Asahi-Taichou

The night creeps softly, lending me no comfort
I hear the far-off traffic noises muted by the wind
They call like the reminder of the distant past
Whose nightmares have paraded through my heart
In my space there is a disconcerting stillness echoing
My heart readily recognizes the pain it finds within
I am without a noble calling bringing me to sleep
Nor do I find a tatter of solace to cling to me

I want to tear the walls from their posts,
Scream louder than the ringing in my ears.
But I sit here quietly frustrated and alone,
With Forever idly humming all around me.
I want to express the inexpressible things,
Demonstrate in clarity my inner feelings.
But trial and error have proven only failure,
With me repeating the cycle without answer.

The neighbors find you charming
You jog to keep your health in check
Your lawn is meticulously manicured
And the car in your garage is high-tech
When you invite them for a barbecue
They can't sense your true secret pride
The fertilizer you use to feed your roses -
It's literally another neighbor's backside

I had finally gotten the push I needed to start my morning runs again after a long hiatus. My young niece had recently visited, and when she noticed the change in my physique, she took to poking and laughing at my rounding gut. It had made me more self-conscious than usual, so I knew I had no choice but to start up my old exercise regime before work.
I had started out easily enough, with a slower pace, and I took in my surroundings almost at once. The tall, green trees chattered softly in the gentle breeze against the backdrop of the newly risen sun. The sun painted glorious colors on the softened sky, and the freshness of the new morning invigorated me. It felt only natural after a few minutes of walking to hasten my pace a little more. It felt so new, even though I had lived here for years and walked this stretch of road many times.
I passed house after quiet house in this manner until I came to the Jones', whose lawn appeared abandoned with weed heights that I could surmise from the