Battleground

by Nick Jaina

does the life of a poet
does it have to be sad?
does contentment sleep
at mediocrity's pad?
because the bloom of love
withered and died
a recessive gene
on the mother's side

it's a battleground

now I don't' care about the mercy touch
midnight in the Greyhound it doesn't mean that much
I don't care who you are married to
he will fall apart, there'll be the soldiers and you

on a battleground

does the life of a poet 
does it have to be hard?
Salt Lake at night in the railyard
because I missed the train
and my stomach sank
my pen was dry and my page was blank

it's a battleground

© 2008 Nick Jaina