In a peaceful world,
the stress is just, well, just less.
I don’t KNOW this, who does. You? Didn’t think so.
There has to be a difference between
What is,
with all its angst, chaos, brutality, disgust, insanity, indifference, hostility,
coupled with resentment,
fermenting over grudges that ensnare generations into boiling pits of selfish greed
and ultimately virtual vindication that wakes up the next morning
ultimately unsatisfied and one up on the other guy
who’s gonna come looking for you, so watch out, eh?

Yeah, there has to be a difference between
What is—with all…THAT—and what we all thought we wanted all along.

After all, world peace, love and harmony in our relationships,
and a joyful optimism for tomorrow
as I go to bed tonight
is worth working for and sacrificing for and rising above the shit for. Right?

It’s hard to remember the priorities sometimes, isn’t it.
I keep forgetting.

All I often know, despite what the nihilists insist,
is that there HAD to be a difference, but honestly?
I often [too often] forget what it was.

Copyright 2002, Stephen Buckley
08.08.02, 1230am