Ecclesiastes 2:22 

Painful Days and Restless Nights

22 What does a man acquire from all his labor
and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

Endless

An empty glass that I passed ... stares into my face

in the middle of what appears ... an array of clutter.

Ready for use by a recluse ... still in a daze

in search for needed fear ... to stay down in the gutter.

“I don’t need anyone” ... the last words of a fool.

“I can work it out” ... his cry in a losing battle.

Grasping for weapons ... already in use by others

retreating on the same old path ... that makes him shake and rattle.

After the day is done ... he crawls into his bed

so the darkness will hide ... the failures of the day.

Waking in the morning ... already defeated

by the unknown encounter ... that he hides through work and play.

Jan Wienen