That is For Knowing the Difference

I've been accused of just “getting what I wanted,”

And then moving on down the line.

Funny thing is, I—I never knew what I wanted,

So I’m not sure if I ever have gotten it.

Kind of like the old man and old woman

Sitting out on the front porch swing.

The woman slaps the man right out of his sneakers

And tells him it’s for the 40 years of bad sex.

The man gets back up, and into the swing,

And after thinking it over a bit,

Slaps the old woman right out of her loafers,

And says, “That— is for knowing the difference.”

-jenn long

Prostrate Cancer

Most women eventually turn into their mothers.
I'm becoming my dad,
To the point of developing prostrate cancer,
And I think I know it's cause.
For I've fallen supine, too many occasions,
Worshiping idols and graven images—
Things like diplomas and retirement packages.
Yes I've prayed to a god who is dead,
And one entirely made of pulp,
I've followed the prophets so false.

But now I will say that my father's house,
Builded by leaving the crowds' conformity,
I now seek as a comfort and stay.
And I will lie slain in the spirit of the legacy

Of my sons' memories of me loving them more,

And of me receiving their love unconditionally,
In whatever ways that they are able to offer it.

-jenn long

Comfortless

Sometimes

It seems as if

I’m on a journeyed walkabout,

Only meant to enjoy the earth

And the beauty of its natural flow.

And sometimes

The ebb catches me breathless,

 Doubles me over in suffering,

Until I really don’t know

Anymore,

And all of the philosophies fail me,

All the trite sayings of friends,

And well-intentioned theologian wanna-bees

Go sailing right out the windows of my soul

With my tears,

And my purpose,

And I am left comfortless

Again.

-jenn long

Fake Smiles

I don't want any of your old fake smiles,
Glaring out fluorescently.
I don't want the shallow
Meaningless words
You carelessly flip to me.
And while you're at it,
Why don't you keep
Those degrading ideas to yourself.
See, the ball is in my court now

-jenn long

A Smile Upside-down

A few hollow souls

Gathered in the cathedral.

The ceiling vaulted over them

With an inversely proported gloom,

Which delved beneath the depths of hope

To abysmal desperation,

Mocking their lives and mores,

And the sweep of an empty tomb.

But we all end up, sooner or later,

Huddled and praying to the unknown god,

Un-shouldering the yoke of life and its baggage

In a coffin that seems very full.

-jenn long

You Don't Want To See What I'm Writing Today

Oh! You don’t want to see what I’m writing today!

You don’t want to see how far I've fallen!

You don’t want to go on this journey with me,

To the belly of the great beast, indeed.

You don’t want to go all Ahab on me,

Dredging up fables and worse, non-fiction!

You don’t need to be reminded of the hard to bear sayings

Or the great sibling rivalries.

You don’t want to understand,

Why the second born gets the blessing.

You can’t handle the truth my friend

Of why the first born dies,

Why the plague only affects

His or her delicate sensibilities,

Why Cain killed Abel,

And why still today

It’s “Death to Abilities!”

No. You don’t want to read what I write today.

Your heart will hurt, your morals won’t stand

For the crumbling away of the romantic cloudiness

And the harsh glare of the age old truth.

But if you would seek out the old ways first,

You will find yourself back to the future,

And completely unwound from every belief

That binds you back to the lies.

Will We Ever

When will I see you

And all that you are to me

When will you see me

And see through this heart of mine

Will we ever

Will we ever

Be who we truly are?

When will the stars shine

And line up enchanted

When will my heart chime

Ringing in the love light

Will we ever

Will we ever

Be who we truly are?

There is a place of gold

Deep in the heart of

Us but get on past that

Down to the hard core

A place where pure light

Shines hotter and  hotter

There is so much more

So let me love you

Let me let you

Love me like only you can

Will we ever

Will we ever

Be who we truly are?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wTuPpqO7nA&feature=plcp