SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR

SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR

GRAND SLAM OF THE SOUL

I don’t have one foul note to pitch

against anything or anyone anymore…

at least for today.

The government continues to do its thing,

and so I pay

taxes

on bread and butter

unto the grave.

Maybe my rage will return

the moment they start trying

to charge for each breath

that enters these lungs.

But right now at the park

the air is full of dirt

as a tractor drags the infield

to smooth out its surface.

I don’t mind

the conditions

at all;

there are no bad hops

in my heart

at this time.

I’ll return to dust and ash

in the end;

might as well enjoy some peace

while I can.

The politicians throw their curves

into the system,

and all those in attendance

stand on their side of the line

casting red and blue stones

back and forth.

But I’m like a child

feigning ignorance

while reclaiming my innocence

as I wander around in the grass

near the fence

chasing butterflies

to and fro.

At the crack of the bat

I’ll focus my eyes anew

to locate the ball

just before it falls

so I can dive with a slide

for the catch,

and then lay on my back

until the final out of the contest

to watch clouds

drift through the sky

high above.

I’m like a kite

caught in the winds

of worldly detachment,

caring not at all

about dramatic scores

that have been left

unsettled.

Everyone is right

in their own way,

so I’ll just keep writing

with a smile on my face

because there’s nothing wrong

with turning the other cheek,

choosing unconditional love,

and playing the game

of life

fair and straight

by nature’s rules

until the ninth inning

of existence

expires.

Radiant

TRANSCENDENT ENERGY

embracing ego

with soft hands

so as to nurture

its existence

toward the light

Ascendant vibration

allowing truth

to flow freely

without holding back

the absolute necessity

of transformative change

Evolution in a nutshell

breathing the essence

of holy hallelujah

into healthy lungs

that long to exhale

purity back into the world

 

DEADLIEST WEAPON

Because I believe

so strongly

in the healing power

of words,

it is always

silence

that hurts me

the worst.

SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR

SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR hosts the site 17Numa.com where links to his published poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, reviews, live events, and books can be found. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Outlar was a recipient of the 2017 Setu Magazine Award for Excellence in the field of literature. Selections of his poetry have been translated into Afrikaans, Albanian, Dutch, Italian, French, Persian, and Serbian. He has been a weekly contributor for the cultural newsletter Dissident Voice since 2014. His most recent book, Abstract Visions of Light, was released in 2018 through Alien Buddha Press. His show, Songs of Selah, airs weekly on 17Numa Radio.