There are devils in the attic,
A fire burns below,
And nothing can get between
With enough rain or holy water
To put either evil out.

There were times when
Enough sleep would
Make the confrontation
Entertaining.
But it’s never easy
When whatever is above
Or below
Is more vicious
Than mere mortals could endure,
When caught between
These ever enclosing
Twins of torment.

Little-child prayers
Once softened
The harsh darkness of night.
But now
Not even the best stuffed feather pillow
Is easy against the trapped head
That can hear
Through a trapdoor
What goes on in the attic
And feel fires
Ready to roast a body,
Anyone,
Starting at the toes.

Wanting to make peace
Brings no rewards.
Since peace remains impossible
As hammers are wielded and swung
Overhead and over all
That were quiet spaces
Where now stand nails ready
To be pounded in,
Removed,
Pounded in again,
As sparks fly
And rise to a roaring blaze,
Which, with timing,
And trickery,
Could be aimed at the attic
Where not even devils may escape
And the fires,
At last,
Rewardingly,
Tiredly,
Burn themselves
Out of wherever
I await sleep.

Paragraph

If I could write

Another

New paragraph

Today,

I have made it

Through

Yet another

Lifetime.

INTERVIEW

QUESTIONER: Are you ready?
ANSWER: For what?
QUESTIONER: To give an answer, yes or no, to any question.
ANSWER: I guess, yes, I am.
QUESTIONER: To guess that you are is to believe that you're not.
ANSWER: OK, I am.
QUESTIONER: And like most who guess answers they pretend to believe, you... are...a fake.

PEACE

Don’t want to be told

Which sidewalk to walk on,

What playground to play in,

Which ache shouldn’t hurt.

If your game is different

Don’t tell me about it,

And I won’t call

Your grassless yard ugly dirt.

Don’t tell me my truck’s

Too ugly for taking

Uptown, valet parking

At a nice restaurant.

Let’s do as we please,

Long as no laws are broken.

You being as you are,

Me doing as I want.

There's nothing I have

That you should care to see;

You do as you wish,

I’ll stay happy with me;

I in my corner

And you happy in yours,

Both with no reasons

To open closed doors.

No inviting you in,

No asking me out,

It’s how our living in peace

This long came about.

TIME, MONEY, ENDINGS

Questions: Whether the world is ending one day soon or just beginning and, so, taking long to get running properly. Whether the love of money is the root of all evil, or is evil at the root of all money. Whether asking for total human agreement is a suggestion by the asker that everyone agrees to see and do exactly as the asker sees and does. And how will I die. And when. And why. And whether being ready makes any difference. And whether if all question will ever be answered, bringing an end to all quest - or another and wiser beginning.

"IF ONLY" Headlines

Someone suggested a few world headlines that would
  mean a "world"of difference - if only they were true...
Here are a few such headlines -
(more to be added)

HEADLINE: People continue to be shocked that they too will eventually die. Understanding the meaning of 'lifespan' seems to offer solace. 

HEADLINE: Doctors declare that our desire to live supersedes their ability to save lives. More pro-active patients now going to doctors only to pick up prescriptions for self-researched medicines. 

HEADLINE: Unlimited Oil Deposits Found In Sudan...World Movers and Shakers Now Interested

HEADLINE: Morning-News Anchors No Longer Giggly...Mornings Now More Pleasant

HEADLINE: Gas Stations End Selling of Alcohol...Lawmakers See This As Wiser Than Forcing Free People to Be Seatbelted In Their Vehicles

HEADLINE: World Leaders Reach Unchangeable Arms Agreement... Agree to Arm-Wrestle Only Each Other to Settle Disputes. Peace Breaks Out Worldwide.

HEADLINE: Tamper-Proof Vehicle Ignition Key Now Issued With Driver's License... Lose License or Insurance, Key Revoked and Inoperable

HEADLINE: Best of Times Now Worldwide Phenomenon....Contented Taxpayers Gladly Pay Fair Share

HEADLINE: Nutritious and Healthy Foods Now Cost No More Than Non-Nutritious

HEADLINE: Weather Forecasters No Longer Disdain Rainy Days As a Mess... In Respect For Vegetation's - And Nature's - Dominant Source of Nourishment

HEADLINE: Sure Signs From Heavens Seem to Disclaim Anyone on Earth As Designated Spokesperson... Godhead Claims to Manage Quite OK Without Human Meddling... Points to Order of Planets in Orbit, Sun's schedule, Etc., As Proof

HEADLINE: Enlightened Nutrition Fast Gaining Hold...World Population Crave Healthier Diets. Fast-Food Merchants Call Trend Misguided

HEADLINE: Telemarketers Finally Required By Law to Supply Own Home Numbers for Call-backs. Public Opinion Says Ruling Long Overdue

HEADLINE: All Gods and Potentates Signal Their Disapproval of Killers Driven by Causes. Determined to Remain Faithful, Killers Driven by Causes Now Disavow Such Gods and Potentates.

HEADLINE: Lottery Players Regret Years of  Purchasing Non-Winning Tickets...Many Say All That Money Could Have Almost Bought A Good Weekend In Las Vegas

HEADLINE: $1 Ticket Lottery Winner Gleeful Over Huge Win...Gaming Critics Denounce Winner For Reckless Use of Hard-Earned Dollar That Could Have At Least Gone to Charity... Charities Solicit Generous Donations from Winner.

HEADLINE: Young men no longer signing up to fight wars, deciding that old men have gotten enough from society; old men protest, saying, "Hell no, not us, we won't go." Young men ask, "Why not you?"

Haiku

I live a life
that craves times lived

          In places settled and still...

      ...Along some lonely,
foggy coast

                     Or up around some hill.