What is happening? It’s just for a moment that I close my eyes, and when I open them again I realize that the lies which I deride and despise have come true.
Maybe not for me, or you, but for far too many reds and blues, and all the hues in between whose choice is to choose not that which is authentic, but that which is smooth.
Smooth as in uncomplicated, uninvolved, undemanding, something that doesn’t require sitting or standing while, may your gods forbid, thinking about how things are hitting and landing in the hearts and minds of anyone who isn’t you.
And why is it so fuckin tricky to find validity in a reality where you can weave what you conceive as truth into an actuality that doesn't infringe on me, or him or her, he or she, them or their?
You say what’s fair is fair? Well what you see as descent and equitable, to me is devious and intolerable, confusing and unfathomable, lacking the why, the what, the who or the where.
To keep it square, I comprehend that for you, the reverse is true: my ideal Shangri-La is imperfect and flawed, askew in your view due to a misconstrued conclusion I have of some grand plan.
I comprehend but I don’t understand. Because the key, that you either refuse or are unable to see, is that while you demand that what’s right for you is right for me, that’s not the life I choose to breathe.
We each have our own plate in front of us, confronting us, dealing with what life has for us. I inhale bliss, exhale euphoria, I feel no need to spit and worry ya. I find my path, leave you your dysphoria.
So, while the world seems more maddening, challenging, blackening and baffling, I keep balancing and channeling whatever dazzling joy I can find. I’ll close my eyes, find my smile, continue gambling and battling, shambling and scrambling, and reflecting on the question, what is happening?
About the Creator
Briant Laslo
Briant has defied the odds for a long time. Born with MD, his parents were told he would be dead before he was 5. He turned 5 in 1977 and is still going strong. An avid reader, he is now seeking to bring his creations to a larger audience.
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More stories from Briant Laslo and writers in Poets and other communities.
if a candle burns in the woods, and nobody is there to see it…
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The candle had been placed there by Jonathan Taxia, a man in his mid-20s with everything laid out in front of him. He was a newlywed who was just about to finish his law degree and he already had a job lined up with a highly reputed firm in Chicago. His wife Catherine, a grade-school teacher, had just learned earlier in the month that she was pregnant, and they were both overjoyed.
By Briant Laslo2 years ago in Horror
The depths of the sea.
In the small coastal village of Cresthaven, nestled between rugged cliffs and sweeping dunes, there lived a young girl named Marina. From her bedroom window, Marina could see the vast expanse of the sea stretching out before her, its depths an endless mystery that beckoned her curious mind.Marina had always been fascinated by the sea. As a child, she would spend hours combing the shoreline for seashells and watching the waves crash against the rocks. But as she grew older, her fascination turned into something deeper—a longing to unravel the secrets hidden beneath the surface.One stormy evening, as the sky darkened and the wind howled outside, Marina sat by the fire with her grandfather, listening to his tales of the sea. He spoke of ancient ships lost to the depths, of creatures lurking in the darkness, and of treasures waiting to be discovered.But it was one story in particular that captured Marina's imagination—the legend of the Depths of the Sea. According to her grandfather, there existed a place far beneath the waves where the ocean floor dropped away into a bottomless abyss. It was said that only the bravest and most skilled sailors dared to venture there, for it was a place of both wonder and peril.From that moment on, Marina was consumed by a single thought—to find the Depths of the Sea and uncover its secrets. She spent every spare moment studying maps and charts, learning the ways of the ocean, and honing her skills as a sailor. And as she grew older, her determination only grew stronger.Finally, the day came when Marina felt ready to embark on her quest. With her trusty boat, the Seabird, and a small crew of fellow adventurers, she set sail into the unknown. For weeks they journeyed across the open sea, facing fierce storms and treacherous currents, but Marina never wavered in her resolve.Then, one morning, as the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, they spotted it—a swirling vortex of water, like a gateway to another world. With a sense of both excitement and trepidation, Marina steered the Seabird into the maelstrom, her heart pounding in her chest.As they descended into the depths, the world around them transformed. Strange and beautiful creatures darted past the windows of the Seabird, their colors shimmering in the faint light. And below them, the ocean floor fell away into darkness, a yawning chasm that seemed to stretch on forever.But Marina pressed on, her eyes fixed on the prize that lay ahead. And then, suddenly, they saw it—a city of ruins, half-buried beneath the silt, its ancient spires reaching towards the surface like fingers of the lost.With a sense of awe, Marina and her crew explored the sunken city, marveling at its beauty and mystery. They discovered treasure beyond their wildest dreams—jewels and artifacts of untold value, hidden for centuries beneath the waves.But as they delved deeper into the ruins, they also uncovered something else—a dark secret that had lain dormant for eons. A creature of nightmare and legend, ancient and terrible, stirred from its slumber and rose up to challenge them.In a desperate battle, Marina and her crew fought for their lives, their swords flashing in the dim light. And in the end, it was Marina herself who delivered the final blow, driving her blade deep into the heart of the beast and vanquishing it once and for all.As they emerged from the Depths of the Sea, battered but triumphant, Marina knew that she had found what she had been searching for—a place of wonder and peril, beauty and danger, where the mysteries of the ocean lay waiting to be discovered.And though she returned to Cresthaven a hero, Marina knew that her journey was far from over. For the sea was vast and boundless, and the Depths of the Sea were but one small part of its endless expanse. And so, with the wind in her sails and the salt spray on her face, Marina set forth once more, ready to explore the wonders that lay beyond the horizon.
By Eric anexis 2 days ago in Poets
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 05/08/2024
Welcome to the weekly update of the Leaderboard! We're thrilled to showcase Vocal's most discussed stories, popular picks, and rising stars. Let's dive into this past week's standout contributors and their remarkable achievements.
By Vocal Team2 days ago in Resources
Comments (1)
Love it, I can hear it in my head.