Sophisticating the Rudimentary

Let fall the words they spoke to you
on nights rage struck your temples like lightning
to an oak tree that went its whole life
all those layers of rings
not getting hit
just to get hit.

Let the wilderness consume your mind
not because you need to simulate recklessness
you, so calculated now
what with your sober thoughts
and your balanced budget
you, denying yourself the cheap thrills
rewarding yourself with a long weekend away
as if you need to ask yourself permission
you need to anticipate time away to get yourself through the next month
and you start to believe you are in the place you wish you’d be
five years ago when they asked you,
“where do you see yourself in five years?”