Past Lives

I recognize the guy in the photo-
I can’t quite place his face 
I can see a certain resemblance 
but it’s nothing if not vague 

they seem to be having quite a time everything shines at that age 
then you get fat bald and wise 
what you wouldn’t trade for another chance 

these past lives a fiction 
who’s writing them anyways 
I was once filled with anticipation 
now eye rolls fill my belly 

past lives feel like an exception 
to this misery and fear 
who said there was life without possibility it’s nothing I want to hear 

I ignore the cracks in my back 
now my hands don’t wanna close 
I reach for that pen like Burroughs with a needle the ink then turns to smoke 

I’m gonna write my way out of this 
add another chapter 
a last minute come from behind 
explosion blown in the jaws of failure