In My Life - Baby Sister

In My Life - Baby Sister

There's this little lady
In my life.
She's shy.
She's compassionate.
And she's the strongest little girl
I've ever known,
Because she's living proof
That angels exist here on Earth.
I'm glad I have my baby sister
In my life.

In My Life - Little Brothers

In My Life - Little Brothers

There are these guys
In my life.
They're fun.
They're imaginative.
And they've made me proud
Of who they are and will be,
Because I love them and always will
As their creative minds continue to grow.
I'm glad I have my little brothers
In my life.

My Many Titles

My Many Titles

I came into the world
A son
A grandson
A nephew, cousin, and little brother

I grew to become
A big brother
A friend
A crazy little kid you couldn't shut up

I grew further still and became
A president
A friend for life
A young man determined to do what was right

With a little more growth I became
An Anteater
A graduate
A student of the educational arts

Shortly there after I grew a bit more
A student teacher
Then teacher
A coach, colleague, and adult, crazy right?

It took so much more
Than just time or luck
No, it took a patient pair of people
To believe that their baby boy
Could be more

So here I am now
An educator
A writer
Uncle Ben

In My Life - Mom

In My Life - Mom
There's this woman
In my life.
She's kind.
She's devoted.
And you can always count on her
To be the rock upon which our family holds together,
Because she loves us
More than words can describe.
I'm glad I have my Mom
In my life.

In My Life - Dad

In My Life - Dad
There's this man
In my life.
He's strong.
He's smart.
And every now and then
You might just see him cry,
Because he loves
With all of his heart.
I'm glad I have my Dad
In my life.

In My Life - Big Brother

In My Life - Big Brother
There's this guy
In my life.
He's cool.
He's protective.
And he always was my friend
Even on the days I didn't deserve a friend,
Because he loves me enough
To protect me from myself and my bad ideas.
I'm glad I have my big brother
In my life.

Genuine Gratitude

November, a time to give thanks.  Now, while I may agree that gratitude should be a year round emotion, I don't think it hurts to remind everyone how important it is with a festive day of family, friends, love, and happiness.  I have lived a fortunate life with so many wonderful people who love me.  Some of those people even go so far as to love me unconditionally.  Taking a moment to step back and really look at what that means puts a person in a world made purely of perspective.  You begin to realize what it is you mean to all those different people in your life that mean so much to you; you find a sense of appreciation for the difference you make and how that difference is made in so many different, wonderful ways.  With this mentality I'm stepping up and challenging everyone to jot down at least one poem of gratitude.  I'll be putting together a series of them that will come out throughout the month and I've provided a template with instructions below to help get you started.  I mean it when I say I challenge you, but to be honest I mean to be supportive.  So, I guess that means it's more like I strongly encourage you to not just write your Gratitude Poem, but to appreciate what it represents and, more importantly, appreciate your own importance in the lives of others.  Show those people who love you, who couldn't imagine their lives without you, just how much you love them.

Line 1 - There's this/There are these (depending on whether or not this poem is about one person or a group of people) ________________________ (For this blank try using a non-specific noun such as man, woman, guy, gal, etc.)
Line 2 - In my life.
Line 3 - (He's, She's, They're) __________________ (For this blank use a descriptor for the person or persons you made reference to in the first line)
Line 4 - (He's, She's, They're) __________________ (Now do what you just did in the last line again, but with a different descriptor.
Line 5 - And ____________________ (Something specific about who they are, something special that you will always be able to remember about this person or persons, but don't complete the sentence in this line)
Line 6 - (Continue the sentence you started in Line 5 in this line)
Line 7 - Because __________________ (Explain why you can always expect this person to have that quality about them you described in Lines 5 and 6, but don't finish your sentence in this line)
Line 8 - (Finish the explanation you started in Line 7 and at the same time you will be completing the sentence you started in Line 5 in this line)
Line 9 - I'm glad I have ________________ (this is where you clearly identify whoever it is this poem is about)
Line 10 - In my life.

And there you have it.  In ten quick lines you could express just how important a person or persons in your life are to you.  I left the one I made for my older brother below, so that you have an example of what a completed one looks like.  If you're still confused and want some help, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post and I'll get back to you.  I would very much like to see this spread.  I mean, so many meaningless things start trending and I strongly believe that those kinds of things contribute to our loss of perspective, our loss for what actually matters.  This isn't about me or my poetry; this is about showing some genuine gratitude.  Happy writing :-)

Big Brother
There's this guy
In my life.
He's cool.
He's protective.
And he always was my friend
Even on the days I didn't deserve a friend,
Because he loves me enough
To protect me from myself and my bad ideas.
I'm glad I have my big brother
In my life.

Cycles

Cycles

A son asks his mother

Who?

The mother responds

Somebody.

A son asks his mother

What?

The mother responds

Something.

A son asks his mother

Where?

The mother responds

Somewhere.

A son asks his mother

When?

The mother responds

Eventually.

A son asks his mother

Why?

The mother responds

Because.

The son grows up

Has a daughter

And for his princess

He has no answers

Ignorance breeding

Ignorance

Sarcastically, we call

For parental prerequisites

But who would have

The answers?

How far back does it go?

Who first said no to the know?

Who is it we blame?

How long has it been the same?

More questions

With fewer answers

So, in our confusion

Our frustration

Repression and regression

We point our fingers

Direct our rage

In our misguided odyssey

For answers, for clarity

Another generation

Falls to the wayside

So let's stop with the blame

Let's cease with spreading shame

And instead seek our answers

While guided by the right reasons

For the sake of saving the next generation

To break the cycle

Let us progress with a healing intention

Remove blame from our perception

Influence of the Mind

Influence of the Mind

You're shit!
You're fucking shit!
Worthless fucking shit!
Shit!Shit!Shit!

These are the thoughts
That run through
A child's mind
And a child's mind
Is a network of thoughts
Placed there by others

No child is born
With a negative perception
Of themselves
Those thoughts are placed there
By others

Blame the TV
Blame the video games
Blame Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr
But none of this changes
The truth

A child's mind isn't solely open
To a world of negativity
Of deconstruction and pain
A child's mind is completely open

Completely

So where is the light?
Where are the kind words?
Where is the constructive criticism?
Where is the support?

Where is the love?

Pour into these broken children
And nurture their dreams

Forever

Forever

A word
so strong
so intense

A word
of great
potential

This word
my friends
This word

Brings pain
Lifts spirits
Removes hope
Gives faith

This word
has multiple effects
But one
constant

This word
is a promise

A Broken Heart, A Shattered Mind

A Broken Heart, A Shattered Mind
The scars of my heart take their tole
Moan and gash through to my soul

My eyes can find no light
In the shroud of the night

My ears hear no song
They have not worked for oh so long

My nose can smell no flowers
Nor the might and beauty of those April showers

My tongue can taste nothing
Not even the sweetest sweets can end my suffering

My hands can feel no one
How I miss the heat of the sun

You've left me senseless
So terribly hopeless

Temptress

Temptress
Fall to your knees
Beg me please
Fighting your charm
Is what I do best

Take your dance
Take your show
Only you could sink so low

I'm not here for you
I'm here for what's mine
You owe me for two
Two lifeless lifetimes

I suffered and fell
You ignored all I had to tell
So this I have for you
You will suffer through and through

No More

No More
No longer does my heart
Beat for another.
No longer do I share
The joys and sorrows of another.
I love no more.

My tears shower the heavens
And as the angels writhe
In the despair of my tears.
They will feel ashamed
For not guarding my love,
keeping it protected.

When heaven's clouds clear
And I stand tall
I will have my revenge
Only then, shall I fall.

The Balance Between Emotion and Imagination

It's not an original statement, but the fact is that writers are driven, guided, and tempered by their emotions.  It's our thoughts that construct the ideas, yes, but it's our emotions that put the pen to page and bring the literature's statement to life.  Sometimes, however, it's possible and even preferable to have a moment of imagination.  To tap into the well of imagination to try and express emotions that as a writer one has not yet personally experienced is an essential skill to develop.  It takes courage, yes, because we have to be willing to risk showing your misunderstanding of the subject.  It takes humility, because we have to be prepared to face our misunderstandings and listen to constructive feedback from those with a greater understanding of and/or personal experience with the subject.  I am fortunate that while I have dealt with anger, pain, sorrow, I have never been hurt in such a way by a romantic interest that my anger is aimed at them.  Yes, I am grateful to say that I have been spared the kind of betrayal that would turn one's anger against a former love interest.  Therefore, when I look back at the three poems that are soon to be posted ("A Broken Heart, A Shattered Mind," "Temptress," "No More") I realize that at the time I wrote them, I was most definitely using my imagination.  I am especially certain of this because I wrote each of these while still in high school and as some of you may know, my heart was broken only weeks ago.  Furthermore, when the aforementioned heartbreak occurred I was left with no anger or resentment.  In fact, I was left with a deep respect for the person.  So, as much as I wanted to explain an essential part to the writing process, I also wanted to make it very clear that these poems are not aimed at any actual person.  The three poems mentioned in this post are indeed poems of the imagination, an expression through experimentation and analysis of unfamiliar emotions.

A Poet's Possession

A Poet's Possession
I weep ink
I bleed ink
I speak ink
I hear ink

I sweat ink
Beading from my whole person
I scream ink
As it fills my desperate lungs

I weep ink
And
It's with these tears
That the page
Is watered
With my passion,
Sorrow, and soul

I bleed ink
And
It's with this blood
That the page
Is stained
With me
All of me

I speak ink
And
It's with these sounds
That their ears
Are ringing
With my words
Their message

I hear ink
And
It's with that call
That the poem
Is formed
From my heart
My honesty

My vulnerability

Ah, at times
My own words perplex me
Ink is not a language
To be mastered
Ink is a language
To be loved

One's devotion to the truth
Will be rewarded
With ink's influence
Flowing from one's pen

A Battle Fit for Legend

A Battle Fit for Legend

Two weapons drawn
Two weapons clash

One weapon falls
One weapon rises

One weapon falls
One weapon buries

One weapon rises
One weapon stains

One weapon scars

Angel's Blessing

Angel's Blessing

I've never felt so far from alive
Trying so hard simply to survive
To exist in the angel's blessing on high
Too proud, too vain, too often I lie
Shame has fallen upon my try
I have failed, utterly failed to survive
Only with the angel's blessing
Will I revive.

You Saved Me

You Saved Me

You came!
You saw!
And you saved me

From the weight on my shoulders
From the pain in my heart
From the scars on my soul
You saved me, you saved me

My life, everyday
It all just seemed the same
Forgotten from time
No place in history

I faded from the densest crowds
Just to find myself
Alone and afraid!

You came!
You saw!
And you saved me

From the weight on my shoulders
From the pain in my heart
From the scars on my soul
You saved me, you saved me

I fall in and out of these places
Knowing no one
Seeing no faces
I feel my heart beat so lazy
I feel my mind going crazy
I fall to my knees!

You came!
You saw!
And you saved me

From the weight on my shoulders
From the pain in my heart
From the scars on my soul
You saved me, you saved me

Now I'm on a mission
My story to be told
To those faceless crowds,
But you know them by name
Each of their souls

My story may be similar
To pain felt in the past
But now I'm here to tell my tale
To let these people know

You came!
You saw!
And you saved me

From the weight on my shoulders
From the pain in my heart
From the scars on my soul
You saved me, you saved me

You saved me, you saved me

You saved me, you saved me

You saved me

My Textbook, My Only

My Textbook, My Only

Read, read, read...

Memorize, memorize, memorize...

Read, read, read again...

Memorize, memorize, memorize some more...

Read, read, read once again...

Memorize, memorize, memorize it all...

Three times I had to learn
the same thing.
Three times I went to the same school
The people just got bigger is all

I Read
I Memorize
I Pass
I Forget

Repeat.

A Simple Promise

A Simple Promise

To explain a lover's spirit
Would be a lecture
In pain, a pain
Inferior to the might
And ferocity of true love

For a lover's pain is real
A reality that can only be felt
When one feels
For the sake of their sanity
And all that matters
In the eyes of another

It's in those eyes
That one sees
What it's meant to be free
Of the shackles of loneliness
Of the fear, of the greed
For one no longer believes
That they are their own
Most important person

So they stand
Beside, next to, in support
Of the one person
The one person who is
That most important person
And will forever be

This is when the knees ache
The ankles break
The back creaks
And the mind seeks
To find the strength
To Overcome

For a lover's pain is real
And it's in this most
Important person
That a lover's strength
Overcomes

For there is no challenge
No trial or tribulation
That could hope to withstand
The power of true love
A power so great and yet so simple
That one could hold it
In the palm of their hand

So long as that hand
Is joined with another's
Two hands forming a bond
The strongest bond

I love you
And I promise
To hold your hand

Where I Stand

Where I Stand

This is where I stand
Not in judgment
Not in isolation

This is where I stand
With my own two legs
Upon my own two feet

This is where I stand
With no one below me
But everyone around me

Everyone I've loved
Everyone I've cared about
Everyone who has loved me
Everyone, except one

The one I believed
To be the one
This one is nowhere to be seen
This one is not so much
As remembered

In this one's place
Are the lessons learned
The growth
The development
But not this one

For I cannot stand
So long as this one
Is ever more again
Than a lesson

This one's eyes
Hair, smile, and charm
All lost to the shadows
Of my scars

It's the scars
That teach me
It's the scars
That stand beside me

The scars
Not her.

Where I Am

Where I Am

Forever trapped in a void
Eternal light floods my senses
To find a path means to lose
My hands stretch for the light
It is too far
It will forever be too far.

Tomorrow Is Mine

Tomorrow Is Mine

We will not be ruled by the greedy corrupted
We will not fall to the failed construction

No

No, they say that land is the only thing
The only thing they aren't making more of

No

No, that ain't true cuz you can see it
All around more land is made
Made for us to bury our heads
Cuz that's where they want'em

No

No, we will not stick our heads in the ground
The ground they polluted with their lies and deceit
They have no plan that doesn't keep them on top
On top and in charge while we go nowhere

No

No, they have no faith in us
They have no interest in us
They are cowards on the throne
We are the brave they steal from

No

No, they will not give us the chance
The chance to fix their mistakes
Instead they will go on blaming us, accusing us
Accusing us of being apathetic and ignorant

No

No, we are not ignorant just because we are young
They are not wise just because they are old
Wisdom is gained from experience
Experience is nothing if time is wasted

No

No, they have not done anything worth calling experience
But they continue to insist we have none
But we have experienced their cruelty, their cowardice,
Their ineptitude, inability, and sheer stupidity

No

No, they are not smart just because they are old
We are not dumb just because we are young
We have minds, we use them, we think, we see, we grow
We know enough to know when a person does a bad job

Yes

Yes, we can tell when the self-proclaimed capable
When they prove to be anything but
The have failed and they aim to blame us
We can succeed where they have failed, but they will never admit

Yes

Yes, they will never admit that we could do a better job
They want us to need them, to believe such blasphemy
The wrong people get paid for doing a terrible job
While we don't get paid at all because there are no jobs for us

Yes

Yes, their inability leads us to need them
But only because they have poisoned this land
With the division of the people
With a battle for power in which only we suffer

Yes

Yes, they have no interest in doing their jobs
They have every intention of cashing in their paycheck
But they will never earn it
We pay them for a job not done, because they make the rules

Yes

Yes, they make the rules, but we will break them
They will try and keep us down
Keep us down with their red tape and insults
We are not helpless, we don't need them

I

I am part of something special
Something new
Something strong
Something smart
Something real
Something unstoppable

Something greater

All these things
And that's why we don't need them
That's why it's time
It's time for us to take control over our own fates
Our destiny is ours to control
They will not like us for refusing their lies
They will punish us for finding our independence
But we will find it

They

They cannot stop us and we will come at them
They have no chance and we will not relent
They have no fire and we will burn
They have no faith and we believe in one another

Those

They are not those we care for
Those that loved us unconditionally
Those that raised us and cared for us
Those are the people we fight to repay
We will give those all the things they didn't
We know that it's not because they couldn't
No, they decided they wouldn't
We love those and will free those from them

We

We are united
We are brothers and sisters
We are the very best of friends
We are lovers
We are forever, till the very end
We are the revolution
We are young

We
Are
Young

The Quiet King

The Quiet King

The rubies resonate,
The sapphires shimmer,
The turquoise twinkles,
On the quiet king's crown.

Bearded ear to ear.
Bald, hidden by the crown.
Eyes so dark,
They pierce the night sky.

He raises his scepter.
He raises it high.
He points it forward.
He points it straight ahead.

A holler!
A scream!
A cheer!

Today's the day.
The day it comes to an end.
The king has issued the order.
The quiet king with an order heard.

An order heard by all.
The quiet king orders his kingdom.

The Pain of Beauty

The Pain of Beauty

Her beauty speaks to me in a whisper.
So quiet, so perfect, beyond melody's compare.
Stories to tell, endless journeys.
From beginning to end, I listen intently.

Shadows close in seeking to silence.
The flood of pure light in her eyes rages.
The shadows drown in seconds.
All that's left are those eyes, they are crying.

The Faintest Plea

The Faintest Plea

We strike tomorrow.
Our fate is sealed.
My wife and children pray.
For me, for my safety.

Restless in the barracks reserve.
My legs tremble.
Certainly from fear.
I'm not excited at all.

My bed creaks,
Mimicking my moans.
My whole body aches from anxiety,
I feel as though there is no air.

No air,
Nothing to breathe.
What's the point?
It's tainted by sin anyway.

Sin flows through the airless sky.
It fills our lungs,
And clouds my eyes.
Sin will win this war, a sole survivor.

Thanks Dad

Thanks Dad

Thank you Dad for your support.
Thank you Dad on and off the court.

Thank you Dad for your smile.
Thank you Dad for each and every mile.

Thank you Dad for the years.
Thank you Dad for those silent tears.

Thank you Dad for all that you've done.
Thank you Dad for being the one.

Thank you Dad, thank you.

Speak to Me

Speak to Me

With sounds,
With gestures,
With a little of both.

With frowns,
With stature,
With a little of both.

Speak to me,
Any way you can.
I'm dying to listen,
Your biggest fan.

She Blushes

She Blushes

She blushes
Awe, she blushes

The snow white complexion fades
The rose red floods her face

She blushes
Awe, she blushes

As her ivory innocence disappears
Her fiery passion finds its way here

She blushes
Awe, she blushes

From end to end
Her smile glistens

She blushes
Awe, she blushes

A figure shaped as a Goddess
My eyes must focus to remain honest

She blushes
Awe, she blushes

My name, she whispers
Her name, I will keep forever

I blush
Awe, she makes me blush

Out of Time

Out of Time

Intoxication, Intimidation
My mind races to find my reasons

Frightfully, Eagerly
No end to these endless seasons

Tomorrow, Sorrow
Please I beg send out the beacons

Torture, Pain, Suffering...
Meaningless words of meaningless measure

Sparkle, Glitter, Shimmer...
Like a pirate obsessed with treasure

Sing to me dear mind,
Please tell me how to make her mine.

Ninja

Ninja

From the shadow come the kunai.
With perfect direction they pierce the sky.
A kill so quick you hear no cry.
Despite success there is no sigh.

Move on to the next target.
So fast they won't be ready for it.
They are the darkness swift with wit.
There's the target playing with a trinket.

To the highest bidder their services go.
Do not hesitate, throw, throw.
The target falls dead and it will never know.
It will never know what it means to grow.

My One and Only Hero is Dead

My One and Only Hero is Dead

Today will forever be remembered.
For what, most do not recall.
They simply know to stand straight and tall.
With respect, heads bowed, eyes closed, for the fallen.

My hero died yesterday.
My hero is buried today.
My hero will never again save.
A forced retirement, so naive.

Never again shall I look to the skies.
The horizon is out of reach.
Beneath me, my feet sink.
The air, it's filled with sin, can't breathe.

If my hero were only here.
He could show us all the way.
He could make it all so clear.

But he can't,
Because he's dead.

My one and only hero is dead.

My Mama Prays

My Mama Prays

Hiya Mama, how was your day?
Fine, was yours the same way?
It was cool.
How was school?
Nothing special, same old stuff.
I'm glad it's not too tough.

Did you pray this morning?
Nah, it's just too boring.
But you talk so much.
What does that have to do with such?
Prayer is simply a conversation.
It feels more like a guilty confession.

Lord forgive me for being evil.
You shouldn't be so cynical.
We're not worth his time.
He's as much yours as he is mine.
I don't understand.
He listens when I place hand to hand.

God is of mercy.
Is that a certainty?
God is of wisdom.
Can't compete with him?

Mama, did you pray?
Proudly, yet humbly I must say.
What are you proud of?
I prayed to the one above.
What are you humble for?
I was granted access through his door.

Mama you are strange.
My soul is saved all the same.
How'd you save it?
Simply, it took no wit.

I knelt, I prayed.
I know, you've said.
Well listen and learn.
Ma, it's not my turn.

We all die in the end.
Wow, Mom, nice and morbid.

So did you pray for me?
Of course, don't be silly.
Why did you pray for me?
I love you sincerely.

To be honest son, I'm scared.
What could possibly put you in dread?
I want to watch over you from heaven.
Well, Ma, you will, just keep prayin.
I want to reunite with you in heaven.
In that case, I better get to knealin.
Don't just do it for me son.
For sure, thanks Mom.

Music

Music

She sat down and she played me a song.
She strummed her strings.
She let out her voice.
Together they made beauty, blessed beauty.

A song so pure, so full of all that is and will ever be.
So beautiful, the notes will shed tears of triumph and woe.

Music will scream out,
"Lord you have blessed me with ears
to hear the blessings of life.
You have given me tone
to feel the meaning of life.
Most importantly,
you gave blessings
to those who give me life."

She stood up and went on her way.
Her mystery peerless
with exception to the beauty of music.
Her song will forever be a part of me
and all that I find beautiful.

Mountain Man

Mountain Man

"You sir, yes you sir!"
He charges at me dressed in fur.

"Do you know what day it is?"
He smells of bad eggs and piss.

"Yes sir, indeed I do."
He's soaked with mud through and through.

"I've been lost in the mountains for so long!"
I dare not question him, he couldn't be wrong.

"Well sir, today is the second."
He asks me it is the weekend.

"No sir, the weekend is over by two days now."
His face sunk, as sad as rain clouds.

"My family, every weekend, goes on a picnic in the park."
As he reminisced, the sun went down, the sky became dark.

"Do you have a place to stay for the night?"
He stood up straight and he looked filled with might.

"No sir, I've decided."
I reassure that he's been invited.

"No sir, no, I can't hide anymore."
Understanding this mountain man is a real chore.

"I thought you were lost."
He explained his cost was his own.

"It was my fault that I ended up in the mountain all this time."
My wife is gonna kill me; I've got a ways to get home, and dinners at nine.

"One day I ran away from home afraid of losing my fortune."
This mountain man can really narrate, I tell you.

"Three days later I returned ashamed."
Apparently, his family had already moved here to Maine.

"They live with her mother now."
He speaks of her in spire, calling her a cow.

"I hurried her to apologize."
Yep, no doubt, my wife is going to rip out my eyes.

"I couldn't work up the courage to approach them."
Tick-tock, tick-tock, I'll probably get home at ten.

"Instead I could only admire them from afar."
I imagined my tongue in a jar.

"However, I needed a place to stay and I had no money."
Please, oh please, shut up!  I thought, or I own't get any honey.

"I ran away into the mountains and worked tirelessly on my cabin."
I have to end this conversation now, I can't let this happen.

"Unfortunately, after regaining my strength I forgot how to get back down."
My wife, waiting, ready to beat me silly, wearing only a nightgown.

"Now I must return to my cabin."
He's decided he doesn't deserve to try again.

"Thank you for listening, I appreciate it."
My wife, dear God, the fire is lit.

"Wait!" I cry as he turns away.
He tells me that he really can't stay.

"Is there room in your cabin for two?
He laughs, surprisingly it sounds like a baby's coo.

It's Coming

It’s Coming

An angel appears

She sings

A song of judgment

Heard by all, no exception.

As the souls of the fallen faithful rise,

So too do the souls escape from those still alive.

It has begun my friends.

Pray for forgiveness, yourself and one another.

Till the end, my friends

Till the very end.

If Only You Knew

If Only You Knew

If only you knew how hard I tried

To put all of my faith in one who lied.

Pushing headstrong

Into a world where I didn’t belong.

If only you knew

If only you knew

How hard I tried to love you.

Gratitude

Gratitude

The graciousness of your poetry

Matched only by your divinity

Such abstraction of reality

Your words paint serenity

I pray the fates grant you mercy

Your rhyme must have longevity

Thanks to you truly
For all that you've done for me

Frailty and Fury

Frailty and Fury

Torn by wind.

Scorned by heat.

Drowned by rain.

The frailty of the flower is exposed,

It gives in to its weakness as it dies.

Soars like the phoenix.

Shines through the sun.

Drinks the water whole.

The fury of the flower is exposed,

It gives in to its fury and conquers.

Eye

Eye

I’m alone!  I’m alone!

And I don’t know

If I can make it through

This puzzling pain!

And I know, yes I know!

The shards of my heart,

They pass through the eye of the needle,

And straight into the eye of the storm!

Tomorrow will come,

And I still won’t know.

Is it worth it, Do I stand up?

Do I take my steps forward?

I can see my fear,

I can see it tear,

At my eyes, they’re burning!

Colorblind

Colorblind

 

The scarlet rose

Engulfed by the whitest snow

Basks in the yellow sunshine

The emerald petals shimmer

As the cocoa ground drinks

The black shadows soar

Through the turquoise sky

Their citrus beaks pluck

The crimson rose grays

The purple eggs hatch

The pink worm wiggles

The ruby curtains close.

Christianity?

Christianity?

Making my way up.

No way down.

You’re my one and only savior.

Lord, you wore the crown.

I find peace in you,

And you promised me too.

Lord you’re the one…

My reason for Christianity!

Born into the church.

My faith force-fed.

They shoveled it all.

All into my head!

Making my way up.

No way down.

You’re my one and only savior.

Lord, you wore the crown.

I find peace in you,

And you promised me too.

Lord you’re the one…

My reason for Christianity!

Baptized in lies.

My sins couldn’t fade away.

Wash me Lord.

Bathe me in truth.

I shut my eyes.

Pray for a small prize.

I open them up and receive…

Nothing!  Nothing at all!

Making my way up.

No way down.

You’re my one and only savior.

Lord, you wore the crown.

I find piece in you,

And you promised me too.

Lord you’re the one…

My reason for Christianity!

On my own…

I’ll find you Lord.

On… my… own…

Another Game of Hide and Seek

Another Game of Hide and Seek

In the darkness you will find me there.

In the darkness I will be.

A place familiar,

A place similar,

The least bit peculiar.

There you will find me,

In the darkness I’ll be there.

You will find me,

Our game will end.

Forever in the darkness,

Our game will end.

Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

Search the darkness

No light to be found

I see you frowning

Despite the darkness overwhelming

Searching high and low

You’re frown steadily grows

You give up

I shout

You turn

I frown

You’ve found me

Or is it I who found you

All Over Again

All Over Again

We've done this song and dance before.

You left my heart bleeding on the floor.

One step, Two step

Like swans we grace across the polished ground.

Three step, Four step

With our eyes blind we rely on the passionate sound.

The maestro knows our faces.

We rush, "Take your places!"

One step, Two step

The music so familiar.

Three step, Four step

"Don't be shy now, embrace one another!"

Your friends at the left calling your name.

My friends on the right doing the same.

One step, two step

The distance between us grows.

Three step, Four step

The fear in my eyes shows.

We've arrived at our separate worlds.

I'm with the boys, you're with the girls.

One step, Two step

"She's quite the looker man."

Three step, Four step

"Ah, he's just another member of the boy clan."

I fight for a deeper interest.

You fight for a unique difference.

One step, Two step

You're so much more than a perfect beauty.

Three step, Four step

You look past my friends, at me.

Laughs, pretentious laughs fill both our ears.

Ashamed of their ignorance we fight back tears.

One step, Two step

We come to a dramatic realization.

Three step, Four step

Our friends created the separation.

When we did this same dance before.

Our friends shook us down to the core.

One step, Two step

We can't let them do it again.

Three step, Four step

The music, it sweeps our feet like living wind.

The music leads us to our decision.

We return to the dance floor without restriction.

One step, Two step

Our friends look on confused.

Three step, Four step

We embrace and smile amused.

We dance the same dance all over again

This time we will judge our performance

Not her.

Not him.

All for Nothing, Nothing for All

All for Nothing, Nothing for All

I’ll go through the motions,

I’ll let the river take me,

I’ll let the tide decide,

I’ll leave it all in the hands of fate.

Why?  I don’t know,

Or maybe I don’t care,

Maybe I don’t know if I can care.

I’ll sit down and shut up,

I’ll lie back and give in,

I’ll stand by and surrender,

I’ll kneel to the power of destiny.

Why?  Don’t ask me,

I’m just letting go,

I’m letting go of all control.

A Potter's Hands

A Potter’s Hands

Do you see it?

I can see it plain and clear.

Do you see it?

No not there, but here.

Do you see it?

The potter left his signature.

Do you see it?

Just like the painter’s picture.

Do you see it?

It’s right there, four and one.

Do you see it?
There again, four and one.