How tough ?

Night owls, early birds tough

Never quite enough tough

Planning grind and wine tough

Searching for more time tough

4000 words, five days tough

Cancelled mothers days tough

Sleepy drives home tough

Trying not to moan tough

Take away for tea tough

Living waits for me tough

Work-a-way dreams tough

Ripping at the seams tough

Observation fears tough

Need another beer tough

Nearly had enough tough

Made of tougher stuff

The Painting

He hangs a painting
representing reality, in blue.
Obscuring insanity,
an ever deepening crack
beneath the frame,
a story obscuring the remains
of what he used to be,
hiding - afraid
of responsibility,
he lives, a painted story,
obscuring the cracks
of reality.