​Thomas stares out his window,
sitting at the kitchen table,
bills piled up beside his resumes.
Five months without work
aside from low paying odd jobs
from working on yards to food delivery.
Frustration lines his forehead.
Determined to stay constant,
some days are better than others
however it is mentally wearing.
Thomas sighs trying to believe
that this unpredictable time shall pass.
 
The evening comes with a glass of wine
for Margaret, alone in her living room,
attempting to adjust to a new life
after twenty-seven years of the same one.
Without a true explanation her partner left
leaving so many questions behind.
Where to start over?
What does the future hold?
Starting over bring fear.
With each sip, thoughts get stronger
holding onto the fact
that this time shall pass.
 
Stacy closes the door of her room
trying to digest another horrid school day.
Others hurling insults for no reason,
students that used to be friends
causing tears and confusing thoughts.
Sometimes Stacy wonders
if the abuse is worth going through,
determined she will get
past the next two years.
Stacy knows a new chapter will be soon.
This present time shall pass.
 
March 17, 2021
©Andrew Scott – Just A Maritime Boy 2021

​So many marching,
looking for a place of acceptance
as they do not know who they are
or what direction they wish to go.
All they need is a path
set out before them to follow.
They do not see who is guiding them.
 
Those seeking spiritual enlightenment
took their journey to a place called Georgetown
to search for the teachings of Jim Jones
who taught them apostolic socialism.
As the people gathered in mass
reports came to others about abuses
by the temple members.
Life was not what the followers expected,
no enlightenment but punishments.
Children taken away, rarely seeing parents.
Monies taken to run the temple.
Under scrutiny of stress and outsiders
there were cyanide poisonings to all.
On November 18, 1978, Jonestown was dead.
Not one saw the guiding hand to the light.
 
In Axtell, Texas, many gathered,
waiting for an apocalypse
with the second coming
against the armed armies of Babylon.
Firearms and soldiers lined the compound
protecting the disciples inside the barrier
following the leader of the Branch Davidians.
Families waited inside while the law was outside
until the fiery end for all being led.
Flames taking lives in the chaotic compound.
Everyone looking down, praying,
not seeing who lit the match.
 
Students gather in a classroom
hoping to learn about multi-level marketing,
course upon course with slow steps
to get ahead within the organization.
Enthralled by personal and professional seminars
that were to grow the students.
Being hypnotized to follow, no question.
Ignoring the secret society
the students were buying into
until they were poor and sold.
Branded by the leader with his initials.
The pain never healed.
No one saw who burned the brand.
 
So many with empty thoughts
searching for a place to go
and follow the leader.
Blind, without question
only to feel impure.
Once they realize the path
that was taken to the current place.
Too late in realizing the truth,
questioning how they got there.
Doors opened by the unseen,
the Dark Figure that guided
down the sacrificing path.
 
April 7, 2021
©Andrew Scott – Just A Maritime Boy 2021