life’s anemic stew (a recipe)

add a dash of youth’s long lost sweet promises

maybe a smidgen of dreams that didn’t come true

two heaping teaspoons of bitter irony

one haunting holy ghost or maybe two

a river of teardrops dripped in life's stock pot

then let simmer idly with  a dash of  all lost hope

throw in the wolves at the back door laughing

and perhaps a length of strong old hangman’s rope

toss in taxes and boil until only the cold remains

a government's bitter cold like an early winter frost

then just lay my bones down to cool in green pastures

because this recipe is one for which I’ve dearly paid the cost…