Nobody said it was easy,

To see the wrinkles in their sense of justice;

To hear the cries of hollow apathy;

To know you may be the only one who cares.

-

But fate, fear and apprehension, hold your hand

Whispering sweet nothings

They clutch at you, ready to cradle you

Into the sickly sweet bosom of ignorance.

You scream at their grasp

Scratch at their clasp.

But it’s only your blood under those fingernails.

-

Wheeze, huff and puff.

Hands on your knees you breathe.

The are gone

For now.

In the distance a red balloon climbs the air.

Is that the right direction?

-

You follow.

You jog

Reach and hold.

You hold the balloon.

It droops and crumbles.

Crumbles like candy.

-

When you bother to look around

It was still grey

Grey, and shiny.

But you know the grey and shiny always lie.

Everything was moving, slow.

The nearer you close in on it

The faster it all becomes.

There are more balloons, all grey balloons.

Un-supervised stalls

And floats.

All in the name of hope

under the banner of

“I do what I can.”

-

You stand a lone bystander to the hypocritical parade.

-

Two choices,

Nobody said it was easy.