but this is no way to
live or die
this is the heart
burned beyond recognition
this is silent protest
destroy what you love
the most
and then fall down laughing
find a god who will
let you breathe
stare into his eyes until
you can no longer
remember why you ever
chose to be blind

John Sweet sends greetings from the rural wastelands of upstate NY. He is a firm believer in writing as catharsis, and in the continuous search for an unattainable and constantly evolving absolute truth. His latest poetry collections include A FLAG ON FIRE IS A SONG OF HOPE (2019 Scars Publications) and A DEAD MAN, EITHER WAY (2020 Kung Fu Treachery Press).