tired flesh

I wrote this after being exhausted by the internet, current events, and pain in the world. This explores the exhaustion of the human experience.

being a human is quite possibly
the most tiring organism one can be
disdain, distrust, and schisms
and an ever-growing book full of Isms

things that should be simple,
like love and compassion
are perhaps not taught
and end up as rations

like people trade eyes
not considering the cost
that comes with their pride
and less gained than is lost

"i am hurt, so they should too"
this is a kind of thinking
i wish wasn't true
"i'm alone if i see no others sinking"

the world is abundant with pain
yet instead of raising each other
we want others to feel the same
and turn them into "just another"

"i spent my time getting hurt,
so it's your turn on the rack"
instead of taking turns,
shouldn't we just cut people slack?

"but it's always been that way"
is one of those foolish things
that you might go and say
back then and now are different days

i wish i could flee to the forest
with its poisons and sharp rocks
i think i might hurt less than i would
listening to a fellow human talk

scrubjays' and crows' calls
sound angelic when beside
humans' venomous verbal vitriol
which is why i get so tired

trees whisper no negativity;
they've mastered what we can't
they can sit and just be
something i envy of plants

could i be moss on a rock?
or a little bean sprout?
being a walking pile of flesh
brings with it aches and doubts

could i be composted?
or turned into dust?
i tire of making the most of it
and i tire of feeling i must

Author's Note

opinions welcome