FDR and Reagan shake hands

I remember a time when I used to be supremely proud of my country
now I'm just happy I wasn't born in Somalia or Bangladesh
And I know that'll sound jingoistic and narcissistic to a shitty degree
but I never expected to win any popularity contests

I thought FDR was a saint and Reagan a sinner
but reality has a different point of view
The nuanced approach is often times the winner
As they say, walkin' in other people's shoes

I don't know how many swear words to write
before I seem obscene, or how many rhymes
are permitted without seeming like I'm using a crutch
I'm starting to think the answer is not really giving a fuck
about specific truths to hold universally applicable
some people good and others totally despicable

And if reality and free will are really just a summation of any given moment at hand
we'll have to do our best to grapple our faults and strengths and try to understand
That we have to work against the things that blind us
and the only things that really matter
are compassion and kindness

Or maybe not, who knows, blanket statements really can be fucked with
but just maybe, maybe
we can bet on compassion and kindness

Taking Revenge Against California (at least the cities where exes reside)

I'm forced to quit pretending like I can fall back asleep at around six-thirty in the morning
 my mind is hellbent and strictly intent on retaining memories from the night before,
so I snag a flat beer that my fuck-buddy (one of many) left behind
the corner store ain't open yet and I don't feel like walking to the nearest gas station

I have a torn meniscus and fucked up ACL so I have a handy supply of vicodin
I pop two without thinking and wash it down with an adult soda that doesn't have bubbles anymore
God, I didn't love her at first, but that taste and smell is growing on me. I'm digging her more than myself these days.
I think.

Crack out a half-smoked bowl and polish that motherfucker off. This isn't a day to start off straight. It's an anniversary of sorts.

Grab a single crutch (I don't remember where I last  placed its partner, but I can make do)
strike out to the store, I'm almost outta' smokes and I'm not coughing enough yet
plus, they have cheap tall cans at eight percent
a dollar sixty out the door
nine dollars and sixty cents if you're generally like me
plus the cost of cancer and liver failure
but that'll be a decade off at the very least

I'll pretend as I hobble down the street that I'm just an unappreciated Bukowski or Thompson or a rockstar that just missed his chance
but we all know the fucking truth
I was just too fucking weak on my own
and when people finally got tired of my shit
and the pushing away that I never gave up finally took hold
and the blank notes hit the floor
I snuggled up in a blanket of chemical quick-fixes
and mental short-cuts
and told myself I was medicating until I was sick
walking on a broken knee to snag a few bottles and smokes

Before I get home I've finished two and chewed on a few more pills
it's almost time for the fun part, where I ignore texts while smoking hashish and drinking and chainsmoking until the phone stops buzzing
I guess I could put it on silent or stop paying the fucking bill
but inertia is funny sometimes

Inertia is funny sometimes

And I can blame this all away on heartbreak if I want
Slowly killing myself to get back at the people who were too dumb to understand the greatness that I am
But I've never been a fan of bullshit
I guess I'll just keep on going
Afraid of stopping the swimming
even if I can pump water into my own gills mechanically
because
Fuck

Inertia is funny sometimes.