verse – Page 3 – Kevin Trent Boswell

do not

no flailing
hopelessly
against the
locked door

no hurling of self
at the feet of the
unappreciative,
useless,
would-be
royal

no pleading
with a fickle child,
changing-with-the-wind,
always insistent,
and never gracious

there shall only be
the championing
of the devout
worshipper

the one who basks
in the joy of being
in the presence

who abundantly,
persistently,
and clearly
sings the praises

this,

this is the only head
that shall be
crowned
and kissed
and covered
by praise and protection,
by the gift of honor,
and the giving
and receiving
of service

service
rendered
in endless
and selfless
bliss

track

I suppose something
can be made of it,
all the contradictory motions

but I know not what

the signs and signals
all give opposite indications
of its intentions

the chaotic trail leads
in impossible directions,
as if the thing was not one,
but several

but I have laid eyes upon it

I am certain that
it is a single,
beautiful
thing

a comely, smiling ghost

scattering, as would ⠀
a flock of startled birds

a most mysterious
and majestic
creature she is

flummoxed

how does one pursue
an unpredictable sprite?

inclined

if one was truly
inclined
to love

one would,
happily,
and without restraint

but here—conditions,
jaundice,
patina

a sutra, a dervish,
a Buddha
you ain’t

A Trick of the Light

I mourn the loss
Of who I thought I knew
But as it turns out,
I do not miss you

I grieve for the person
You pretended to be
It helps to remember
You never loved me

purpled

somehow,
it’s even uglier
on the inside

the surprises,
intermittent,
perplexing

it must be a
challenge
to hide

so much,
for so long,
and so vexing

mask

dwindle and fade,
no satisfaction here
purpose of the ire,
in the open, now clear

garnering support,
an ethos, a ruse,
self-righteous zealot
choose and abuse

don’t need a diagnosis
to tell you to duck;
it walks, and it quacks,
underhand fuck

watch, but do nothing
feign blindness, withdraw
could help, but won’t
the soul—coup d’état

in silence, compliance,
just keep on going,
not twisting the knife,
but watching, and knowing

hardly deniable,
accessory to the fact
encircle the target
enter foul pact

a tribe may be strong,
yet, poisoned in the heart
each member chooses
if they will take part

a bias is a bias,
and roses have fangs
hatred is hatred,
and hate runs in gangs