counterculture

but i have to hold onto
this image-
        the phoenix
        crawling out of the ashes
        of the bridges we burned
    rising to glory
        by doing the one thing
        that got me into this

nails chewed to the quick
stubbed toes, eye leakage
over nothing special

self-pity
is nothing beautiful
morbidity
is low-key
revolt
is commonplace

“more real,
 more raw,
 more sincere”
don’t demand this of me
        (my standards are all too similar,
        but i’ll pretend they aren’t
        just to spite cliché)

counterculture
still draws upon society
as a photonegative,
a source of injustice
to rebel against

don’t give me structure
        rhyme in your own head
        hoard punctuation for yourself
don’t give me standards
        keep your mouth shut
        impress monotony upon your own

my standards are enough for me

–

written m13jun2011.

the prompt: what inspires/influences you?

i’m no good at sticking to prompts.

–

Author: korey

minnesotan writer/musician. View all posts by korey