Please do come in.
Welcome.
Feel free to relax
here among these ruins
where I currently reside.

You must forgive my lack of social graces.
I have been absent from civilized company
for far too long.
I have been
‘abroad’
on a long journey.

I assume you find me despicable
unkempt
not worthy of respect.
Believe me, the feeling is mutual.
Don’t take that personally.
I hate everyone equally now
with a quiet hatred.
What are we after all but
violent apes?

Do I come off as sociopathic? Misanthropic?
I do apologize.
But I must remind you that YOUR tax dollars fund
wars
nuclear weapons
deadly biological agents.
I must point out that you pollute air, water and land
for profit.
You overpopulate the planet
drown it in trash
kill and die for religious reasons.
I must point these things out.
I feel obligated
for the sake of
truth.
So, in some final apocalyptic analysis who (if anyone) is the true sociopath?
Who is to blame for our present state of affairs?
For a long time I have played at being your straw man
I accepted the role willingly.
That’s over now.

Would you like something to drink?
A snack perhaps.
I can’t guarantee it won’t be poisoned.
In fact, I can’t guarantee much of anything these days.

I’ve been away, as I said
on a long and pointless
journey
and now, apparently
I can’t seem to find my way back.

I have searched within
all these long years
and I’ll share what I’ve learned.
Of course I understand you may not be willing to
listen.
What we are__yes__
I have learned that ALL we are
ALL of us eager-eyed apes,
what we are
is smoke,
thick when the fire rages,
thin and eventually vapor
as we rise amidst cinders, ash
and disappear.

I have perhaps offended or frightened you
confused you
insulted your religious sensibility, your sense of permanency
or political correctness.
I do apologize
As I said
I’ve been ‘away’
far away.

(This journey also, incidentally,
funded by YOUR tax dollars)

Oh
Leaving so soon?
I have upset you.
I really do apologize.
You see, I have learned my lesson now
I really have.

My ‘journey’ has taught me not to be human.

Do come back
after you’ve sorted all this out.

I’ll still be here.

2022