Blood Test

Blood Test             4/26/2017

Every day

We inch a little closer

Always on the run

Out of breath

And under the gun. 

The ground falls away

And we have nowhere to stand

Now that its spread

All across the land. 

An incurable disease

Of willful negligence

The guilty few

Full of pride

And intransigence. 

We crawl across a razor

But can’t see the truth

Because truth is a crime

Forbidden and unspeakable

Deep down you know

And what you see is reality

Outside and inside

Down the hill

And over the line. 

Many live in fear

Because they dare not share

For loss of reputation

Or livelihood.

Self-censoring

They live in a lukewarm bath

Gradually heated

And cooking us alive. 

Impossible is the future

Of constant control

Continuously supervised

From the cradle to the grave.

Endless as the propaganda

And tepid as a half truth

The good weakened

And the weak

Emboldened. 

Once I thought I had value

And once I thought I was worthy

But it took a long time to know

That I was nothing but a dirty rag

Used up and thrown away.

Wisdom did not come easy

And it didn’t happen over night

Dying to self

A little more

Each and every day.

Words can heal

But they can also injure

Creating invisible wounds

That never heal. 

Always oozing blood

And sapping our strength

The scars and memories

Indelibly imprinted

And seared.

I remember how it hurt

And I guess I always will

But I also remember

What I have said

And all that I have done.

What I want

I give away

And what I desire

Returns with time

Perfect and free.

All of the hurt

Is only hurt

But what we have

Is the gift

Ten times

Ten thousand.

Give it now

To whomever will receive

The blessings you have

Flowing through

An eternal spring

Of living water.