"So you're an optimist"
He questions
Over his half drunk
Disapproving gaze
And then
Shakes his head
As if hope
Were an STD
And I just infected
All his disappointments
"Yes" I say, "I suppose I am."
And he chuckles
A knowing laugh
That hasn't seen happiness
In 26 years
The idea of improvement
Is lost on him
Lost among
His bitter successes
And sweet delusions
Of grandeur
Lost
On the slim
Idea
Of no expectations
This
Is as good as it gets
…
I don't think so
…
That night
I learned
That when you cease
To expect
You get nothing
And when you cease
To hope
There is nothing
Nothing left
But a shell
Of a disappointment
That you
Can never
Fill

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