I labor to grow

and without caution, to learn

I dip my misshapen brush in untested inks

and paint paint paint

I endeavor to be trite and clever

and witty and wise

and once in a while, wistful

Oh, and whimsical - don't forget that

Often times I am subtle

and mired in subtext

Other times - outright confrontational

and tactless

Moreover it serves to keep that gritty edge

that I so self-awaredly strive to equate myself with

Thing is, I know I'm false

and full of ten letter words that only mask

the fact that I'm screaming out in pain

Plaintively and plurally raking my tin drinking cup

across the bars of my open cage

and howling for someone

anyone

to just, please, pay attention to me

Copyright:  Brian Pellerino  2008