Hatred and Violence

I sleep confident I’ve done my best,

Only to wake uncertain.

Insecure in myself,

Insecure in the craziness of this world,

The later feeds ravenously on the other;

Draining optimism as if water from a pond,

Leaving it dry, cracked — until it turns to dust.

Periodic lulls slowly renew my faith in man,

Spirits rise, the pond of optimism refills

Then in one spectacular moment it is gone,

Evaporating into the heavens,

By one stroke of ignorance or violence.

The reasons mystify;

Inexplicable to all but the perpetrators.

What’s to be gained?

Frivolous violence and hatred achieve nothing,

But to instill fear and hate in others otherwise uninclined.

This is not an accomplishment!

It is the perpetuation of discontent.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

My Heart Cries For You

My heart cries for you

Helplessly twisted in knots

But what can I do

Comfort is all I can give

While you are curled in grief

Wiping tears away

Embracing you as lover

And as dearest friend

You are my reason to live

My love and my everything

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

We Must Never Forget – A Tanka

Image Credit: theimagearsenal.com

Image Credit: theimagearsenal.com

These flag draped coffins

Returning from distant wars

We must not forget

Whether cause be right or wrong

They’re our brothers and sisters

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Confusion

Confusion…

Cacophony of sights and sounds

Soupy mixture

A distasteful bombardment

Inescapable…

Every turn a stone wall

Pounding and punishing

Piercing flesh

Drawing blood

Fracturing bone

Draining every last drop of energy

Pushing back

Nothing but resistance

Drenched in sweat

Eyes sting

Bloodshot from strain

Head in hands

Driven to tears

Trapped…

Beaten into submission

Giving up

You win

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

White Noise

Waking to the rhythmic white noise

Television’s twinkling salt and pepper blur

Foil covered rabbit ears like periscopes

Reflect his fractured image…almost blinding

It hurts to sit up straight

Back hunched from decades of labor

Crumbs drop like snow from his cardigan

“What did I eat?”, he mumbles on deaf ears

As gnarled and twisted hands

Brush his remnants to the floor

Feed for roaches and rats that call this home

Day and time are of little concern

What does it matter.

Tormented knees crack

Perched unsteadily beneath him

All he can do is shuffle holding on for balance

The refrigerator fights back as he opens it

The dim light only blackens the mouldy fresco

Decorating the walls and shelves.

Spoiled milk curls the nose

“Been around awhile.” he whispered

Paying it no more mind

Warm beer will have to do

The crack of the tab and the “pusssssh”

Join the metronomic shuffle of his stocking feet

Moaning, he sits

Joints aching from medicine he can’t afford

Alcohol will have to do

Each sip provides little relief

Tired of living his eyes grow heavy

Sleep returns…to the rhythmic white noise

And the televisions salt and pepper blur

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Welcome to the New Main Street – A Tanka

Hope springs eternal

Just a phrase to so many

Whose hope has faded

Left destitute and alone

Welcome to the new Main Street

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Turning a Blind Eye – A Tanka

Image Credit: productiveflourishing.com

Image Credit: productiveflourishing.com

Turning a blind eye

Gives momentary relief

But changes nothing

Only actions gets results

Poverty kills if ignored

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Calls Go Unanswered – A Tanka

Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk

Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk

Calls go unanswered

Are you not at all concerned

Like ships lost at sea

When late to arrive at port

We send out a search party

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

An Interminable Succession

Trapped in an interminable succession,

Love, hate,

Happiness, sadness,

Joy, anger

Tolerant, intolerant,

Fear, confidence,

Belief, disbelief.

This cyclone of existence, bleeds me from the inside,

Every ounce of energy expended to maintain equilibrium.

Ups, downs,

Highs, lows,

Gravitating my emotions in tumultuous ways,

Exhausting my spirit to the soul’s core.

I am left a molten mass,

Raw nerves exposed to open air,

Sensitive to every sensation,

Yet helpless to defend.

I guess I really am human after all.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Suffer the Consequences – A Tanka

With a tender touch

I tried to quiet your tears

You pushed me away

This was of my own doing

Now it is me who suffers

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~