No Them's Allowed

do not worry; the transformation is nearly complete; don't worry, it's supposed to feel that way; worry not, my dear, the air will clear soon; it's like, I'm a stick, stuck in something I can't identify, but it's carrying me elsewhere, and I can't keep track of where I've been, Benjamin,

I think this time they will catch us and skin us alive... so man the cannons and harpoons, people, this place has become far too much of a mess for our massive sponges,

but trust in us and we will rid you of your myriad nemeses, you don't need them, they're a waste of your time, their claws are too sharp in comparison to yours, but not a match for ours, we will ignite, we will burn, we will destroy their worries, they will need not fear for death is nothing to fear when it's so damn close, too close to call, it's near me but I can't put my finger on it, I can feel its presence and it's daunting, I'm paranoid, I'm scared, I'm hiding on the couch in a coughing fit, hoping nobody hears me,

I'm in trouble, locked in my room, confined to a cellular accommodations and I'm trying really hard not to fight the panic attacks, hyperventilating, and claustrophobia that have been ascribed onto my thoughts, I'm meeting new friends daily and forgetting all those old people I may have known, I can do anything but--once I do--I will have nothing accomplished, please remind me to recommend something different to the next person to walk through those doors; If you see them, that is, and
if they're not a them then what are they?

Please Just Be Yourself and Show Yourself Out

It's easy to speak your mind when you're simple-minded; and another thing, this brie is gonna do me in
it's hard on the tongue, for us weak-tongued 'gents
I made a red bell pepper orange, it was a catastrophe
there was an apostrophe, but I decided it wasn't worth the 160th of a text message, and left it out
punctuality is not our specialty, we're too young to be on time,

I just don't know what to say to you
what to say to make you believe me
please, we're trying to breathe here, it's hardly worth the try
but here I'm screaming
and you're not getting it
here I'm reeling in the pain,
so much simultaneous pulling and pushing:
I'm walking four horses with a hundred multi-colored balloons tied each and I'm trying to keep the balloons alphabetized according to color,
and tomorrow we're learning the alphabet.