I get the call.
I get denied.
I go again
but it’s different this time.
I strip and wait
to see if they find
something about my body that they like.

I get sent the script.
I learn my lines.
I put on a new face
and don’t recognise mine.
The following minute she’s on the stage
under the spotlight soaking up the appraise.

When the audience applaud
and the last curtain falls.
I take a deep breath and smile at it all.

Once upon a time we played pretend
Once upon a time, the game had to end
Once upon a time, I lost a friend.
Once upon a time, I reached my end.

Carefree was I, and carefree was she
In a world of our own we were free.
Safe and sound in our beautiful little dollhouse
Before it crept upon us, silent as a louse.

It came suddenly and took everything we had
The windows of our house grew cracked
The glass became cloudy, we could no longer discern what exactly we were.

Our house was empty
and so were we.
Darkness took over her and me -
Perhaps something they could foresee
But of course they never told me.

Now I have no shoes; my feet are bare.
I am bare.
I stand paper-thin, about to tear.
The cold wind stings, and the rain mats my hair.
The sun burns my skin— but I cannot care.

The frailty of me,
All can see.
Sap weeps slow,
This apple tree.

To lose myself,
In winding ways.
To stand with shadows,
Through endless days.

To lose each other,
Hearts may flee.
They mourn their father,
In bitter tea.

I choose to lose,
Do you not see?
I embrace the loss,
For it sets me free.
I show how to lose,
And so, I decree:
I know how to lose.

My mind is a reflecting pool
Shattered memories floating through
I reach out to grasp them
But they lunge away
I chase after
They disappear
They disappeared
I’m sorry to my past self
I’ve wronged you
I’m sorry to my past friends
I’ll never be the same man you know
But you weren’t returning anyways
I’m sorry to myself
I’ll never be the same man you know
I write
I write more
I write more again
I wrote
I’ve written
Stop this noise
Leave me in silence
I was never scared of silence
I was scared of losing sound

What if I miss
A list
Flurries in the wind
Jumping out of hand

Lucky-opportunist
Grating against the limits
Beyond the town
Falling out of pace

Unfortunately,
It takes a lot of losing,
To win a little.

Fortunately,
Once you're finished losing,
You can start winning.

Have you considered,
AI might not be outpacing us,
We as a people,
Might just be slowing down.

Becoming more reliant,
On robotics,
That we've made so many,
Our mistakes are catching up to us.

You always beat me
At every game we played
So when I broke your heart
It was only natural that
You'd shatter mine
Effortlessly