thedemonswontwin - Tumblr blog

[thedemonswontwin]

Where are the homes?

Homelessness holds folks back

High rents suffocate a generation

A lack of homes

Keeps people priced out

Even when

Unemployment is going down

Folks are working more

And living less

This doesn’t make sense 

Unless you see

The systems driving up rents

From interest rates to 

NIMBY traits

The homeowners holding back

Everybody else 

Protecting their equity

At the expense of folks dignity

Don’t build homes near me

They scream to their local politicians 

They make their donations

They push their pleas

Successfully stoping homes

For regular people to achieve

Making our cities unaffordable

Making work not pay

Growing their wealth

By pushing everybody else 

To a knee

The NIMBYS are taking away 

Opportunities for folks to live affordably

The politicians are helping them

Developers do as they are told

Just build big fancy homes 

That don’t work for regular folks

Give developers a quasi-monopoly 

So they can raise rents 

As high as they want

Cause there is no competition

To keep them in check

This is America today

Rich folks controlling who gets homes

And making everybody else betray

Their dreams 

Diving our communities into the ground 

Making folks work

But ensuring they can’t afford to stay

Building homes in the USA

Should be the American way

Everybody should have access to a roof

That doesn’t take away their ability

To afford life’s truths

[thedemonswontwin]

Turning the Mirror

People are killing folks

Over rainbow flags

They are banning history classes

That remind us of hate’s past

They are making our fellow man

Into our enemy

Making the poor or different

The root of our troubles

Blaming our unhappiness

On faces that don’t look like ours

We have a way

Of being blind to the source

Of our struggles

That is convenient for those

That benefit from folk’s hard times

They use faith as a weapon

Telling us to 

Hurt the things we don’t understand

While they

Push $10 lattes

Use our identities

To sell us needless things 

Peddle trips to the stars

And fancy cars

They point our blame

Towards the common man

They want us to hate

Each other

The struggles we face

Don’t come from our fellow man

They come from structures built

By the rich to protect their own

Structures with mirrors means to distract

All of us into seeing those around us

As the problem

And not the systems 

They designed to ensure 

Work doesn’t pay

To hold folks down

So our sweat and tears

Barley get us through the day

Things are not going to get better

Folks are not going to see a better day

Until we turn those mirrors around

So they reflect the truth

That they don’t want us to see

[thedemonswontwin]

Real Freedom

Born in the watergate era

Parents divorced before I was 2

Grew up living with my mom

Saw my dad summers and breaks

Growing up wasn’t easy

But we made due

We played in the woods 

And rode our bikes

I was surrounded by love

I learned to work hard

Fast forward fifty years

Covid did my dad in

He refused to take the shot

Didn’t trust the doc

And it cost us his life

Now I try to live the life he said

His small town roots

Linger in my head

And what I don’t get about 

America today

Is all the judging and hating

My dad didn’t raise me that way

Live and let live

He used to say

If they are not hurting you

You should have nothing to say

All this yelling about straight or gay

In the small towns my family’s from

We didn’t care 

about how you spent your day

Live and let live

That is the freedom of the USA

Hating and judging

My dad didn’t raise me that way

Our country didn’t go to war

To hate on others

Or on people that were poor

Every family has its struggles

Every family has its trials

The rich men going to space

Holding folks down

Stirring the hate

With their social media firms

Don’t speak for America

In the USA we live and let live

Real freedom gives others their space

To be as they want to be

Somewhere we’ve forgotten that

The idea that hard work and kindness

Are the only type of fair play

America’s promise

To each and every one of us

Is we get to live our lives

Free from other’s judging us

So whatever your struggles

Whatever your gifts

Whatever your God says

America should go like this

We live and let live

People died so that would be true

If it ain’t hurting me

I ain’t judging you

My worth doesn’t come from 

What I think you are

It comes from my sweat, work and kindness

My freedom let’s me tend my own scars

My dad was a kind man

Made friends easily

Worked hard and provided

Gave me opportunities he didn’t have

I miss him every day

I wish he was still here

Live and let live he’d say

I wish for a rebirth of that kind of freedom

Real freedom

In this great US of A

[thedemonswontwin]

The sweat pills on my brow

The solvent smell of wet nails

Lofts through the air

Lazy dogs sprawl on the deck

On the perfect piece of sunlit wood

Cardinals sing for spring

For love

For the normalcy of it

A few drifty clouds hang on

The pale blue sky

Scrolling through the IG “news”

While fading in and out of conscienceness

Nothing lasts

Even the calm joy of this moment

It doesn’t last

No matter how hard you want to hold it

To make it stay still

The next moment must come

And you must greet it

Full of whatever energy you have

[thedemonswontwin]

Life is about

Endings

Things end

In a panic

Sweat

Or

Pause

Like a slowly

Moving film

We wait

For what seems

Like forever

For it to end

Like a hot burning

Romance

About to blow out

We are almost startled

To find it over

And we miss it

Like a childhood

That brought joy

And sorrow

Birthday cakes

And a variety of takes

We mourn

It’s end

But look forward

To what comes next

When pandemics end

They don’t just go away

They linger

They overstay their stay

But how do we know

When the end is here

And normal can resume

Is it ever that clear

Can an old normal

Really resume

After an end

Or does what’s normal end too

Leaving us

Altogether changed

With life

Unbound

Stretching its arms

Searching

For the next thing

That will end

[thedemonswontwin]

My second book of poems, the Yellow Girl and the Pink Fence, is live! This one is about growing up and is full of whimsy. These are poems about patience, kindness, silly things, monsters under the bed, healthy mental health practices, hopes, dreams, trying and more. A fun collection for any age. I read these to my 8 year old while writing them. Many of these poems were inspired by stories from watching my daughters grow up. 

[thedemonswontwin]

It isn’t real

It isn’t real

When the lights go dark

It isn’t real

The gore feels loud

The frights they squeal

I flinch in my seat

But

It isn’t real

The music builds

My hairs they stand

The evil fades in

Leaving marks on my skin

I hold the chair hard

Til I see the whites of my hand

My heart starts to race

I turn my head right

My breathing speeds up

The horror feeds fright

Popcorn spills on the floor

I can’t explain it

I want more

My eyes get big

Turn around

I yell

The faces on the screen

Are doomed

I can tell

The theater air is cold

This movie won’t end well

The mayhem is hell

What a horrific sell

As I stand to leave

My heart sits in my gut

What I just witnessed

Is hard to conceive

Why do I go

Why do I do this to myself

Because it makes me feel alive

I live for the thrill

My mind swirls around

My body pounds hard

It isn’t real

But it is

I love the chills

[thedemonswontwin]

Dessert

Dessert

I just want

Dessert

I’m waiting

…

…

…

Please

…

…

…

Ok

I’ll clean my room

First

…

…

…

Now

Pretty please

…

…

…

Wow

A sundae

With fudge

Sluuuuuurrrrrrrp

Yuuuuuuuuuum

Buuuuuuuuurp

Thank you

: )

[thedemonswontwin]

What if everything was edible

The dinner table would be for dinner

Our pillows would taste like marshamallows

Ready for a midnight snack

Standing at the bus stop

You could snack on the bench

If your car gets stuck in the snow

Well, you can just eat the car

I think bricks would be a good lunch

They’d really fill you up

And dad’s favorite chair

So fluffy and soft

Would taste delicious

Now in this world

Where lunch is everywhere

Chefs would be in charge of everything

They would build houses

Cars, trains and furniture

They’d be busy all the time

Replacing the stop signs

That the joggers snacked on

For a little energy

Construction chefs

Mechanic chefs

Plumbing chefs

Chefs everywhere

My mouth is watering already

Pass me a table lamp

They are so spicy

And a cool glass of

Soap

To wash it down

What would you

Eat first?

[thedemonswontwin]

What if the world never

Had humans

What would it be like

Asked the little boy

Well

Said the Red Panda

Sitting beside him

We’d have more trees

And our water would be cleaner

The air would be sweeter

That much is true

And is important to note

Humans do have

Their challenges

Said the boy

But what else

What else would be different

We may not have war

At least not the same as we do

Sorrow and loss

Would surely be different

Community wouldn’t be the same

Continued the Red Panda

We wouldn’t have grand cities

And small towns

Universities

And airplanes

Or fast trains

Yes, the boy agreed

What else

Hmmm thought the panda

We wouldn’t have poetry

Or art

Stories of love and life

We wouldn’t have wonder

Or romance

At least not as you know it

Nobody would have seen the moon

Or taken pictures of the universe

We wouldn’t have math

Or language

We wouldn’t be blessed

With human ingenuity

Human love

And companionship

Human loyalty

Human grace

Generosity

And human kindness

Would be missed

This list is getting long said the boy

Humans have done a lot

Of good and bad

Said the Red Panda

But they have so much potential

To do amazing things

I think that is what would

Be missed the most

The potential for the increadible

Wouldn’t be here

And that would be sad for the world

Because despite their faults

Humans have the potential

To make the universe

A treasure for all

And they are just getting started

I have hope

Said the Red Panda

So do I said the boy

I hope our potential

Can overcome

Our challenges

Because there is so

Much to humankind

That is precious

So much

[thedemonswontwin]

This poem is about

Silly sounds

Like flurrrrrrrrup

And blurrrrrp

Jowskie

And flowski

Glop

Slirrrrrrop

Oh my those are odd

Threeeeeeeeeeeewp

Woooooofut

Zuuuuuky

Lizatts

Brahhahahalumph

It sounds like

You have croup

Splafffft

Gurdleswat

Blumphsumkin

Droooot

Did you eat something bad

That sounds like a toot

Oh my

Where will this end

Wuflemog

Noohyraha

Fluttermuff

Those make me giggle

Wopgrasbomp

Modrop

Flupont

Drewjont

Now I want to wiggle

Squremfiddle

Stigdremph

Zihtradt

My mouth’s all

Kerfuffled

I better end there

Just two more

Ajygstomphlundt

Wundstratfrunst

Oh my

My tongue is sore

I better read this poem

Once more

[thedemonswontwin]

Which path should I take

Asked the little girl

As she looked upon

Two diverging roads

Which path will bring

Me happiness and love

Prosperity and satisfaction

Which path will bring me calm

And joy

Which path is smooth and steady

Not rocky and hard

Which path is filled with smiles

And friendships

She continued

As she looked down at her feet

Her left foot pointing down one road

Her right the other

I cannot decide

She said out loud to nobody

In particular

Then she heard a voice

A small golden snail

Sat right between the roads

The path you choose

Does not guarantee

A perfect life

Full of happiness

Devoid of trouble

Slowly said the snail

Some struggles

Make you stronger

Enabling you to achieve more

Some problems

Help you find new answers

And open up your life to more

And most happiness

Comes from inside you

No matter what circumstances

Grant you

It is not simply the course you choose

That gives you a beautiful life

It is the way you walk the path

Do you seek out beauty

Are you kind

Do you help others

Does you love lift up

Those it touches

Do you ponder

Do you care

Continued the snail

A simple

Easy life

Is not the surest way to

Happiness

So pick the path that

Excites you

That challenges you

And show grace to all

You meet

This is the best way

To lead yourself to happiness

It’s more about your heart’s

Direction

Than your feet

[thedemonswontwin]

Gathered with friends few

In person

But many in heart

I raise this glass

Through the roof of desperation

As I reach high for the light

I acknowledge that

We have seen so much

We’d be expected to end this year

Curled up in a ball

But we made it though

And we stand here true

Stronger for our travails

Stronger for our travels

Stronger for having lasted this long

So I make this toast to the new year

To taking our newfound strength

And using it to plow forward

Through whatever obstacles lie ahead

And to protect what we hold dear

And to squeeze every ounce of cheer

Out of life

In the new year

[thedemonswontwin]

The ticking clock

Sets the unwanted beat

It moves at its chosen speed

Despite my hurried brain

Despite my eager feet

The last few hundred days

Seem three times as long

Humanity’s movement

A painfully long and bitter song

It has rained almost every day

Even when the sky was blue

So much has been thrown at us

Our loads are heavy

Making us stronger

Than we ever wanted to be true

It’s a melancholy end

To a melancholy year

There have been some wonderful ups

That appear higher with these downs

But they can’t cast a shadow

When shadows cover all the ground

A fresh start sounds good

A chance to erase it all

A chance to create a new spell

So this is my New Year’s yell

Give me something new

Cast a different light

Let the good times ride high

Let us take this newfound strength

And conquer this life

Ring the big brass bell

[thedemonswontwin]

My mortality weighs

Heavy on me

News of people passing

Brings life’s fading permanence

To my mind

Each moment’s breath

Inches or races

(We can’t know)

My time to it’s final

Clock setting

I am compelled

To extract every ounce

Of life

From each moment

Even in the mundane

Loading and unloading

Of the dishwasher

I must recognize

The beauty of my life

Because it is these transitory

Moments

The ones that are less grand

And more meek

Where

I can sum up my life

By my heart-felt service to

Those around me

Those closest to me

For who we serve

Are who will remember us

So I serve

With the hidden hope

That they will carry my memory

Once I no longer can

But I know

That such memories fade

So I also hope

That my service

Can create a ripple

For the memory of others

To ride upon

Thus transforming

The memory of

My mortality

Into a River

Of memories

That I can be a part of

Even when

I’m

Forgotten

[thedemonswontwin]

I rise into

A mist covered

Morn

Dew drops on grasses

Reflect the sunrise

In pinks

Oranges

And blues

Running hands along

The plants

Leaves them wet

Fresh

New

Baptized by the morning

Baptized by this day

To try again

To communicate more clearly

To separate my wants

From my needs

To let grace

Overwhelm my worse

Instincts

To find others

Where they are

Not just where

I want them to be

To see myself

More plainly

Modestly

Honestly

To listen

To the truths around me

And to hear them

Whether I want to or not

Each new day’s

Baptism

Makes all of this possible

And today I see it

And hold it up

On my dew covered hands

Washing myself

In the light of this day’s birth

Hope enters my heart

And I hope

For peace

Joy

Love

To find my soul

And yours

I smile

A small upward

Movement of my mouth

And I exhale

The pains

Frustrations

Troubles

Of life

I speak more clearly

I lay out my path

And I step forward

Anew

[thedemonswontwin]

I’m so tired

Said the Fox

I can’t imagine

Running anymore

I just want to curl up

And sleep a bit

How can you sleep

At a time like this

Said the Chicken

The sky is falling

And you should be chasing me

I’m all confused about

Our roles

Roles don’t matter when

You’re tired

Said the Fox

Why don’t you go and do

The running

Why don’t you

Do the chasing

Chase yourself

My friend and

Watch out for that sky

It looks sketchy today

The Fox then yawned

And fell asleep

Right there

Under the doom filled sky

The Chicken clucked in a perplexed

Sort of way

And then she acted

The Chicken knew she had

To move quick

So she gathered wood

And bricks

(Really, somehow she carried them)

And she built a shelter

Over the sleeping Fox

Protecting him from

The looming sky

Soon the Fox woke up

He liked the shelter

And thanked the Chicken

How industrious of you

Said the Fox

Do you know when the sky

Will fall?

I need to plan my day

Asked the still waking up

Red Fox

When I look up

All I see is blue sky

And a few birds

Crows I think

Said the Chicken

Ah, yes

Said the Fox

The sky has cleared up

Are you going to chase me

Asked the Chicken

To be honest

I have considered it

Replied the Fox

But you built this nice shelter for me

Which I feel I must reciprocate

Even though it is

In my nature

To chase you

I’ll tell you what

Why don’t you take off now

And I’ll give you a head start

But, but, but

Said the Chicken

I built you a shelter

I let you sleep

I was nice to you

Yes you did

Said the Fox

Sheepishly

But my nature is to chase you

It is who I am

So run away little Chicken

Take your head start

And learn this lesson

Going out of your way to help people

Who you know aim to harm you

Will gain you nothing

And helping people

Stay safe from problems

Of your own creation

Will gain you nothing

The Chicken looked at the blue sky

The Chicken looked at the shelter

The Chicken looked at the Fox

And then the Chicken ran

The Fox smiled

And laughed

Then the Fox

Walked away

Bored of the Chicken

Saving her to be chased

Another day