Altered States

Self Skew

“I have no idea how to get out from under the weight of self categoruzing when I am struggling to overcome so much and look haggard.

I’m not 40, back when I just reached a new prime – yet everything got dumped onto its head.

Since then, I’ve been in some version of a constant battle in a war that never seems to end.”

Male Bonding

The Ex-Pat

“An ex had recently reconnected, picking up where he had left off – as if time and growth made up for damages and losses.

Although she still cared for and wanted the best for him, she knew firsthand that his values were his priority.

Knowing that she would always be low-ranking when it came to society, she abdicated their continuing.”

A Woman's Plight

The Bar

She did not really understand
Her mother’s love expression

Why wouldn’t she be supportive
Of the fiance making her happy?

How could she feel justified
Dismissing him offhandedly?

She claimed it was because
He was too young essentially

Sometimes the daughter thought
The root cause as type of jealousy

One thing for sure had been true
The younger man had weakened

Limited in navigation experience
He caved in to societal pounding

Which ultimately such pressures
Had him choose to break promise

Where Demons Tread

Nurture Vs. Trauma

She could not handle monsters
For they enjoyed terrifying her

But when her child began seeing
Strangely-shaped night creatures

She asked her child’s perception
And learned these were friendly

So she encouraged explorations
Psychologically through artwork

Believing that healthy development
Bloomed exploring the subconscious

Whereas her own experience twisted
Because men had imprinted violence