A World Without Competition
Impossible
Unimaginable
Competition is the very matter
Of the current world where we live
Without competition
Anarchy
No leaders, no guidance
Money doesn't exist
No shops
No groceries
No smartphones
How could I even write this?
Although you don't realise it
Competition is everything in this modern day
You just have to be a good competitor
Land of The Free
'Land of The Free' they call it
Not so much anymore
An unstable structure
With cracks down the core
A punctured bicycle wheel
You can pump it back up
All you can do
Is cover it up with some duct tape
Which will eventually fall of
From bad weather or a mere scrape
It is scarred as we know it
And for many years to come
No new president
Will truly find another wheel
It is up to the people
To do their part
And the governments role
To guide them
And eventually
A pristine bike will emerge
And the opressed country
Will once more
Become the Land of The Free
Darkness
An object of presumed fear
Though it goes unnoticed
The late nights until 3am
The deep sleep after a long day's work
Even the back of a cupboard
These are darkness
Yet not frightening
As far as you know
The uncanny of it all
Leaves you sitting upright in your bed
Afraid to turn your eyes away from the creaked open door
Who is there?
You ask
Nothing but darkness
The entity who watches you more than your family
Monitoring
Stalking
Seeing
However protected you feel
The cold breath on the back of your neck
The twitching of your door
The Movement from outside
Darkness,
Is present
The End
He's gone, they say
But you don't believe them
Though for once, you are wrong
Too early, he left
Too short, it was
You wish he could see you now
His last days, in Intensive Care
His last words, nothing special
Death is not like in a book
Not finalizing
Nor a goodbye
But perhaps the most abrupt ending of the-
Christmastime
"Come on dad, it's Christmas Eve!" John exclaimed eagerly.
"But I thought it was Christmas Eve tomorrow? Oh, well I must be wrong. You are way more up to date than me, son." I replied. Afterall, he was the one who taught me how to use my own phone. I suppose being in your 50's makes you quite behind the times. As we got in the familiar red sedan, which was now 11 years old, me in the drivers, seat, him in the passengers seat, we drove to the mall. We had planned this day on the 1st December, and had been waiting for it keenly ever since.
When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly full, so John helped me pick out an empty space.
"Dad! Over there! Next to the blue Toyota!" he shouted.
"Got it," I replied.
When we entered the immense complex, (it was the biggest mall in all of Colorado) the first shop that came to my mind was Hamleys, or ToysRus. Those stores sold loads of toys, didn't they. There must've a 15 year old section. Though, being considerate, I asked him,
"So, where do you wanna go, son?"
"Oh, oh, can we go to the new Apple Store?"
"Why do you want to buy apples from here? We live right next to a farm, and I know you like the fresh apples from Uncle Jerry."
"Dad, Apple is a store that sells phones, and their new phone just came out!"
"All right then," I began, "Lets go there then. I think I have a loose 50 in my wallet!"
"Dad, you must know," he started, slightly bitter, "phones now cost hundreds of dollars, and this one is over a thousand!"
"A THOUSAND!" I screamed, slightly too loud. I looked at John, who was now making his begging face.
"Oh all right then. As long as it's for you John."
"YES!!!" he exclaimed, overjoyed.
We entered the 'Apple Store' and John darted over to some flashy phone.
"Dad! Dad! Come over here!"
I strolled over slowly, looking at all the devastating price tags.
"Fine," I said, my voice slightly shaky. The tag read, 'Iphone X' followed by, '$1399.'
John sprinted over to the till and asked for a boxed one. Once they placed it on the shiny countertop, I took my AMEX out of my wallet.
"Dad wait! Can we get another one?"
"Why?"
"I don't know, maybe you would want one. Plus, mom said she has one, so-"
"since when were you in touch with her?" I asked, grimly, but trying to keep my tone down for my son.
"I always had her phone number, but only a few months ago we started talking more."
Okay, Fine. One more please," I said to the shopkeeper.
It was 8 in the evening now, and as soon as we arrived home, I wrapped John's new phone, and my own. It was vaguely saddening to see John growing out of Christmas, but everyone grows up, I suppose.
The next morning, I woke up roughly at 10am. What a tiring day yesterday was, especially for my bank account balance. Then, I remembered, I rushed downstairs. It was Christmas Day. John would be eagerly yet politely waiting for me by the tree. Though I was surprised when I saw that none of the lights were on, and John wasn't downstairs.
"John! Wake up!" I shouted up the stairs.
No response.
He must have been having a deep sleep, just the same as I was. After waiting a few hours, now it was 1pm. What was he doing. I walked up the stairs and opened his door. His bedsheets were messy and unmade. Shreds of wrapping paper, along with scissors and tape were scattered across the floor. Where was he?
I ran back down to the christmas tree, to find it ridden of all presents except one unwrapped bar of soap. I immediately pulled out my phone from my pocket, my old one, and dialed his numbers, following the instructions he told me to use to get to the phone app.
"JOHN! WHERE ARE YOU!" I screamed, not holding back this time.
"Calm down Ralph," answered a familiar voice.
"Emily, what are you doing with my son."
"We have just finished unwrapping our presents, and are now having Christmas Lunch. Did he not tell you? John has decided to stay with me from now on. And as an arrival gift, he gave me this new phone which I am currently using."
My head shook with frustration.
"Hi, Dad. Sorry I forgot to-"
"No, son, it's fine. That's how it is I see."
With that, I hung up, and sat on the dining room chair, all alone.
@TheDreamer for the challenge
I will rewrite it
I stood beside you in your fading words
We’ve been through thick and thin, the normal and the absurd
I’ve laughed with you in parks through the gentle breeze
I still can’t get over losing you to this merciless disease
Death is vicious, there is no way to fight it
Your story ended, so I will rewrite it.
#poems #poem #challenge #writing #literature