2nd Annual Cyberspace Poetry Reading and a Meme

Today is the 2nd Annual Cyberspace Poetry Reading, and here's mine:

Ophelia
Tiny fragments of my soul perform alone upon the stage
As I hide in the wings, peeking out for the critics' reviews
Unblinded by the lights, I can see their empty faces
Unsure how to take this angry girl or her bitter views

Lashing out at the world in general
Or maybe just you in particular
When the words fail her message
It takes a form gesticular

It was a classic case of Ophelia drowning
She saw the faces around her frowning
Her emotion - it was too raw
It made them uncomfortable, what they saw

"Emotional, unstable," they said
Rendering her artistic presence dead
"Not developed, too wild," they cried
But she had to let out what was inside

Lashing out at the man who hurt her
Just one in particular
His ears closed to her message
She tries switching vernacular

The songs come out of her unbidden
Pouring out of emotions once hidden
He's shocked at her angry voice
He doesn't understand her choice

Cutting him out would be so much better
It's her decision, but he won't let her
Clinging to a love now dead
The critics all turn their heads

Lashing out at all her friends
Hoping she'll calm when it all ends
Ending relationships feels like death
But when it's done, you know it's best

And as spotted on Good Yarns:

You Know You're From California When...
The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway.
You were born somewhere else.
You know how to eat an artichoke.
The primary bugs that you worry about are electronic.
Your car has bullet-proof windows.
Left is right and right is wrong.
Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income.
You can't find your other earring because your son is wearing it.
You drive to your neighborhood block party.
Your family tree contains "significant others."
You don't exterminate your roaches, you smoke them.
You see 25 lawyers chasing an ambulance.
More than clothes come out of the closets.
You go to a tanning salon before going to the beach.
More money is spent on facelifts than on diapers.
Smoking in your office is not optional.
You pack shorts and a T-shirt for skiing in the snow, and a sweater and a wetsuit for the beach. When you can't schedule a meeting because you must "do lunch."
Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks.
Rainstorms or thunder are the lead story for the local news.
You'll reluctantly miss yoga class to wait for the hot tub repairman.
You consult your horoscope before planning your day.
A glass has been reserved for you at your favorite winery.
All highways into the state say: "no fruits."
All highways out of the state say: "Go back."
The Terminator is your governor
You can't remember . . . is pot illegal?
It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH"

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California.