Escalation

People fall through the cracks
And congregate there around the fires of their dead
Bar rooms loud and potent
Full of mingled hurt and self injury
Bravado is an insult shared
From the mighty to the pitiful
High on self possession and world weary ritual convulsions
Each lodges at her own level
Clawing for purchase and a meaning compatible with nullified cognition
Settlements and enclaves divorced
From the fearful questions of a new state
Lifestyle designed to blot it out
Agonize self consciously
But just don’t think
Lifestyle designed to blot it out
Agonize self consciously
perpetual mechanism lubricated with drink
Welcoming arms and closed minds
Suffocate the compassion in me
I consume and steep in guilt
Feel the cracks open up beneath
Before I avoid
I will escalate
Touch you this last time and raise the temperature
To burn off the solution marinating your soul