through tired eyes

i hold the coffee mug

in the palms of my hands

and stare at the spaghetti-colored stars

and the painted boy floating

between them

"shoot for the moon," he says

"even if you fall, you'll land among the stars"

such a concept

has never occurred to me

maybe my heart

is made of stone

but i always thought missing the mark

meant falling into a black hole of self-hate

and forced apathy

after fuck-ups

i do not see jacob's ladder

giving me another chance

to reach for the stars

but maybe i'm just a cynic

in an oversized sweatshirt

if i shoot for the moon

and miss

the stars will burn me to a crisp-

a trial with an error is worse than it seems

all i know:

icarus shot for the sun

and melted all his hopes and dreams

The siren in its mask of beauty

Sings its soft song.

The sailor in his ship grown weary

Listens all day long.

The siren in its fake innocence

Lures in all men.

The sailor in his blind ignorance

Turns ears to listen.

The siren in its deceitful lies

Tempts the man's thoughts.

The sailor in his desperate cries

Seeks what others sought.

The siren in its triumphant win

Envelop its prey.

The sailor in his now hopeless sin

Is left dead to pay.

The strongest of humans

The smartest of mortals

The most resourceful of individuals

all share one fate: eternal rest

A formidable foe to greet them

A force unstoppable to keep them

Forever done

no return to that which they hailed from

coins in their eyes as they are buried or burned

Back to the earth, from which they were birthed

a trip down the river of Styx

it's guard dog awaits, Cerberus.

Though it does not own the final stop

It guards it far fiercer than any one headed dog

With the aggression of three, massive body,

and no mere distraction, of scratching a flea.

Cerberus, the agent assuring your stay

is inevitable and inescapable in every way

His growl piercing of egos greatest and bite far worse

For what is it to be mortally wounded, when death gets you first?

That would be up to Hades, who's jealous of Earth

and since ye be born of it, your fate could be much worse.

Cerberus grants you the fear you need, to prevent your return

His warning and position, would be wise not to exceed.