I Can’t Take It Anymore

I can’t take it anymore

     this health consciousness

and the diseased morality, can’t take it
     this obsession with love, books and money, no more
can’t take any more of these Timex watches
     can’t take you out without feeling guilty
can’t take dreams, can’t take a break
     can’t write good poetry anymore
I can’t take living like this
     not expressing my thoughts to friends or strangers
        always being considered a stranger
I can’t take it when you don’t talk to me
     just simply can’t unable to take
        I try try again
          simply
What if? what if I only knew
     if I only knew how to inject sunlight into your veins
          how to inject a smile into your lips
              & to hear you laugh
                & to hear you say

               I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE
 

                                        August 16, 1989
                                     --Alexander Shaumyan