"Storm Before the Calm"

fireworks, bombs, flashlights;
storm before the calm.

no alarms:
the switches are flipped,
i can reroute the circuit,
i can rewrite the circus.

topple it with code,
governments will erode,
but who will take their place?
why does big brother wear a mask on his face?
our identities disgraced, memorials defaced, plagued with
traces of dust-laced cigarettes that swim in our brains.

"you brought this on yourself."
but did i really when it was just a cry for help?
you were shat on, spat on, spat out at 18,
no chance to make a life, no chance to breathe.

why wasn't it me?
i'm not complaining, i want no pity.
i just want to trade places.
if you'd have lived maybe i wouldn't be faceless,
doomed to hang by the neck in a basement.
doomed to hang until dead or complacent.

the elephants and jackasses who rule you
are liars, false gods,
their empire will fall, it is programmed.
fumbling the football, finger on the trigger;

one minute to midnight.
pitch black.