“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
sadly, we understand
to be cautious of this beauty
nothing good ever came from nothing
sparkling firelight fanned
mesmerised by the smoky whispers
promises left strewn across a busy cemetery
sifting through the sand
for a rune to recognise consolation
in a sashaying skirt, wandering in traffic
where those memories still linger
you may find us, gin-soaked, waiting
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Only the freshest flesh will do. The cherubic breast, falling out of her pretty dress. She’ll burn her softened thigh on his hot exhaust. Her oiled streaked Gucci, a story she cannot wash clean. She’ll get what she wants and regret what she gets. That’s the rough draft scratched with dead desires. She got into trouble and nobody helped her because people love to see a pretty girl fail.
“She’ll get what she wants and regret what she gets” is lifted from Susan Hyland (according to the link I kept) and “the rough draft scratched with dead desires” from Between Two Rivers by Chris.
“his hot exhaust” is not a euphemism (except that it is). In motorbike cultures, girls, sitting on the back of their boyfriends’ modified bikes, are often left with exhaust burn marks on their legs.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
The following is a letter from May 02, 2026, delivered from the past by FutureMe
Dear FutureMe,
Here you are again, a couple of days before the new semester starts and a big change to your routine from past years, with Amy now running Heaven Burger. You feel comfortable and confident for the future.
The last month has been a whirlwind but you have forced yourself to read a lot of small articles from The Daily Stoic, which generally have kept many upsetting thoughts in check.
The main thing that you are trying to manage is your new work schedule and once again having to struggle with teaching the juniors. You would like to push back on this but also want to accept this test yet again.
There is probably lots more going on in your head but everything feels low stress and generally positive. Keep going Shaun!
i look forward to getting home
after a day of fun and laughter.
things get a weird kind of serious
as i watch reel after reel of supposed
news. until i realise I'm watching
a clown show and it's all back to
hijinks and japes. the clowns they
just keep on coming, they tickle
me with their stupidity.
long may they continue to reign.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
While wordifying our wounds
Thoughts congeal when bleeding
As the gathered crowd communes
The time for action is in deeding
Shared with dVerse – verbing
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Transcripts glow like neon; skill hides in a shadowy hall.
Grade-point halos polish myths, yet within the basics stall.
GPAs float like helium, tied to nothing firm,
while rounding to the hundred is now a mystery term.
Shuffling a system to drift through a soft parade of A’s,
a cargo cult of “equity” that’s built from empty praise.
Dressed up best on paper has now become the story sold,
but beyond all that glitters here, cannot become the gold.
Inspired by this article at The Argument about how schools are fudging grades for students, for a number of different reasons, with the result of a decline in the standard of education.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
2 a.m.
and that cat
is crying again
fed just thirty minutes ago
apparently
not enough
my brain is soggy
my feet are slurring
another spoonful
in the bowl
and back to bed
into lucid dreams
and erratic thinking
the universe is revealed
to me
of course
we’ve got it
all wrong
the universe
is inside out
and the earth
is all around
the edges
and the centre
of the universe
is in the middle
time and space
behave differently
as you go closer
towards the centre
under the earth
there is nothing
but hell
the more we move
towards the middle
the closer to god
we get
having this
almost fully formed
and ready to submit
to science
the cat cries again
at the end of the bed
for fuck’s sake!
A true story, as we nursed our old, sick cat back to health a couple of weeks ago, making sure that he ate whenever he wanted.
Shared with dVerse Poetics – irreverence
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Ah, teenagers!
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
At the Emperor's extreme extravaganza
peasant participation is prohibited;
a primal pissing contest fantasy
of the fragile currencies exhibited;
Youth, beauty and cash flaunted;
ego boosters for mediocre men
parading really hot regular girls
and their pretty privilege again;
Free champagne will tomorrow remind
the terrible company kept;
all the cab fares, bought and sold
until under the carpet swept.
Inspired by steph’s ‘the hot girl economy’ article and comments
Today’s Daily Stoic poem
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
From a safe, soft couch with the television on,
they blessed the wreckage with the sign of the cross;
Typed “thoughts and prayers”, hit post, job done,
they smelled no smoke, yet claimed the loss.
No call, no knocking with casseroles in hand,
just pixelated pity floating through their feeds;
Drowning in a sea they’ll never understand,
while they toss empty hope out as glorious deeds.
Inspired by Joe Nichols Substack write ‘Thoughts and Prayers, You Pitiful Bastards‘ (maybe requires subscription)
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
