"Resting Murder-Face" and "Beer Budget Chasing"

“Resting Murder-Face”

The mechanics of the poor man’s face
Are what led to the current disgrace.
A fixed expression of distaste
As if he longed to lay to waste
Whatever passed before his eyes.
It would come as no sliver of surprise
To hear his name connected boldly
With some gruesome massacre coldly
Enacted as if proof evil walks the land,
Devils and men strutting hand in hand;
Or demonic from birth
Based on the lack of mirth
Apparent at a glance,
A gaze like a lance
Goring any who may inspire
The young fellow’s ire,
But that murderous look
Which has so many shook
Belied a humorous side.
Not something he tried to hide,
But only chose to share
With those willing to dare
A kind word in his direction
Promoting a smiling infection;
And the jokes would flow
Which jesters pay to know.
His dangerous countenance
And its seeming permanence
Stemmed from a natural inclination
Not towards devastation,
But the brooding inherent in all cynics.
Ask alienists at the finest clinics.
The soul shapes a face like clay
Though what it may convey
Is tragically open to interpretation
By the global congregation
More sure of their feelings
Than any true revealings.
So
On the story must go,
But to make it short
Like a shot of Malort,
He sat idly
By himself quietly,
The murder-face in place,
Eyes off into infinite space,
Thoughts orbiting bitterly,
All the while unwittingly
Building the dread
Across the room in a hero’s head,
As usual
A daydreamer delusional
Easily reducible
To a drunk longing for a crucible,
White knight syndrome assuming
To let this one live would be dooming
Humanity to calamity
(and to escape banality)
The knight drew a dagger to slay the dragon,
But murder-face broke a flagon,
A bone; punched a tooth out;
Battered into doubt
The future of the wannabe white knight
Seemingly destined then for eternal night.

And he hates himself for the blood he spilled
Even though it came from one who would’ve killed

Because all that changed is the belief
His smile is any relief.
There may be a beast beneath.

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​"Beer Budget Chasing"
​
Concrete ocean waves
Drifting ships passed graves.
Gold wings spread
Like butter over bread,
And the angels fly
To somewhere without why.
Glass feet clink
Tap dancing tink
Hoping the sound may inspire
Coins to rain, end the drought so dire.
So what if bills are due?
Burning bushes on Jackson Avenue,
While exhaling stars
Which turn into bars,
Dividing lines,
Unhappy confines.
Imprisoned by belonging
To others’ longing:
Braces, insurance, utilities;
Penniless fuels hostilities
Over domestic responsibilities.
Bailed out head Southside
Where the sunrise can hide.
Any brain scan
Unable to do more than
Prove the drug is working
Synapses twerking
Jerking
Puppet strings
Tied to neon things
Dancing before eyes
Adding spice and dyes,
But not a word to share
Sights beyond compare
Until unicorns from Elven lore
Enrich a Korean store.
Nod to familiars dressed as cats,
Some in pork pie hats,
And others steel walkers
Like gargoyle stalkers
Tiptoeing across high rise rooftops
Unafraid of any possible drops
Champagne taste out pacing
Beer budget chasing
The other end of the rainbow
Where gold is supposedly aglow.