you’re not the only one

you’re not the only one who’s pretty

not the only one suffering

the only one busy with your death

the only one fleeing from your most recent epiphany

challenging those predictably redundant ghosts

you’re not the only one who’s soft

not the only shallow one,

the only blessed one

warily gathering a few diamonds to toss to the poor,

hoping to sucker those infuriating vamps

you’re not the only one who’s lazy

not the only one intent on

residing in a rambling

non-committed

apathetic lifestyle,

not the only shipwrecked member of your cyber-mad-generation

exchanging digital favors for some real-time freeway hustle

trading away concealed plastic flowers in Sunday cemeteries

yup, you’re not the only one pretending to thrive

not the only one resisting toughness

the only one too stubborn to switch gears,

too arrogant to surrender

and at last let go of another imaginary

tangled up

image of yourself

Spring, 2015

Lake Worth, FL