Broken Glass, Broken People

If you don't understand, then you can't comprehend
All the lies told to eyes by the mirror and the lens.
You don't recognize my person, just a body and a face,
A house, or perhaps a prison—a place—
A dilapidated shack I didn't ask to inherit,
A mere maladaptive manufacturing defect.
You can't begin to meet, or even to see me
Until you read.

Beauty/Beast, or Little Miss Belle the Impaler Visits Waterloo

I know you as beauty; I know you as beast.
I know you by reputation, at least.
I've heard that you rip; I've heard that you tear
With the pearliest gleam of young teeth in your hair.
I've heard you befuddle; I've heard that you lie.
I've been warned that you always smell blood on new guys.
I doubt we're well metered;  I doubt we rhyme.
I doubt I'll convince you I'm not worth the time.
I'm sure you'll dare, and I'm sure you'll deign,
But you'll fine I'm a bit of a sponge for pain.
You can play to take, and I'll play for keeps.
It's only a game if you cannot weep.

Sir Isaac Newton Would Dig It

As a male, I'm a failed silver-tongued salesman

Who could ply minds with lies that only sound right,

But my sin of sloth saves me from doing work that's worse.

I'm not just fallen; I've hit every branch on the way down.

I used to be arrogant, advanced, ahead of my age.

I grew to be both proud and guilty about my gifts;

Had prodigious percentage of those pounded out, was still prolific.

I haven't just fallen; I've really fallen off.

Once a nerd nursing a nascent, narcotic need to be normal,

Stripping myself off to sell off everything that separates me,

I have taken a turn toward taking time to track down solitude.

I guess you could say I've fallen off the bandwagon.

Half a Hermit Speaks (Again)

I almost worry that I've been too quickly smitten

By eyes that well watched the world's story written,

By the charitable heart that lies below that sour face,

By creating a problem in my life that I didn't create.

I want you to ask if I always fall for someone older.

I want to tell you that I fall for beauty, when I get bolder.

I hope I can help you find the companion you're looking for

In another,

Because we are never, ever, ever

Moving in together.

Half a Hermit on the Seductiveness of Solitude

It's not that I go out of my way not to talk to you.

It's not that I don't want to talk today.

It's not that I don't want to talk again.

It's not your fault that I'm an extraterrestrial,

Perpetually unable to agree

On anything that humans actually believe.

I'm just overly attracted to a life

Where hours don't turn into the assembly line

At an outrage factory.

Who's not with me?!