A poem by John Maurer

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Let the incense fall to ash until the religion does

See it as a hearth not a forest fire, from an arm’s length

Your enemy starts beating you as soon as you consider them an enemy

Once you forfeit the cranial square footage to them for squatters’ rights

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Second thoughts are like second children; mistakes

Another attempt at something you failed massively at before

At the risk and pain of others, in the name of narcissism 

No sacrifice makes up for ending a life or creating one

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Take only photos, leave no ancestors

Leave no survivor who is stronger than you

or accept that power isn’t beyond grasp

but not of worthwhile pursuit to hold

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John Maurer is a 26-year-old writer from Pittsburgh that writes fiction, poetry, and everything in-between, but his work always strives to portray that what is true is beautiful. He has been previously published in Claudius Speaks, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Thought Catalog, and more than seventy others. @JohnPMaurer (johnpmaurer.com)