never one for
pomp and circumstance
i shed the
extravagances
finding life to be
a luxury
i cannot hope
to afford
snipping all of
the extraneous
optionals from
the act of being
hope and dream
leeches leading to
false securities
pinholes in the
castle walls
allowing
poisonous gases
to seep into
very necessary
rationalities
a bare tree
shivering in a
pile of needles
exposed to reality
in a raw and wholly
uncomfortable way
trimming the fat
to manage survival
for a few more weeks
burning unrealistic goals
to fan the toxic flames
of honest realization