Vodka on your breath

Heart devoid of dreams

Hope that left so long ago

Mangled by paternity

Wine on your breath

Mouth full of hate

Hope that left so long ago

Mangled by maternity

The apple falls directly below the tree

But the tree is dead

Which leaves the apple

Rotten as can be

Wary me

Parry me

Carry me

Bury me

(Line approaching line

End apprehending end.)

Bright futures thrown away

In the name of an escape

Words from aspiring artists

Replaced by silent mouths agape

Nights forgotten

Vice begotten

Wary me

Parry me

Carry me

Bury me

(Line approaching line

End apprehending end.)

Bereft behest

An authors voice

Silenced on a blank page

Numbing the sting

Of inadequacy

Unfair exchange:

Thought for naught

Leaning on crutches

Meant for killing slowly

Now you can only bide your time

The apple falls

Directly below the tree

But the tree is dead

Which leaves the apple

Rotten as can be

Rotten

Fertile, though rotten through

Germination begins as corrupt seeds

Spread their sickness through the landscape;

Infecting all