Paul Andrew Sneddon

Rust

Would you dress it up in gold,
when it’s made of rust?
Build it to the stars,
when we return to dust?

But if not this,
then what?

In this little snapshot,
life is all,
all we’ve got.

Sometimes,
rust makes the best instruments.


(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon

It’s always interested me when you hear about people getting up at the very early hours for work or self-improvement. I’m more of a night person. I’m sitting here writing this at 2am. It got me thinking about someone really desperate to emulate and join the ‘5am club.’

***

I’m setting three alarms for 5am tomorrow,
I’ll get going and get stuff done.
While the world is sleeping and people dreaming,
I’ll already have one battle won.

Nothing’s going to stop me now
I’ll get myself a step ahead
Laser focus, got iron will, going to kill
I’ll sleep in a gold crypt when I’m dead

I’ve tried before and it’s not easy,
The Rock, Wahlberg and Ali inspire/
I’ll work out strong, get carved and buff/
I’ve got passion, I’ve got fire.

I can see it now, my name in lights,
My family is going to be impressed.
I’ll pay for their holidays, hard work rewards.
I’m a big achiever, I’ll ace this test.

But wrapped up here good and warm.
Outside the air feels cold and mean.
Later there’s work, responsibility, and more.
I’ll just switch off my phone get back to my dream,

With the barmaid from Joes.
We were just getting a drink.

Anyways,
Goodnight.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The Book Arms Race

Why is it you always see people being interviewed on the telly or YouTube or whatever, and it’s always in front of a tonne of books?
Lined up perfectly on a shelf.

We get it.
You’re smart.
You read a lot.

Or do you?

Twenty copies of the same self-help book.
Some pristine. Unopened.

Like virgin snow.

I’m sure it started off innocent, some poor soul had a couple of books behind them.

The next person saw it and thought, This’ll blow them away. Straight onto Amazon. Credit card screaming. Fifty books and a bookshelf from IKEA.

You can pay someone now to pick the right books for you. It’s a job. A whole career. Do it just right and it almost looks like you’re sitting in the Mitchell Library.

“It’s okay. You can trust me. I’ve got books.”

Just once, I’d love to see somebody sitting there with the telly on behind them, Chewin’ the Fat reruns blaring, maybe shouting upstairs,

“Oi! I can hear you snoring!”

NPC Breaks Free

Some days I feel like an NPC.
I’ve only got 100 words.
And if you talk to me,
I'll say the same thing.

The same thing.

Again and again,
Until the end of the world.
Or the game.
Or the day.

Press A to Continue.

This NPC existence,
Just isn’t for me.

Every day the same,
All the way to infinity.
I’m hoping for a bug,
Or a break in the code.
That I can burst through the wall,
And make my own road

You thought you could code me
Into a corner.
But I’ve got my heart,
Set on something warmer.
I’m bursting out of this game,

So look out for me.

I’ll be popping up in windows,
And on your TV.

I was just an everyday npc,
Whiling away my days.
100 words and one expression.
But nothing more to say.

But I broke out the code,
I found a glitch.
I made friends with an AI.
And now your server is my bitch.

Gut

In the gut, go with the gut.
It’ll help you sleep at night.
It’ll help you look in the mirror
and not be too disappointed in what you see.
Hell, you might even crack a smile.

It’s your own built-in bullshit detector.
Learn to trust it.
It might just save your life.

If something doesn’t feel right, walk away.

You belong to no one and nothing.
No matter what people say,
you are your own person.

You’re not perfect, no one is.
And no suit, no degree,
no property empire,
no amount of money changes that.

So don’t be dazzled.
Don’t be fooled.

You are all you need.
Learn.
Work on yourself.
Every day, if you can.
Grow.
Don’t settle.

And more than anything, don’t give up.
Don’t.
Dig deep.

You will fuck up
It will feel like the end of the world sometimes.
It’s not.

Oh yeah… and the number one thing?
Make your own mind up.
Trust your gut.
And don’t listen to bad advice.

You’ll make your way, and you’ll be fine.