On her way out of the antique store

She read a sign that ended with, "Life is short"

And she chuckled out loud and said

"I guess it can always be shorter"

The cashier nearby overheard and replied

"Yeah, that's what my son thought too

And then he proved it"

Her mouth didn't move much and her eyes were vacancy signs just begging

Neon born and now faded nearly inoperable

And then she floated away to the back

The chime of the door startled her on the way out

While lost in thought wondering what she meant

Proved it

Are we the vision we create or are we created in someone else's vision

How to win, it all boils down to how to win, doesn't it

Even if you're not competitive, how do you overcome

How do you get through the day

How do you win the challenges

How do you win the light

How do you win enough money, the love you want

How do you win friends

Once we win, though, we tell ourselves we'll be set

We'll be alright

But the human condition is never enough

Because after the win comes the keep

It's always the keep

It's the human cycle

This figural entity that moves us

It's the condition that keeps us moving even in our sleep

I dreamt of you last night

That's the subconscious element flattered on flattered

I hope she's flattered

I hope this keeps her

I hope I keep her entertained

I hope I keep being funny

I hope she keeps being interested

I hope I keep my job

I hope I keep being happy

If I ever was

Or maybe I'm not

What if I'm not

And then it starts to spiral

What if I never find it?

Will I even know?

We earn by winning but we keep by containing

While we lose, there's no mechanism but doubt

That's the one we don't control

The one that keeps us awake

Doubt is a siren without any sound at all

It's a shroud wrapping itself around the mind so tightly

That it feels impossible to learn anything new

To know anything old

The pressure crushing every thought into another

Until we can't tell where the handle begins or the blade ends

Compressed, depressed

Those are just words

Now, the toxic blood keeps running its track

Is my mind the prey?

I want to give in

Or I'm so scared of that too

It's hard being a coward on both ends

The two sides of the fence stare at each other

Trying to listen to nothing

Because neither knows what to say

Come here, closer, closer

Come here, closer, closer

It never ends, even when it does

It never ends