Category: philosophy

Communicate

November 1, 2019

Ravens speak darkness while Frost speaks of snow

But tormented minds share a likeness, you know

Rather than rhythm repeating tempo

I’ll ink what I think as the rules I let go

Words are not wisdom they’re just thoughts that we think

And letters are naught but concepts that you shrink

Shrink into something that conveys a wink

Or some other thing that makes minds start to sync

Language, invented, is a thing that as we

Have all come together and seem to agree

That “this” can mean “that” and that “him” can mean “he”

Or “she” could mean “you” and the person you’ll be

All that we know was created by one

One single person who first said “I’m done”

Done with the guessing, who said “It’s begun,

Beginning today, ‘tis where we are from”

Their tribe founded reason, and logic, indeed

From then to forever, these words we now heed

And so twas’ the birth of this language we read

To finally find all these words that we need

If letters and numbers, or words din’t exist

Then chaos would still reign so high in our midst

Alas, we can speak now, our lips have been kissed

If not for this language, our thoughts would be missed

For Better or Worse

October 5, 2019

Sitting in solitude, lonely, I know

Glancing and gazing out of this window

I wish that the hands of this clock would move slow

But everyone seems to have somewhere to go

Why must every journey turn into a race

Why do we seem always have something to chase

Spending life sprinting and quickening the pace

When we could instead make the most of our place

Donning these things that we don’t even need

So we can catch up, get ourselves up to speed

Is it all vanity, is it all greed

Or is it the way we’ve been taught to succeed

Think of your values, what things do you want

Are they sincere or just things you can flaunt

Words are all words, no matter the font

Their meanings don’t change be you poor, debutante

Look at Me

September 25, 2019

Time, its not so timeless

And things never seem to change

Who we are and what we do

It’s stone, not rearranged

We live, we laugh, we love, we play

We fight, we kill, we fear, we hate

Never has it mattered what it is, the day and age

Things are all that separate the volume from its page

Do not look down on those who came before, they were the same

The things you have do not make you a wiser man than they

So it’s told, the times of old were better than today

For all that ever mattered was with whom at night you lay

Take a look at all the things that now you do portray

If only you, I tell unto, I pity what you say

The Most Important Thing I’ve Ever Written

September 13, 2019

Something’s happening, and a lot of people aren’t realizing it. They can feel it, sure; but they aren’t quite able to put their finger on the sensation that they’re experiencing. So let me try to do it for you. I’m going to describe the phenomenon to which I refer in one, concise, statement:

Your consciousness is becoming one with everyone else’s.

I know. Sounds crazy, dunnit? But if you truly absorb what I’m attempting to articulate at the moment, you will realize that I’m being deadly serious. So before you dismiss this as the random bantering of a metaphorical space cadet, please allow me to explain.

Much of what I’m about to tell you is going to sound absurd. That word is emboldened to try and illustrate the fact that just because something sounds crazy to you – doesn’t mean it’s crazy. Because again, I’m fully aware that this will, at first glance, sound nuts. So we need to acknowledge that before we get into this. That way, hopefully you’ll (paradoxically) see that since I understand that, you’ll have an easier time empathizing and realizing that what I am saying is not, in fact, absurd.

Basically, if I’m normal enough to acknowledge how bizarre this is going to sound…then surely I must be grounded enough to deserve at least a small handful of sane credibility.

Phew.

Back to the topic at hand. The first thing I want to address can be summarized by a simple question.

Who are you?

A mundane, rudimentary query, I know. But seriously…think about it. Who are you? What does it mean for you to be reading these very words right now; to have the ability to discern what thoughts, ideas, and concepts are going through my mind at this very moment? In other words…

What does it mean to exist?

Well, I’ve put a lot of thought into that question. A hell of a lot more than most people probably do, if I may say so myself. And to be frank, the only answer I find myself able to come up with is that I have absolutely no clue, whatsoever, what it means to exist – but I’ll be damned if that doesn’t stop me from trying to figure it out.

Which brings me back, again, to my point.

Considering the fact that I’ve begun this process by acknowledging the possibility that I’m nothing more than a speculative ignoramus, I can come to only one conclusion to that question. And it’s quite simple.

We are our thoughts.

What do I mean by that (sorry if that was anti-climatic)? Well, I’m glad you asked, because I’m going to try my best to elaborate. You see, humans (and the human conditions which afflict us all) are enormously complex vessels. We’re born, naturally, with a kagillion unique characteristics that enable us to self-identify. That is to say, we’re all special (not rolling my eyes, I promise). This is a point with which I doubt anyone will take issue. We’re all unique, are we not?

And yet, if you really sit down and think about it…we’re all the same. We all go through good times, hard times, embarrassing times, and proud times, no? Truthfully, the only things separating any of us from each other are the exclusive-to-our-own-plight-in-life situations, which to be perfectly frank, we all have to deal with. Considering that, they really shouldn’t matter in terms of validating ourselves to other people (since that’s what we want, right?)

Ahem.

So, back to the point (for the third time now, I think? I’m not keeping score, I’m sorry). If we are to examine, closely, the things I’ve mentioned in this wall of words above, it shouldn’t take very long to discern the fact that everyone, ever, has shit going on in their lives with which other people can (with an almost eerie sense of congruence) relate. It could be money problems, career problems, familial/marital problems, the-neighbors-dog-shat-on-my-recent-and-meticulously-manicured-lawn problems…you get the point.

We’re all going through shit.

And that’s just it. I’m fairly certain that all of you reading this has recognized, in one way or the other, that literally everyone on the planet has an imperfect life. And we’re beginning to wake up to that coffee-smelling fact. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you find yourself tiptoeing over…there will always be actual millions of people who are sharing your exact same struggles. The challenge is simply to find them, and to be open enough with each other that you both mutually understand that by judging someone based upon the transgressions, misguidances, and otherwise misfortunes of a person’s past is the quickest ticket to a life of loneliness & obscurity ever.

And that’s exactly what I mean when I say our consciences is slowly becoming one. We’re beginning to understand and empathize with each other, because we’re seeing all of these things people have been going through via social media and the internet. The ability to share thoughts and ideas en masse, like we can now, is without a doubt the most game-changing component of societal congruence the Earth has ever seen.

So allow me to share a toast to the human condition, and everything else that we’re fortunate enough to experience together in this once-in-a-billion-years era of time.

Because without a lot of you guys…I’d still be thinking I’m alone in the world.

It’s Up to Us

August 22, 2019

I can’t explain the pain I feel

I can’t explain the hurt He deals

I can’t explain why sad has come

I can’t explain what He has done

So sorely do I wish to know

Are we just threads that He can sew?

Are we just pieces on a board?

Are we unnoticed to our Lord?

I lay as tears fall from my face

I long so badly for a place

Where we could live, without concern

For who knows who, how much you earn

I long for that one truthful day

When hatred’s told to go away

Where peace and love are all we need

Where kindness reigns, instead of greed

‘Tis woe to fall upon deaf ears

But when we look at all our years

We’ve never taken all the good

And celebrated, as we should

This is our chance, please say it’s so

Please tell me that you’ve let it go

That you, at last, can see the sign

And that these views? They all align

Love all others, even when

They find a reason to condemn

Please, stop the fighting, stop the fright

And change the world for good, tonight

Politics Dehumanize Us, and Everything Needs to Change

August 6, 2019

I don’t know how much more helpless we can feel after this weekend. As observers of society, that is.

I know you all feel it. Everyone does. This sensation that we live in a world where we’re forced to clock in and clock out of our prescribed, normal lives as we watch “high society” try to run things as if they know what they’re doing. And just look at them. We’ve got a bunch of rich, silver-spoon-fed politicians trying to tell us how we should be reacting to the fact that dozens of us…we, the NORMAL human beings in society…were slaughtered over the weekend.

I’m sorry, but if I hear one more out of touch, tone-deaf politician try to tell me I should vote for them because they’ll solve this shit, I’m going to scream. And that’s the delicate, “I can post this publicly” version of what I’d do.

I’m fed up, and I bet you are too.

We’re beyond the point of politics, people. This is real life we’re dealing with here. We’re at a point where you literally can’t even walk into a Walmart without having a fleeting concern in the back of your head that’s scoping out the escape paths if some maniac decides to shoot the place up.

It’s ridiculous.

So how do we solve it? Well, we don’t. This is just one of life’s shitty hands it tends to deal. In fact, I imagine we’re going to be dealing with this garbage for quite some time, until we can stop throwing rocks at each other, swallow our damn pride, and GET THE FUCK ALONG.

And that goes for everyone. It doesn’t matter what color you are, what god you do or do not believe in, how much money you make, how popular you are, or any other demographic you’d like to throw in. ALL OF US need to cut the shit and stop letting this godforsaken 1 percent keep playing us for the idiots we are.

Because yes, that’s exactly what is happening here in America.

You, me, and every other person you know that’s not sitting on a golden-laced cushion has allowed a manipulative, deceitful group of elitist assholes to shape and mold our minds into such jello that they have us all fighting each other. So STOP IT. Stop fighting your neighbors and start realizing that the entire structure of our society is rigged to benefit the riggers. I’m done trying to veil such revolutionary thoughts and ideas behind a fictional narrative. Yes, I admit it. Continuity is a story about humanity changing our entire social structure and was written in an attempt to subconsciously make people consider possible alternatives to the current status quo. But we’re past that now. Fiction isn’t good enough. This is it.

THINGS. HAVE. TO. CHANGE.

And I mean everything. I’m not joking. We have the internet now. We can all communicate. So why in the hell are we sitting back, allowing these SOCIOPATHS that we call “world leaders” to steer us in whatever direction they want?

Think about this, people. I’m not telling you to throw in the towel at work tomorrow and cash out your 401(k). I’m asking you to consider potential alternatives. GET THE DIALOGUE GOING, for the love of God. As a society, we have 2019 hardware but we’re operating on 1995 software. We HAVE THE TOOLS to change things, drastically.

Listen. I fully understand that we’re all accustomed to the lovely checks and balances that make up our equally lovely government. But times have changed. We don’t really need you anymore, Mr. Representative. Because when we created your role in life, the only way we could exchange ideas was via a freaking horse. And ya know what? Horses are slow af. Comparing them to what we have now, that is. So sure, I guess it made sense to cherry pick one of you guys from the bunch to go chat with other such persons of fortune in order to create the rules we’re all supposed to play by. Because trying to cram a million people in a town hall meeting would suck. Duh. But now? Now we don’t need to rely on one (usually corrupt) human to share our voices. We can do it ourselves!! Bet your horse jockeys are jealous of that, eh? So yeah. Point is, if the masses actually came together and created a fair, balanced way of life, we could rid ourselves of the cesspool we’re currently trying to tolerate.

Here’s an example.

What’s that you say? We need to decide if you can abort after x months? Well why don’t we put a vote up on this brand new internet voting program where folks can actually contribute their voice directly without the need for some power-hungry “diplomat” inaccurately relaying our world views?

Yup. It really could be that simple. All we have to do is agree on it. No guns, no tea parties, no beheadings. Just…mutually beneficial cooperation which gives most legislative power to small communities or city-states. This Federal thing? Why don’t we just let them take care of the reeeeal big concerns, like war and protecting the homeland and stuff. That would be a government for the people, don’t you think?

Again, please listen. The ball of change has to start rolling eventually. Simple as that. So how about we declare it right now? Here, tonight. This 5th of August, 2019.

Share this. Talk about this stuff. CARE enough to stop arguing, come together as a population and iron out the kinks that have been tormenting us since the time when the first asshole riding a camel decided that inventing some kind of control mechanism called money would be an easy way to rule the world. Yes. Consider it declared:

The Revolutiaball has begun to roll.

I, along with millions of other sane, reasonable humans, beg you…keep it rolling.

Taken for Granted

August 3, 2019

Taken for Granted

Hang on, you can’t be serious

You’re on something, delirious

That lady who was here? He just

Left without a word

I saw that things got out of hand

No one saw that coming, and

It’s obvious this wasn’t planned

But arguments were heard

Instead of making peace, amend

For reasons I can’t comprehend

Even though he’s her boyfriend

On her, he put the blame

He didn’t stop to wonder if

Twas his unbending thoughts t’were stiff

He’d sooner jumped right off love’s cliff

Than tarnish his own name

And so that’s how the story goes

It’s one which everybody knows

‘Cause everybody fakes a pose

To play this same old game

Starving

June 26, 2019

He said, she said, this don’t really need said

All that matters is who you become

When camera feeds dead

I know, you know, do you really think though?

Do you really think you know the person

That’s on this show?

I doubt, you doubt, things they claim they’re about

Everyone has seen it done they never

Do what’s spelled out

What’s that? Well, Matt, maybe you should look at

All the promises they made and how to make a bureaucrat

He said, she said, sincerity, it seems dead

All we have is those who give us words when all we need’s bread

Irony

June 21, 2019

Irony is beautiful, wouldn’t you say?

How funny is hypocrisy when you hear these people say

”Your dreams are just a waste of time” they scoff and berate

But then when we succeed they buy the things we create

People look at people chasing dreams and they judge

Then they work a 9 to 5 while holding this grudge

So for all who do the things they love, I say unto you

I hope these other people see the things that you do

I hope they see the work and the example you’ve set

‘Cause doing what you hate is something I will never get

Expensive is our time in life, it does not come cheap

And when the bill is paid in full they’ll gather and weep

They’ll tell a tale of all the awesome things that you did

And sweep under the carpet all the things that you hid

I wish that we would care more for the families we start

Than the money that was spent for that poor painter’s work of art

I wish it didn’t bother me that when the chips fall

The rich all hang our work up just to decorate their wall

It’s sad that we don’t understand the meaning of life

Happiness is sliced apart- conformity’s the knife

Smoke and Mirrors

March 6, 2019

Animals. Miscreants. Products of society.

Monsters making mice of men and dodging notoriety

When will people realize that this world’s not what we think it is?

If you’re naive and say it is just do a quick analysis

Peace. Love. A child’s future without war.

All these things they advertise are not what they are fighting for

Human nature guides our acts, but most of us are ignorant

The truth is that our leaders are deceitful and indifferent

Some of you will understand and some of you will tilt your head

Scoffing and believing in the things you’re told and lies you’re fed

All the actions humans take are driven by their minds, you see

Every single move we make is driven by priority

If we care we do it, the bottom line is crystal clear

Pretense is the mask we wear to tell you that we’re all sincere

But deep inside you know it’s true, yet no one seems to take a glance

Afraid that mirror might make us examine our own circumstance

Fingers seem to flex a lot when pointing at the ones out there

But flip the script and things appear to always seem so laissez faire

Why must we get so caught up in pointing out the obvious

None of us are perfect, stop expecting all this godliness

We’re driven by our motives and my friend, we’re all just animals

Behaving so predictably it’s like we’re all mechanical

Its why the ones who run the world all falsely claim benevolence

Then grin to hide corruption and intolerant malevolence

This world of ours is not the one they taught you in your church or school

We’ve let the thieves into our homes and put them on the throne to rule

Now the future we must face, as freedoms what we’re fighting for

The path ahead is free of fog, no smoke and mirrors anymore

Fame is Not What it Once Was

December 24, 2018

Fame is not what it once was

It did not do what it now does

A King would rule, a Saint – anoint

To serve the people – fame’s case in point

Yes, fame is not what it once was

So widely grasped for “just because”

No noble cause, just pride and gain

To serve the selfish, indulge the vain

Those who lived by what was right

Replaced by attention’s appetite

We lost ourselves along the way

Our cultures plagued by moral decay

And while, in light, we all agree

The darkness proves: wicked, are we

Perhaps one day fame will return

To what it was: no one’s concern

Back to roots we know once were

When life was not a fast-paced blur

When people cared for what was true

For those you love, and who loves you

Cause & Effect

December 5, 2018

Hatred, malice, walls, no door

Cities, countries, all at war

Fighting just to stay alive

Families struggling to survive

A world of waste we’ve made, it seems

Turned to gray our once blue streams

Pillaged, they have done to Earth

All just to increase their net worth

Sickening, it is to me

That they thought these things were free

That all this came without a cost

And yet, on them, these words are lost

As no one seems to think things through

For if your cause would effect you

The actions that you choose today

Would be quite different, I would say

Your children’s lives, you all neglect

Yet sadly, that’s what I expect

From a kind who’s quick to take

And never thinks of what’s at stake

The Answer: 2

June 30, 2018

Thought.

It is such a curious concept. It exists behind everything. Every single action, every single behavior, every single thing we do is motivated by thought, whether conscious or not. Breathing, for example. Do you think every time you take a breath? I think not. And yet you do it.

I am having difficulty compartmentalizing the minutia of human behavior. What things do I file as instinctual behavior, and what things do I classify as conscious behavior? It is a task my superiors have asked of me, and quite frankly, I do not yet know where to draw the line. What things were under these humans’ control? What things were manifested simply because of the circumstances at a given time? What could be helped, and what couldn’t?

The more answers I seek, the more questions I seem to face. This shall be a most difficult undertaking, if I am to speak openly. There are so many pressures I feel falling upon me to fully create an analysis of such behavior. This question of why may be my undoing.

I’ve yet to determine an answer.

This Wishing Well

February 15, 2018

Standing here, I flip this coin

My oft stray dreams now fine’ly join

The thieves of thought think hard, you see

And mine the deepest cavity

Requiring midnight’s darkness; black

The sound of silence, naught a crack

The ones who came before me know

Shakespeare, Whitman, Frost, and Poe

Together who all see this world

A different way, with views so twirled

We watch as whispers turn to shout

It is these things we write about

The lonely feeling, all my peers

Have persevered through all these years

Standing outside, looking in

At this place of hate and sin

Tragedy, this world of ours

So many chasing distant stars

If they’d only shift their peer

At all the good that is right here

Perhaps then all these folks would see

The difference between vanity

And doing all these things for free

Without the need for “look at me”

Alas, its human nature, no?

I guess that’s how its s’posed to go

But if I had a world my way

There wouldn’t be a price to pay

To live a whole life, full of love

Like the angels, and the dove

No law, no rules, this world anew

Just treat others as they would you

No time for war, no time for fame

No time to play this empty game

Where people loved; supported all

And tore down each and every wall

I must admit, this world I see

Could happen if we’d make it be

That’s my dream, to you I tell

With this coin; this wishing well.

A Respectable Career

November 18, 2017

I did what you said

I did what you taught

I practiced and practiced

I studied a lot

I did all those things

You said would pay off

To get a career

So I wouldn’t be lost

You know what? It’s funny

All of us writers are linked

Try to fit this world mold, still unhappy

I mean come on, what’d you think?

You tell us that dreaming is stupid

Get a job, blink your eyes and wake up

Keep punching that card every morning

The weekend will hand you a cup

Sure, I did college at Vandy

It taught me a hell of a lot

A degree in Econ/Corporate Strategy

But the lesson in life’s what I bought

The people I met all around me

The times and the fun that we had

That’s the career that surrounds me

The job to make people feel glad

To give people love that they can’t get

From working a 9 until 5

After all if it wasn’t for these things

What’s the point in being alive?

Who are You?

November 17, 2017

Who do you think you are?

After that bowtie, after the hair?

Who is the person residing

Behind all the makeup and care?

What do you think? No.

Rather, believe?

What keeps you up at night

That makes you look back, consider, or leave?

The mask, the façade, the whatever

It’s all just a sham, though “on fleek”

A face that we all seem to put on

Then take off as if it’s unique

Can we be frank for a moment?

A second to spare for the real?

These hats are all just us acting

Take that thing off, start to peel

You are who you are, nothing more

Nothing less, so take it or leave

And if your reflection is frightening

Then don’t look to me for reprieve

Forward

November 16, 2017

It’s often that i see this

If truth were to be told

Despite the goal: inspire

It turns warmth to bitter cold

If ever you are struggling

If ever you are down

Remember they don’t matter

And that words can’t bring you down

For often will you hear, when

You are looking far ahead

That all your dreams are fiction

Come and fit the mold, instead

Be strong, my friend, for as we

Chase our dreams and live as one

Your calling will come one day

That it’s justified, your run

Don’t ever tell yourself “no”

It just simply can’t be done

Instead get up, get grinding

Until that day has fine’ly come

Our time on Earth has limits

It’s too short for stress and strife

Just find what makes you happy

And live your dream, this life

Survive

October 25, 2017

What fire burns, deep within

When darkness falls, and days are grim

What ember lives, while others wain

Choked in silence, succumbed to pain

What force shall hold, as others die

Stuck, complacent, teethe and writhe

What echo sounds, when others fade

Like leaves of autumn, drift away

What branch grows old, as others fall

With hardened bark, it reaches tall

What ship still sails, as seas pour in

Through thunderous channels, deafening wind

What castle stands, its flag unharmed

Though battles fought, and pyres warmed

The weak shall fall, the strong remain

What left have I, to give but name

For Better or Worse

September 23, 2017

Chapter 1

They’re so cute!”

Looking into a giant glass terrarium at her small colony of pets within, a little girl tugs on her father’s sleeve to get his attention.

“I know, dear. They’re very cute. Now get tucked in, it’s getting past your bedtime,” the father says.

“But Daddy!” The little girl begs, peering back at the many small creatures inside. “Can’t I watch them play just a little bit longer? Look! Aw, look Daddy! Those two are loving each other!”

“Come on now, little girl. You’ve stayed up late enough. Time for bed.” He says, lifting his daughter up as he hoists her into her sleeping space.

“Okay, okay.” The girl sighs, watching her father place the wide veil over the terrarium to cover it. “See you guys tomorrow!” She shouts gleefully at her tiny creatures.

Kissing her on the snout, the father tucks the little girl in and turns off the light.

“Good night, little munchkin. I love you.” He says, closing the door until it’s just slightly cracked.

“I love you too Daddy.” The girl replies. Waiting until her father is gone, she lifts her head and peers at the glass dome.

“I love you guys too,” she whispers, closing her eyes before slowly drifting asleep.

Chapter 2

“Rise and shine, everyone!”

Quickly pulling away the large veil covering the girl’s terrarium, she excitedly greets the occupants inside.

“I bet you guys are hungry, aren’t you?” She asks matter-of-factly. Walking to the small closet in the corner of her room, she grabs a packet of food and a pale of water.

“And it looks like your lake is almost all dried up! You guys must be thirsty!” The girl exclaims, ripping open the food packet as she pulls back the small square door at the top the glass dome.

Holding the packet over the center of the little community of creatures, the girl shakes it until all the tiny morsels of food have fallen out. Watching her pets scramble toward the newly dropped food, she smiles as she pours water into the side of the dome where a pond-like crevice has been dug.

“Drink up, teenie weenies!” She cheerfully says, closing the lid.

As she places the water pale back in the closet, she notices that one of the tiny creatures is laying underneath a group of mini tree-like plants, not moving.

“Oh no!” She cries. “Not again!”

Placing her hands on the glass to lean over the dome, she looks down at the recently deceased pet.

“I told you all to stop fighting!” She tersely shouts. “Why can’t you just get along?”

Returning to the closet, the girl reaches in and grabs a long, skinny pole with a tong on the end. Re-opening the glass lid, she nabs the dead creature and chucks it outside her open window onto the lawn below.

“If I find out which one of you keeps doing this, you’re gonna be in big trouble!” She asserts, holding the tong up. “Now ya’ll behave while I’m gone!”

Closing the lid once more, she puts the tong back in the closet, exiting the room to spend the day outside.

Chapter 3

“Aw, yay!”

The day after disposing the dead creature, the little girl is pleasantly surprised to see that two of her pets have had a baby. Standing over the dome with a wide grin on her face, she looks down at the two tiny creatures nurturing their teenie, fragile newborn.

“Good job, you two! I hope the others take after the example you’ve set.” The girl coos, giggling as she watches the little family huddled together in the corner of the glass enclosure.

“Oh! But wait!” She says, remembering the chapter in her booklet that teaches how to properly take care of the creatures.

Sliding the lid open, the girl reaches down and grabs the newborn pet, pulling it up out of the dome. As she does so, the parents become visibly distraught, running to the edge of the glass as they watch the little girl carry the baby across the room.

“It’s okay!” She shouts back at them with a smile, seeing their distress. “I’m just making sure she’ll grow up nice and strong!” She adds, placing the small newborn in a separate, much smaller container.

Obviously not comprehending the reassurances of the girl, the baby creature’s parents remain at the edge of the glass for the remainder of the day, helplessly peering across the room at their new offspring, wishing they could be together.

Chapter 4

“All better!”

Pulling her arm from out of the tank, the little girl slides the lid back on her glass habitat after setting down the little newborn she’d taken out the night before.

“Those nutrients will make you a super pet!” She shouts, watching the parents finally reconnect with their baby.

“Anyway,” the girl says, sounding bored, “What are the rest of you guys up to?”

Stepping over a few feet to observe the little colony of creatures, she scratches her head.

“Why do you all keep doing that?!” The girl cries. “Stop splitting up!”

Since she first got them, the creatures have shown a tendency to huddle together in small groups. Some are lighter colored, and some are darker, and they seem to prefer grouping with those they resemble.

“You guys are sooooo weird,” the girl says to them. “You know you’re all the same little things, right?”

Looking back to a bookshelf against the wall, the girl grabs the instruction booklet that came with her pets’ terrarium. Opening it up, she turns to the pages that cover their interactions with one another.

“The creatures will have a tendency to keep close proximity with ones that look most like them.” She reads. “Do not worry if they display this behavior, as it is expected of them.”

Taking a moment to look at the tank again, the little girl shuts the booklet.

“Huh! Well I guess it’s normal after all, weirdos! But just so you guys know, I think that’s pretty dumb. You’re all made of the same stuff.” She says, sliding the booklet back in its spot on the shelf. “Anyway, its sleepy time! Good night little ones.”

Flicking off the light, the girl throws the wide veil over the dome and crawls into bed.

Chapter 5

“Hidey hidey hoooo!!”

Happily skipping over to the habitat on her table,  the little girl in the bedroom is gleaming over the new cut she’s gotten for her fur.

“Do you like my new bangs, teenie weenies?” She excitedly asks her pets. “I know you can’t understand me, but I bet you do! They’re very pretty. Just like you guys!”

Looking to a small group of less-than-healthy-looking creatures coddled in the far rear of the dome, she grimaces.

“Well, like most of you guys, at least.” She says, rolling her head to the side as she snootily brushes her hair back. “Anyway, you’re gonna love the new toy Daddy got for you all!”

Opening the tank, the girl lifts a box and pulls out a large digital screen which depicts moving images of other small creatures that look just like her pets. The creatures displayed appear to be acting out their own little lives, similar to the ones in the terrarium. Finding a cozy spot to set it in the terrarium, she places the big screen down as the tiny inhabitants flock over in front of it, seemingly enamored as they watch the images.

“I knew you’d like it!” The girl excitedly coos, closing the lid. “No idea why, though. After all, those fake teeny weenies aren’t doing anything that you aren’t already doing yourselves! Why don’t you just watch each other, sillies?”

Happily scooting back to observe the new environment she’s created, the little girl spends the rest of her evening quietly watching them enjoy their new square of moving images.

Chapter 6

Caution: Creatures may occasionally engage in physical conflict. It is important for the owner of the habitat to pay close attention to how your terrarium’s occupants are grouped. Indicators of impending conflict may include, but are not limited to:

  • Two large groups of inhabitants facing one another in close proximity. Usually preceded by audible squealing of the creatures as a collective.
  •  Aggressive body language, abrupt movement, and loud vocal exchanges (when occurring simultaneously). Individually these behaviors do not necessarily indicate physical conflict. 

**Important**

If your terrarium’s inhabitants group together in close proximity while carrying small, board-like signposts or other tools, separate them immediately. It is recommended you allow two to four hours before removing them from isolation to reintegrate with their fellow inhabitants. This will allow their aggressive emotions to subside, creating a more peaceful environment for your pets! 

———————————————————————————————————————————–

Closing the handbook, the little girl sets her Creature Care Taking Manual back on the bookshelf by her bed after reading it.

“Silly teenie-weenies!” She says, laughing as she turns to look at them from her bed. “See? There’s no need for you guys to fight! It says right here you’ll calm down if you yourselves a little time to blow off the steam.”

Getting up to walk over to the dome, she opens it and removes the partition she’d placed down three hours ago to separate two groups of visibly angry little creatures.

“You guys are so cute.” She says as she watches the two groups slowly make their way toward one another, eventually creating one seamless, teenie-weenie unit.

“Good job! I’m proud of you fellas.” She says.

Shutting the lid, she turns around and leaps into bed, wriggling around until she’s created a little dimple in her wide mattress. Hearing the commotion, her father enters the room to kiss her good night.

“Hello, little one. How was your day?” He asks he as he blows her candle out with his long snout.

“It was good, Daddy! I made my little guys get along.” She says cheerfully, obviously proud of herself for mitigating the conflict. “They we’re fighting over something stupid.”

Laughing and smooching her forehead, the father brushes her hair back before walking to the door.

“Good girl. I’m glad to hear that you’re a peaceful overlord.” He says with a chuckle and a wink.

“I love you Daddy!” The little girl says, shutting her eyes.

“I love you too, sweetie.” Her father whispers with a smile, gently closing the door.

Chapter 7

“Ho hum ho hum deedeedee!”

Joyfully skipping around her bedroom, the little girl is singing and humming to herself as her furry pigtails bounce around behind her.

“Now, what are my teenie-weenies up to today?” She asks, skipping over to the terrarium.

As she peers inside, she sees that her little creatures have erected an enormous statue of her. Chiseled to perfection, the monolith displays her every feature, dimpled smile and all.

“Wow! Well look at that!” She squeals in delight. “How did you guys do that without me noticing?!”

Leaning back to admire the sculpture, she beams at the tiny inhabitants inside, who appear to be bowing before her.

“You guys are just so adorable. Thank you for my statue!” She says to them.

Entering her room, the girl’s father approaches the tank as he puts his hand on her head.

“Time for bed, sweetie.”

Noticing the statue, he chuckles.

“And what have we here?” He asks.

“My teenie-weenies built me a monument, Daddy! Look!” The little girl says, pointing to the newly erected obelisk.

“Very impressive!” Her father laughs. “You are clearly a generous God. Now come, let’s get you tucked in.”

“Okay Daddy.” The girl says as her father lifts her up, placing her under the sheets. Kissing her on the forehead, smiles at her before walking out the door.

“I love you, kiddo.” He says.

“Love you too Daddy.” The girl replies, yawning as she softly falls asleep.

Chapter 8

IMPORTANT: HUMAN BEINGS ARE VOLATILE, DANGEROUS, AND EMOTIONALLY UNPREDICTABLE 

***Handle with utmost caution. Do not allow these creatures outside of the included habitat***

Setting her instruction booklet aside, the little girl takes one final look at her “teenie-weenies”, before clearing the tank to make room for her next batch of creatures.

“Sorry little guys!! I know you’ve been having the time of your lives in there, but I’ve got some new teenie-weenies on the way!! Daddy says they are even more exciting than you guys! Much smarter and more fun to play with. I’m sooooooo sorry!!!!!!”

Grasping the enclosure with her trunk, the little girl dumps the entire habitat of human beings into the drain inside her bathroom, flushing them down into the abyss below.

“Have fun down there!!” She shouts, smiling as the very last human swirls around in a vortex of death.

“All clean Daddy!” The girl shouts, waiting for her father to bring in her new pets. “These humans were fun.”

 

Monster in a Mansion

August 10, 2017

As we sit here, looking

Across the plains, the sea

One looks at the other

And the other looks at me

He says “Hey,

My goodness gracious,

That lady needs a room”

She says “I know,

She surely needs one

This weathers looking gloom”

And as I sit observing

The clouds, they start to rain

The lady pulls her pockets

Naught a penny to her name

Frowning, I sadly watch her

How helpless she must be

To try and find a shelter

That will take her in for free

Then my dreary gaze shifts

To the hill beyond the tree

As the Monster in the Mansion

Stands on his balcony

As he looks upon her

She says “I’ll give you all I’ve got

Please save me from this weather

I ask not for a lot”

Laughing, loudly scoffing

The Monster tilts its head

“Why give my hard earned money?

You should get a job, instead”

Ironically, I’m thinking

As this lady begs and crawls

That the Monster made his fortune

Off of peasants, so he calls

I sigh and cry, just watching

This Monster; not a care

And realize how disheartening

That this life is so unfair