Ashes

Nickeled and knocked out

Bloodied and blocked off

Locked in to being locked out

Nicked but still can’t knock it off

A knack that isn’t shocking

Cocked but no one’s knocking

Stocked but no one’s flocking

Shocked that I’m still talking

Took while no one was looking

Ate what no one was cooking

Shook with no reason to be shaking

Taken by what isn’t mine for the taking

Thousands of islands

And no land upon which to stand

A demand to understand

Handed things that weren’t planned

Tanned faces that ought be banned

Randomness that I hope gets canned

Stand-up people I cannot stand

“Man up and just take her hand!”

Telling tales of the torn tall

Ashes… ashes… we all fall

Shook with no reason to be shaken

Looked her in the eyes and was instantly taken

Rhymes that continue to chime

Climb out of my head primed

Dimed by all the pantomimes

Slime just searching for the sublime

Find limelight that blinds the mind

Mime my emotion to earn a dime

I’m hiding out from all their crimes

I’m hoping things will tell in time

Nonsense rolls like common sense

Dispenses me with great finesse

Shaken, taken, and utterly bereft of defense

Praying this suspense will soon condense

I do declare that it’s all hot air

Impaired by smooth liquid despair

Midair upon a wing and a prayer

Prepared to go most anywhere

Solitary until someone cares

Wary of a likely love affair

Ensnared by that one’s debonair

Aware that I must take it there

Shook with a reason to be shaken

Looked her in the eyes and was instantly taken

I recall that all this is simply stalling

Ashes… ashes… And I think I’ve fallen...