a friend and a man of mundane anonymity

bears the invisible weight of his discreet indiscretions  

hanging heavy-laden on scarred and sagging shoulder blades

he remains immune

feeling sore and older in the bitter weight of colder air

his mind still smolders holding guilt suspended in unexplained space

he drives himself home alone to face family dusty and disheartened

trusts himself only after a lonely hour sitting sourly silent in dark car

far longer and stranger than agony or whatever mettle makes a man

remember to catch his breath

death looms near yet far in his heart of scars and plethora of fears

knots of unknown anxiety and tears of regret for years of escaping

plague him with harsh razor slashing contemplation realization

civilization is not only in the mind of the man with money and means

but it’s strange and funny that it causes problems and solves them too

I feel for you my friend this frail slipping away with nothing to say

today is just another day and we’re plainly yet insanely disappearing

but you’re my friend my ally and I defend, rally, and fight for your sanity

this lack of vanity is my humanity bleeding through for you

loyalty is humanity is empathy is sympathy for a lost and empty soul