PRISON OF THE SKULL

the voices in his head
grew silent in the end
his eyes rolled back in their sockets
and his hands fell out of their pockets
in his right hand was hidden a knife
this was his last act of violence tonight
from behind the head to the front temple
a bullet hole left the body crippled
with relief the coroner pronounced him dead
his reign of terror had come to an end
scientist have asked to study his brain
to take note of dementia under strain
to their shock as they cut open his skull
they found little claw marks all over the hull
the voices in his head had taken shape of demons
and the host had become their temporal prison
only through death did he find relief
for only then were the fallen released

© 2005 thomas bates

KINGDOM OF THE ZAO

darkness envelopes
as the lights come into play
he stands there covered
blood and sweat
he dominated the night
his serfs run amuk and defy authority
the night belongs to them all
the kingdom of the dark shroud
split into two by the screams of the night

© 2003 thomas bates

ORGANIZED RELIGION/RETRIBUTION

we are your controllers
we have you by the strings
please try to leave... we dare you to
will you be able to find the door,
before the thought police find you?
stand up and sing our chosen anthem
give up your free will and become one
no one has yet questioned us before
so we will keep on conditioning you
over and over and over till you break
only a few of you are strong and resistant
but in fear, you stay silent not to be found
our truth seekers are searching for you
no matter how locked up you stay
we will break you down just like the rest
and install the fear and guilt inside you
and never again shall you threaten us again

© 2005 thomas bates

TO SMILE AT THE FUTURE

there is this hole inside of me that no one can see
i can feel it's edge at my throat and falling down into my chest
not even those who are close to me can get beyond the surface
it gets hard to breathe sometimes because of this void
which is there because of that missing person in my life
you cannot even fathom how it feels unless you go through hell
because it will be the claws of the devil himself taking them away
ripping every piece and essence out of your weakening grasp
someday i will find that special someone to fill that hole inside of me
to discover the most important key to the mystery of the life itself
to open up a new chapter in my life and to be there for the rebirth
as i step up from the grave inside of me and breathe in new life
and grasp every moment i get and enjoy it to its fullest
then fill up this hole inside of me with love and memories
and pat it all down with the security of honesty and trust
finally smile for the new dawn has found me and life has just begun

© 2005 thomas bates

GOODBYE

what happened to me and you?
for it was you i looked up to
but you are not the same anymore
your footsteps are fading on the floor
whoever impressed me to be
has now died infront of me
i do not know where you have gone or what to do
except to now part ways and say goodbye to you

© 2005 thomas bates

#16

my heart is timid
my heart is fragile
when i see you i see my failures
when i see you i see my lost chance
i had a chance to talk to you, but i ran away
you do not have to like me, i understand
you can ignore me and just walk on by
keeping your eyes set ahead of you
and letting me blur into the background
for i do not deserve your recognition
i rather crawl into the cracks in the ground
out of sight and out of mind
yet everytime i see you, my heart skips a beat
the "what ifs" run through my head after you're gone
and then i am faced with my current situation
of not having you by my side, enjoying your company
was it that i did not see a ring on your finger this time?
or is that my eyes are starting to fail on me
and eventually it will not be you i will see at all
and you will forever disappear out of my life
and i will be alone again wishing i could have spoken to you
to get past that cordial greeting and get to know you
to become friends and finally get past the awkward moments

© 2005 thomas bates

ALONE IS TO NOT MOVE ON

to be in between is me
drifting out in the vast openess
your breath is lingering behind
i close my eyes and remember how it was
i am afraid how it will be now without you
to move on through the unknown alone
many are to come : temporal replacements
try on various gloves till i feel finally back at home
but in my silence i am surrounded by your memories
and the brokeness of your longing desires are smothering me
i try to lose myself in random playlists
trying to find something different and new
to escape the pain you carved into my heart
however you end up back around once in awhile
because there are times when i still reach out to you
but it is time to let go... since you left a long time ago

© 2005 thomas bates