Languish

Straining, sweating, squinting, betting
Shouldering the heavy load that is my conscience
A prophet once said, “to whom much has been given,
    much will be required”
And I languish under the import of those words

Aching, crying, hurting, dying
Wondering about the trash that is my life
A prophet once said, “O my God, I cry out by day,
    but you do not answer”
And I know what he was talking about

Slipping, sinking, failing, thinking
Considering the frustration that is my fate
A prophet once said, “everything was meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind; nothing ... gained under the sun.”
And I have found it to be true

Spitting, lying, choking, dying
Imploding from pressures that are imaginary
A prophet once said, “It is appointed unto man once to die,
    and after that, the judgment.”
And I am waiting.