Apocalypse Poetry: Rules of Engagement

Hold fast. Make art. Free the soul.

There’s a series of short spoken word pieces I’m releasing every Monday at 6 PM EST on youtube. I included the first one here, along with a written transcript for those who aren’t in places where you can play audio.

In the series, I recorded the poems and set them to footage I filmed at one of my favorite nature spots. I left the audio on, so there’s a cicada chorus as a musical accompaniment.

Music Check-In: If you haven’t yet, please pre-save Lucky Strikes! It’s free to do and helps the music a ton. It comes out June 27th.

Here’s the first poem, Rules of Engagement.

Written version:

Rules of Engagement

Do you ever think its retarded
How we pay fake money for real food
Fake money for real water
How we live in rickety pods and don’t know our neighbors names
Because we’ve been swallowed whole by apps?

I feel trapped
I’d rather be wild than good.
I don’t say thank you— I told you to wait until I say yes.

If I do not stick to my rules of engagement
If I do not stay magnetized to my why
I will go fucking crazy

I’m seconds and inches from losing my shit
Seconds and inches from your neighborhood arsonist

Seconds and inches from real liberation
Seconds and inches from all ive had my mind heart soul and eyes on
For nearly 20 years —

Im seconds and inches from finding even more reasons why 
God not only exists,
But operates at full benevolence 
in real time 
in this realm we live

seconds and inches
I feel it on both sides
The road gets narrow and stakes are high
Rules of engagement
Do not be the doer
Become the karma

Be in the moment to fullest 
because time is not real.
In that place you are immortal 
in the wellspring of eternity

Hold fast. Make art. Free the soul.