People struggling, knees buckling

Faces cast down all around

News blipping, Hope slipping

Knock knock, failure’s at the door

One breath away, one day, one choice

That’s all it takes to make it all naught

At least, that’s what we’ve all been taught

I tick for those who buy this lie,

Who’ve made a habit of a nightly cry

For the repeat victim, and the crushed soul

The chronically unemployed, and the under-joyed

For the abuser and the abused,

The distraught ones and the confused

Call me an optimist, dreamer, idealist, whatever you wish

I simply pray that you didn’t make this list

I tick to give a word, a note, a hand

In hopes of a better world for us all to stand