Treading Water To Freedom

Treading Water To Freedom

By: Tyler Ross

I started off on the wrong foot

or at least you’d like me to think.

I blinked twice and saw you above me.

Teary eyed and torn in two,

a reflection of what’s inside of me.

Consumed,

with anger, distrust

and the distancing,

I walk this solitude alone.

Scared of what I’m becoming.

Closed off,

afraid to continue to be disappointed

by the walking, talking heartless

I find myself in front of.

Draining my everything

into a pool of unhappiness,

I am stumbling forward,

in search of

a beautiful accepting exit,

that will hopefully assist with my departure
away from this all.

Welcome To Earth 2014

Welcome To Earth 2014
By: Tyler Ross

Many ignored smiles.
Too much disrespect.
Too many unanswered calls.
Too many unanswered texts.

R.I.P. to empathy.
Poor communication.
You think your time has more value?
Too much time wasted with these situations.

Welcome to Earth 2014
You ain't no friend of mine.

I'm out.

Summers At Fryman Canyon Will Always Miss You

Summers At Fryman Canyon Will Always Miss You

By: Tyler Ross 

I said bye to a curly, black-haired dog today.

It laid in the shade struggling for air.

It’s confused and lack of urgent guardians,

gathered around 

with strangers on a Sunday morning hike

up against a fence 

by its side, 

while the mother petted it slowly.
They said it overheated,

but to me they didn’t seem too defeated,

by this saddening situation.

A member of their family,

lie motionless

and they just squatted around, hands to their heads.

Maybe there wasn’t anything they could do,

because a hiker passing had a grim tongue

reassuring to the point, this was the end.

Or maybe,

it was an old dog and death is just a part of life.

Either way, my thoughts were with the dog that day.

As we finished our hike,

back the way we started,

we crossed the family once again.

This time, the dog was in the father’s arms,

lifeless.

Sorrow surrounded that family,

as they headed for their car - every hiker was aware.

Yet I refused to believe it was dead.

We carried on that day back home,

but in my mind, 

that dog was racing around back at its home

having another shot at life.
I’m having trouble sleeping tonight.

Burning Desire

Burning Desire
By: Tyler Ross

For me, its been months and months.
Truth be told,
I still miss you and think about you often.
But I know that don't mean much to you.
I have cold feet, an eager heart
and uncontrollable thoughts circulating
my seemingly damaged brain.
Some thoughts are pleasant,
while others are misdirecting and delusional.
No excuses to be made, just stating
the truth.
You understood a lot of me.
You digested most of my pain.
I am more than thankful for you
and the time you gave me,
put up with me
and still,
had a heart so loving toward me,
not seeing it any other way.
Before I jetted physically
and mentally -
unsure completely as to why my psyche was changing.
Without much time apart,
you were gone.
Understandably, your saddened heart could only deal
with the absence in me so long.
Time will only tell what becomes of this...
this strange mutating void between two humans,
where love survived happily and willingly to catapult
into every aspect of our lives.
This alien feeling keeps me awake.
I don't dream about much.
I'm in constant confliction with my actions.
It's hard to talk without getting yelled at,
but I understand.
I have to try and understand.
I do miss you.
I miss where we were at.
But try and understand,
I can't seem to shake these feelings
fucking my world where I loved,
not allowing me to enjoy the simple life,
the simple life where things were equal
and desire lived in our blood.
I wished you understood.

Big Talk, No Walk

Big Talk, No Walk

By: Tyler Ross

Preach, you selfish fool.

Yeah, I’m talking to you.

Just like a faux leader,

telling other people what to do.

You are entitled, insecure

And need validation.

It’s your way or the highway,

Fuck your elevation! 

You thrive off solidarity

or wherever you see fit.

You feed on negativity

Or when an issue takes a hit.

There have always been these issues,

Where were you before?

No need to answer,

I don’t care for you anymore.

I don’t buy your motivations.

I question everything you do.

You’re a popularity contest,

policing anyone with a different view.

You’re a tainted name.

I wish it wasn’t true.

You make me sick

from the lack of compassion living in you.

No need to comment,

you’re just like the bullies on the Net.

I won’t tread on your thoughts,

wasted time,  get a fucking grip!

Outside looking in,

sink or swim.

It’s a cold world,
your bullshit is wearing thin.

Outsider

Outsider

By: Tyler Ross

So, what the fuck?

Living, wishing for the best.

I wish.

I fucking wish!

Completely forgotten

How is it this?

A standout, never

Trying to keep it together.

I see you.

You don’t see me.

I reached out.

You pushed back.

Silence

Always fucking silence!

Repeat. Repeat.

Too many souls

Raised with no manners

So, I pick up my pieces

Heart in tatters

And you expect me to act normal?

No respect!
That’s what matters.

Fuck your excuses
and fuck feeling sadder.

Generation Kill

Generation Kill
By: Tyler Ross

It’s truly sad to witness and experience the state the world is in.

Communication is at an all-time low and not even at rock bottom.

What does that tell us?

Texting is the most popular form of conversing, next to the Internet.

Respect is lessening as much as empathy.

Entitlement, validation and selfishness overpower the public, which consumes this globe.

Women, race and gender still lack equality and acceptance inside many minds.
The planet is constantly in trouble, but I still see assholes toss trash out their car windows is just one example out of the thousands wrong.

Health care is absent from roll call yet again, all because the medical world of prescriptions drugs and private companies would take a major hit in revenue just for starters.

The school system is going through its run of the mill motions to please a bunch of shitty adults that have no real interest in these young minds, but to control.

There is learning to be done about the real world, but it isn’t being taught, instead algebra, gym, foreign languages are requirements.

Languages are important, but aren’t necessary depending on ones living situation. We should be educated to understand the way politicians speak, and beyond the constant battle of drug abuse.
Priority is backward.

Greed is still high.

The rich are still rich and the poor keep getting poorer, when they should flip flop every once in a while.
Balance may very well ensue and a more well rounded understanding too.

Ancient civilizations with less thrived more efficiently without all this junk and attitude, but with more at the tip of our fingers, we cling to constant feuds and controlling mentalities.

Honest, driven, compassionate and transparent people should be given more of a chance.

Nerdy kids are finally popular now that nerd culture is popular, which is nice to see, but even they too now have used the power to bully.

I don’t know why I wanted to write this all down.

I suppose I am feeling neglected and cheated in my life.

Most days I want out, but then I remember I have more to give.
Even if just once in a blue moon, it’s more love to another that might be suffering just like the heart of my own brother.
He’s great and I don’t understand the foolish ways he’s treated.

Why him too?

This world isn’t such a nice place.

It hasn’t been for centuries.

I feel more alone and I’ve realized no one feels a bit like me.

I’m not done…