Gary Thomas Poet Blank verse

To Valerie

Paranoia, thy name  is Valerie
My buried bones you've bared.
My skeleton is out of  the bag
And my cat is out  of the  closet.

I feel exposed to the discernment of a despot.
I cannot hide, cannot secrete, cannot cover my shame.
My guilt en-clothes me
And remorse envelopes me like a shroud.

I wish for the cloths of Heaven
But get only the habiliments of a mendicant.
I long for the raiment of a royal
But I'm clad in the rags of a ruminant.

All that glitters isn't gold 
And all that reeks isn't excretia.
So I'll stand on my purloined principles
And lament my lack of laurels.

Like Sisyphus seeking his summit
Or a Prometheus that forgot his fire.
But I'll insist on my fated freedom
Like the bird on the wire, or the drunk in a midnight choir,
     I have  tried, in my way, to be free.

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Kathryn Collins May 19, 2013 at 7:47 AM I have a lot of googling to do? Am I amiss, but are talking about your prostate again? Gotta go - not literally. love, Kathy Gary Thomas May 19, 2013 at 12:28 PM Using long, esoteric words is a way of establishing my superiority. I'm still compensating for being a drunk, functionally incompetent sex addict. I'm actually a wino from Waco. And I have no idea how you got some reference to my prostate cancer from the poem. Thanx for the thought, tho. And I'll review some more of yours. Nite, Gracie

Poet Destroyer A April 13, 2013 at 1:01 PM I like this poem Gary, i like the way you placed paranoia to Valerie's name... out of the bag and closet.. i like your poem, hope you find the freedom you search to be.... Linda