I wrote this poem circa 2012, about 13 years ago. I think Try is about reconciling the messiness of real life with the romantic idealism of one’s inner child. You might draw parallels between this poem and Richard Linklater’s trilogy of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight.

• Come, my darling sit with me,
• Where else would you want to be?
• It breaks my heart that I made you cry,
• But despite it all you know I try.

• You’ve been here in this room all day,
• All this time, just a touch away —
• But there is a wall between us now
• I’d break it down if I only knew how.

• Perhaps that teardrop left a trace
• As it slid down silent upon your face,
• A moment’s hurt, an agonized look —
• What price to give back what I took?

• My heart stood still as I saw your pain,
• Will anything ever be the same again?
• Maybe tomorrow will wash this clear,
• Maybe we don’t have to come back here?

I wrote this poem circa 2005, about 20 years ago. Normally, I wouldn’t care too much about something written ages ago, but I make an exception for poetry when it has continued to resonate with me at a deeper level. To me, each poem feels like an emotion that is frozen in time… The operative theme that I ascribe to Paranoia is ‘cynicism…but justified’.

• You think you know the way of the world,
• You build your castle of silver and gold,
• In your marble tower you proudly stand,
• And smile upon your kingdom, your land.

• It isn’t so, it isn’t so —
• You do not see the unseen foe,
• There is no stone to hold your fort,
• You have no gun, you have no moat.

• They have no need for dagger or gun,
• They come with hate, not joy, not fun,
• They come to pull you down to the earth,
• To snatch your joy and kill your mirth.

• They come, they come — do you not see?
• This is no place for you to be!
• Run my friend — find a safe spot!
• I shall keep them at bay, no matter what!

• I see you running, keep going, my friend —
• Safety you will find beyond the riverbend.
• Till then I will fight these monsters of hate,
• Fear not for me! Find haven and wait!

• Now that you’re gone, I cast off this mask —
• For indeed I am finished with my task.
• I climb up the tower, this kingdom is mine,
• The food is exquisite, and so is the wine.

• You ask why I lied, maledict me you may —
• You know the way of the world you say.
• When you saved your self, precious though it be,
• Why did you not stay — at least for me?