It's good to have an adversary.
Just make it someone else.
Someone to be better than,
while measuring yourself.

Rise to meet their challenge,
measure-up, and balance-to.
The comparison may reveal
your intrinsic inner value.

But when the numbers fail to balance,
and the weight is never fair,
and no matter what you sacrifice,
they'll never meet you there...

Know you've always walked
along a path of your own glory.
Your struggle is but yours alone,
and only you know the story.

Self-endure your mindful yearning.
Strive relentlessly.
Rigorously self-critique
your deepest ideology.

Come to know your inner-most,
as you tackle loss within.
But remember who you were
before comparing Self to Them.

A planet of trash,
I lay underneath.
The filth runneth over
to where I sleep.
In humanity's discarded
roiling heap,
a toll of their sins
is what I keep.

-

On Planet Trash,
I live beneath,
a most revolting,
and glorious heap.
No one can see me
where I sleep,
but my acquaintances,
they soon will meet.

-

My Planet of Trash,
I give to thee,
more than I
could ever keep.
You know now where
my secret sleeps.
Take all
that's left of me.

I used to paint.
I used to leave the house.
When the vision stops,
that's when the words come out.

So much to say,
So much to doubt.
What is a craftsman without—?

This morn,
instead of nails,
I added to my
breakfast gruel,
three raisins.

Their sweetness,
I'd enjoy,
were my mouth
not full,
of lacerations.

It's just how life goes,
tip-toeing about.

A friend here, a friend there.
In my heart they've not gone anywhere.

I may see them next Tuesday,
or perhaps, never again,

but in my heart
I always call them friend.

Hello.
I am ready.
(Teach me a new delusion.)
The mind is so full,
but the heart is so empty.

Now must be
the time to accept,
any old myth
that I used to reject.

Fill my emptiness
with delusional bliss.
Give me an enemy
for my bullets to miss.

I'll fire my gun,
rife with belief.
And drift upon
pillows of doubtless sleep.

Knowing that I,
for once, am right.
Having chosen to follow
that arbitrary light.