Next Time Poem by John Sensele

Next time, solitude to slay
Next time, truth to treasure
Lest happiness ubris should waylay
To curtail and cleave your measure of pleasure.

Next time, sanity to salvage
Next time, sobriety to save
Lest bikini bondage should emerge
To ride and romp on a wicked wave.

Next time, kisses to consume
Next time, invest not in haste
Lest disappointment and despair should resume
To run the risk of reaping worthless waste.

Next time, children to cherish
Next time, roses to render
Lest endearments should diminish
To run the risk of slavish surrender to a soul spender.

Next time, thoughts to thrash
Next time, platitudes to prune
Lest the future should slash and crash
To jeorpardize justice and joy due to June.

Next time, romance to revel
Next time, moderation to measure
Lest ridicule should grovel
To limit the leeway and lullaby of leisure.

Next time, equality to elevate
Next time, recriminations to resolve
Lest dissension and despair should aggravate
As room for reunion should disintegrate and dissolve.

Next time, odium to ostracize
Next time, conscience to cultivate
Lest connivance and controversy incumbents should authorize
As whistle-blowers should shut down their grapevine gate.

Next time, ego-tripping to evince
Next time, altruism to ameliorate
Lest perdition and perfidy you should convince
For your future to deteriorate and obliterate.

Next time, dissension to deliver
Next time, ascension to amity to accommodate
Lest bright prospects should quiver
As limpid loyalty you should lacerate and liquidate.