“Pushing Things Away 2” © Edward Michael Supranowicz

 

Stench of Insecurity

“Just so you know,
these guys ‘R’
planning a revolution.
I’m telling you,
because I share everything with you.
Do what you want with this,
but know that nobody. will.
believe you-if you share it.
I hardly believe it myself.”
Was met with my disbelief.
Going against the U.S.
government means you’re
against the U.S.
military.
That is never a winning situation.
I took an oath.
as an appointed public servant,
but I am diagnosed.
with a serious and persistent
mental illness,
so, I, unfortunately, believed him,
dismissing myself,
hitting the road,
watching Jan 6th on YouTube.
I sit in disgust,
wondering what would have happened.
if I would’ve spoken up,
remembering how cowed I was,
by Covid,
and by he who gaslit me
with the stench
of my own
insecurity.

 

David Cleofas Avila was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and worked as a mental health counselor before retreating into the arts. Musically and professionaly, he has worked with Scott Amendola, Doug Grean, and the late Gary Young, amongst others. Visually, David’s first painting resides in the Susan Fleming family collection. His YA fantasy, Lightward: The Journey Of Startus Maximus, Book One is available on Kindle. He is Paul Harris Fellow and lives a nomadic life as an expat.

Edward Michael Supranowicz is the grandson of Irish and Russian/Ukrainian immigrants. He grew up on a small farm in Appalachia. He has a grad background in painting and printmaking. Some of his artwork has recently or will soon appear in Fish Food, Streetlight, Another Chicago Magazine, The Door Is A Jar, The Phoenix, and The Harvard Advocate. Edward is also a published poet who has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize multiple times.