Title – Integrity
Earthworms,
slow grace upon the soil,
rose as venom-winged cobras-
scales aglow, fangs unveiled.
While I-
from soil to dust-
thinned into silent air,
woven tight with phobias.
Borrowed light,
borrowed wisdom:
for them, it did the trick.
While I-
holding the path
my character chose-
remained the stubborn prick.
Never lower yourself
for greed or hollow ego
when they smile with hidden teeth.
Hunger and thirst
are natural-
but fallen in your own eyes,
how could you ever feast?
I walk
with neither sky above
nor ground beneath my feet,
refusing to beg, refusing to dream.
What is, is.
What isn’t, isn’t.
The thump-thump in my chest
marches with each footprint.
Time is sparse,
the journey beyond stars-
with a clean heart
and a fragile cart.
Even if I used air or water,
it would weaken my claim
to eat dirt:
my sole right from the start.
