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By Emmanuel Williams

June 6, 2026

*

And I find myself

In the middle of the night

Playing far better strings

Than I ever used to

*

I find myself 

On the porch

Living the dream

I’m afraid she’s not in it

*

But she isn’t leaving

And I’m not bowing out

Don’t get me wrong

I’d love to…

*

But it’s not what I’m about

*

I have a queen

What’s my problem?

My headaches?

And insomnia?

*

The only American royalty

Is the married couple

Your neighbors

Not your leaders

*

If I couldn’t have a drink

I’d be dead already

But I’ll wait till she’s dead

I’m not trying again!

*

They call this a dilemma

Lodged deep in the brain

But honor comes with a price

Like refusing a sin

*

If you’d like to try it

Here’s where to begin

*

Start sacrificing

Small, maybe large

But be brave about it

*

Soon you’ll find it grows on you

Pervades you and cannot escape you

Now you’re hooked

Hooked on sacrifice

*

And like all obsessions

The cost just grows

Till you can’t keep it in your pants

Or your chest

*

And every time you have a way out

You dig yourself deeper in madness

Till you can’t find yourself

Till you can’t remember normal

*

Nobody’s there to stop you

Your parents are fucking dead

*

You’d join them, if only

The moment was right

You’d join them, if you

Weren’t putting up a fight

*

If you weren’t such a rebel

*

Without a cause

But with a plight

You’re alive because its healthy

It’s trendy, it’s right

*

To die would be giving up

Admitting incompetence

For getting it all right

*

So how do you crack

And remain polite?

How do you rage

Without starting a fight?

*

How do you die

Without leaving this life…?

*