If, the Flip Side
If you can't keep your head when all about you are losing theirs then I don't blame you.
If you can't trust yourself because others doubt you, then allow yourself to trust the lack of trust as they do too.
If you hate waiting, then moan aloud about the wait,
or being lied about, then simply deal more lies out.
Or being hated, just give them hell and be a hater,
and not worry about looking good thus become fat and wider.
If you can't dream because you relish the nightmare,
and if thinking hurts then proudly wear that blank stare.
If you can meet with triumph and disaster,
and milk the triumph and never shut up about the disaster.
If you don't care if the truth is spoke,
then twist tales so it prevails with fools that laugh at fails.
Or watch the kids you gave life to grow up and go broke,
and call them dopes or tools fit for jails.
If you can piss away all your winnings,
on a bookies special without knowledge on what you're betting,
and lose, and go and drink away your sorrows 'til the early morning,
then cry and cry and cry 'til you dream that you want to die.
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,
to not care about anything for however long you need to,
and fall apart when there is nothing when others would hold on,
and turn ill without will or a want to be strong.
If you can shout like a lout in a crowd with iniquity,
and walk with a King and believe to be elite arrogantly.
If you accept that both friends and foes will inevitably hurt you,
and strike first with an impromptu blow.
If all men count with you but none are louder,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute,
with 60 seconds of hardcore drug abuse,
then you'll get served what you deserve,
and which is more, you will be labelled a w**re or a perv.
"In Response To If" poetry competition by Silent One, 8/11/2018
1st place
Copyright © Nick Trim | Year Posted 2018
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