons in his kingdom
no demons in his heart
instead a princess waits
for him
a pretty fairy
stands in the road
flies to his shoulder
and laughs
(it sounds like bells)
she whispers in his ear
"oh silly prince,
take off your rose-colored glasses
lose your innocence
see the world for what it is"
the prince, confused
doesn't understand
his kingdom
his life
is perfect
but
curiosity killed the cat
and the prince blinks
and sees
the world for what it is
no more happy-town
instead a dirty city street
no more smiles or happy people
everyone is so rushed
everyone is so busy
everyone is so angry
everyone is so sad
his castle on the hill
a run down apartment building
you can hear the neighbors screaming
fighting
loving
you hear the whir of the police
cars every so often
the pearly gates
are rusted
and falling off the hinges
the throne of glass
and diamond
is a beat up lazy boy
in the small living room
a crown of gold?
ha!
a crown of thorns
the people in the street
know him
they like him
as long as he doesn't look
at them in the eye
he has friends
but even with friends
your twenties is a lonely time
his chariot of ivory
a gas guzzling car
that sometimes won't start
his horses of obsidian
are street dogs he's befriended
by giving them food every morning
the prince is a prince
of paupers
and lonely people
who come to him
for a little bit of love
a little bit of time
he doesn't want to give to them
anymore but the people who run the
kingdom
the people pulling the strings
the man behind the curtain
the kings of dragons
they aren't happy
and prince charming
can't charm them
robbed of his kingdom
his crown
the demons in his heart
whisper to him now
but worst of all
where is his princess?
what has he done?
curiosity killed the cat
but oh wait
no
the neighbor's kid did
YOU ARE READING
BURN (Wattys2015?)
Poetry"Poetry...is thoughts that breathe and words that burn."--Thomas Gray "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash." --Leonard Cohen Poems on the tough stuff in life. Poems on the crazy good stuff in li...
