The funniest part 
to the joke 
that I am 
is that no
one truly cares 
now nor then
nor ever when 
and only I
am the one 
laughing for only 
I truly do 

There’s just something 
about classical guitar 
it’s almost like 
my heart strings 
which for so
long felt out
of tune have 
found their notes 
again and harmony 
that I’ve long
thought was lost 
sings its lovely 

In hindsight and 
with the kind 
of pain that 
only comes late 
in the night 
I finally admitted 
that the valor 
that I’d embraced 
so many years 
ago that selflessness 
was somehow better
than being selfish 
then I blamed 
others for taking 
advantage of me 
so I set
out to be 
selfish with myself 
at long last 
and generous to 
those I choose 
and not everyone 
and that little 
shift has made 
all the difference 

The tea kettle 
steeps with water 
and sometimes vinegar 
making it shiny 
inside and out 
and those nasty
scaly mineral deposits 
cling to its 
poor insides like 
broken promise’s residue 
on the soul 
until at last 
vinegar of hope 
and its acidity 
washes them away 

And when everything 
is finally done 
and I sit
coffee in hand 
and feet up 
I feel calm 
in knowing that 
and from outside 
I can hear 
the laughter of
and footsteps belonging 
to the children 
and I remember