Flight

Flight

To the skies
To the skies

To join the winged singers
To dance with the feathered fighters
To gaze down in awe at the vastness

This is what it means
To take flight

Escaping From Into the Truth

Escaping From Into the Truth

Dreams are for dreamers
But I've always counted myself
Among the sleepy seekers
Of the truth found in the escape

So now, into the escape
So now, my understanding
So now:

I've had the time of my life
And I always knew
It would come down
To me and you
That it would come down
To the truth
So lay your cards down on the table
Stop playing the game
And just look at me

No more stories
No more analogies
No more hypotheticals

Just the truth

Wake me up
With the truth

Be the escape my dreams can only pretend to be

That Christmas Glow

That Christmas Glow

It's just not the same...
Not the same
As the rest of the year

Silent nights
And warm glowing lights
Rudolph's red nose
Lovers kissing beneath the mistletoe

Pine trees snow-sprinkled
Jingle bells jingle-jangled
Creating that infamous scene
Of sleigh ride glee

Our hearts stoke the fire
Our hopes give life to the choir
And someone, somewhere
Still believes in the magic in the air

It's that magic we must keep
Even after we fall asleep
And that new year arrives
It's those glowing hearts of hope
That must survive

Merry Christmas
And may that magic stay with you
May that magic help you smile
And may that magic glow year round

Hurt the People, Starve the People, Blame the People

Hurt the People, Starve the People, Blame the People

Can one call it a chain
If every link
Is weak?

Can one even call the links united?

Or are they
In fact
United?

United in their efforts
To destroy the people,
To destroy them
While convincing them

It's their own fault.

End of the World

End of the World

I can see
Two cascades of blue
Meeting on the horizon

A place
Out of reach
A point
I cannot more than see

I find my feet
Buried in the sand
It tickles
As if alive and playing

I raise my eyes
Back up to see
The bottom cascade
Break from the other

The horizon disappears
As the blue rushes
Closer and closer
And larger and larger

At first, curiosity
Then, fear
I now find
That the sand has taken my ankles

There is nowhere for me
To go
As the blue
Swallows me whole

It's cold, but refreshing
The salt stings my eyes
Closing them hurts
Keeping them open has purpose

The cascade has purpose
A moment to find
That unreachable point

I stand
At the end of the world
And I am made
To gaze

Thanksgiving 2015 (A Working Title)

Thanksgiving 2015 (A Working Title)

You never told me
How much you love me
Because from the very first night
It wasn't love
It wasn't true
And you knew
It'd never be... me and you

Take me to the beginning

I wrote the love letters
Held your hand
But it must have been too tight
I guess I should've just texted,
Emojied my feelings,
And clicked like

Bring me to the bridge

We made the memories
Filter free
Just you, me, and the scenery
Too bad we didn't Instagram it
Because now those memories
Reside strictly in my heart and mind

Now, the turn...

You laughed and you smiled
Sharing with this world
Your unspeakably beautiful soul
Thank you for not making for yourself
A life made of Facebook status updates
Thank you for your in-person timeline

Hold my breath

So, you've probably figured me out
Figured that the opening was the beginning
Of my growth in not only understanding
But in appreciation
So, thank you for being kind, compassionate
For being so very genuine

Exhale to the truth

Let me bring that past beginning
To the present enlightened gratitude

It's over
It will always be over
And
I'm grateful for your genuine love
I will always be grateful

Remember to breath

Now that I know
How wrong I was
To not say thank you
I'll put it into words

Whether those words be in ink
Or in type on the screen
You hold in that hand
That once held my heart
And so graciously gave it back intact

These words will be here
These words will cascade
Across the reader's lips
In rhythm with the heartbeat
You empowered

We never had Paris
But we'll always have
What was so very real

The beginning and end both in the past

Exact Same Coin

Exact Same Coin
What grabs a hold
Of a downward gaze
Shifting a saddened despair
To an unseen hope in the stars?

Could it be
That the unknown
Is not humanity's greatest fear
But its greatest hope?

After all
It's from what we know
That we define and develop our fears
And it's in mystery we discover new hope

We fear for our lives
So we find hope in an unknown future
A future with the potential
For something better

If only people who feared the unknown
Would find hope
In knowledge
A new understanding

It's not about being
Open-minded
Or even open-hearted
It's simply about hoping

Hoping to know

The Princess Born of Two Moons and No Seasons

The Princess Born of Two Moons and No Seasons

There are four seasons to the year
The beginning in its new life, Spring
The sun in its high sky, Summer
The moon, crooked in its harvest crest, Autumn
The light, gone cold as all other things, Winter

There are those gifted with elemental control
So chosen by powers unknown
The nature of their element decided upon
When they were born
However...

There is only one day a year
This day does not belong
To any one of the seasons
This day has a night as bright
With two moons replacing one sun at day's end

Those born to this day
Have a potential for an absence of power
But an immunity to the four seasons when generated from mortal hands
A power granted for being born
Outside the seasons

Legend states it as thus so long as the moons
Both glow without the union
Of the ends of light's spectrum
However, if one moon should glow diamond
The other glow onyx

A child born of those two moons
Outside the four seasons
Such a child will be one with the power
Over all four seasons
A power, not of generation, but of control

From the spirit of this child
No power will flow
But from within the strength
Of their spirit
They will control the presence of the four

This power to control
When held in the hands of purity
Can be the key to humanity's
One true goal:
The happiness found only in peace

Such a power found in purity
A purity nurtured by love
A love provided both from within and without
This is purity
Not perfection

It is not asked of the child of two moons
To be perfectly pure
Without the slightest blemish to their soul
It is asked that the child be one who loves
With a pure, unconditional heart

This child will save the world
With their heart

Accurate Analogies from Capitol Hill

Accurate Analogies from Capitol Hill

Dreams are like people
They are not to be
Bought
Paid for
Sold
Nor leveraged

Dreams are not like politicians
Who are blatantly, obviously
Bought
Paid for
Sold
And leveraged

So, logic would dictate
A simple conclusion:
Politicians are not people

Now how can the voice
Of the public
Be expressed by those
Who are without dreams?

For the Silenced, I Offer Words to Remind You of Your Great Potential

For the Silenced, I Offer Words to Remind You of Your Great Potential

There's no time left
For your loveless lies
Deliberate absentmindedness
And callous carelessness

You've broken your hands
On your watch
And on my face
Until you thought there was nothing left

You live debt free
Because your conscience
Was the first casualty
Of your fear and weakness

Or perhaps you don't deserve
The excuses of a coward
Your burdens were consciously constructed
By your own heartlessness

So now, right now
You look me in the face
Into my eyes
The eyes of someone strong

You just try and say it
Say goodbye
Like you actually care
And know I don't believe you

But more importantly
Know I don't need you
Even more importantly
I won't be you

It is not arrogant
For me to claim
That I am and will always be
Better than you

It is the responsible thing to do
To place upon myself
This goal
To be better

So, on second thought,
Keep your gaze
For the failure in the mirror
I am me

No one can take that
From me
No circumstance can take that
From me

I am still here
I am not hopeless
I am loved
I am inspiring

With Every Promise, Every Tear, Every Time

With Every Promise, Every Tear, Every Time

It's in gratitude
That I clock in
Each and every day

It's in gratitude
That I laugh
And smile my big, goofy smile

It's in gratitude
That I cry
Tears of joy

It's in gratitude
That I bring
My energy and personality to the classroom

It's in gratitude
That I write
Letters of recommendation

Before I finish
Let me dive
Into the tears I shed for you

You will find anger
Over the injustices done against you
In my tears

You will find sorrow
For the pain you feel
In my tears

You will find joy
For the smiles on your faces
In my tears

You will find pride
For all that you accomplish
In my tears

You will find hope
For the better future you can make for this world
In my tears

You will find gratitude
For being the best students and amazing people
In my tears

What you will never find
In these tears
Is so much as a single drop of shame

When you fail
I don't cry
I cry in awe when you try again

So why don't I drown
In so many tears?
Well that question brings me to the end

Like the unstoppable oceans
Of this vast and endless world
My tears have strength

However, it is a strength
From without, not within
It's a strength given to me by you

Thank you for giving me the strength
To lift trophies, wear medals, hold certificates
The strength to cheer, smile, and beam with pride

Thank you for giving me the strength
To say with confidence
That I love you all and always will

It's in gratitude
That I finish this poem
With this promise:

When I say I will always
Be here for you
I mean it with every tear I shed

Lied To Laws of Forced Apathy

Lied To Laws of Forced Apathy

We were told
The world would be left
In the palms of our hands
Like a precious jewel from the depths
Of its greatest oceans

But that was the lie
To keep us spinning
The wheels of their industry
Broken and bought leaders
Warped, downright evil priorities

The truth is
The world has been harvested
Left with craters of devastation
To be filled with the stolen purpose
Of the next generation

We will inherit less
Than what once was
By the we-know-betters
Of the past
Who made promises while missing their sold soul

They stomped our idealism
Creating a reality in which
A heart that has stopped beating
Cannot be brought back
Even by the once unstoppable power of love

The sad irony
Is that had the love
Never been taken away
And deemed weakness
The hearts of the youth

Could have beat forever and ever

Cliffs and Crevices

Cliffs and Crevices

The horizon
Tearing from its fixation
At the furthest distance
Rushes at us
Standing upon cliff's end

The crevice beneath us
Has always been there
But our windswept eyes
Cannot see
That it takes the slightest stumble

We do know, however,
That the sky is not for us,
Jumping can only mean
Falling,
Because humans can never fly

Countdown

Countdown

Why must time
Be spent
Trying to earn
More time?

Why must the clock
Take us away
From our dreams
One tick-tock at a time

Eroding aspirations
Blanketing hope
In darkness
So absolute

Why must time
Be both eternal
And final?

Unworthy Apology: A Letter to My End, My Only True Legacy

Unworthy Apology:  A Letter to My End, My Only True Legacy

Grasping at dreams
Means grasping at straws of burdening lead
Heavy thoughts and images
Projected by the heart

The heart, however,
Is a devilish thing
It rips itself from my chest
Making me think I made the decision

But decisions are made of the mind
Mortal enemy to the abstract liar
Beating in my chest
The masochistic liar

It places itself
Just in range
Of all the hatred and disappointment
It deserves

It beats with rapidity
To remind me I cause fear
It beats with a lethal melancholy
To remind me I bring sorrow

So maybe instead the heart
Isn't masochistic, but honest
For it to keep beating
It must face the scars
Inflicted by me upon the hearts of others

Exclusively Human

Exclusively Human

You can try and put
The pieces back together
But there are shards
Lost to the darkest depths
Of the deepest crevices
Of a broken heart

Tears and time
Do nothing
To wash the pain away
Mend the gaping wounds
With tears and time
Comes rust and erosion

It's a slow kill
That kind of slow
Imperceptible
To the human eye
And yet it is a pain
Exclusively human

Simple, Absolute Truth

Simple, Absolute Truth

At no time
No place
And under no circumstance
Will pride ever be
More important
Than the truth

Before I Don't Have Another Chance

Before I Don't Have Another Chance

With arm slowly stretching,
Hesitating for but a moment
At the elbow and knuckles
Finally the palm comes up
And a plea escapes his mouth,

"It isn't much
Really nothing but a broken
Bleeding appendage
That doesn't know the first thing
About holding a heart nor hand
In its empty grasp."

From across the separation
She stands in shock
But she stands determined;
She will hear him out
With their few precious seconds remaining

"All the horrible things I've done
And all the good things I haven't
I can't promise to protect you
With this cowardly monster's hand
I can't guarantee your safety."

She is aware of his past
She is aware of his infamous cowardice,
Savagery, and shame
His hand isn't bleeding;
It's bloody

"I'm no hero
Not then, now, nor will I ever be
But you've shown me
Even the heartless
Can fall in love."

She believes him
But sheds not a single tear
She takes note of the twitch
In his hand,
Struggling to stay open

"I guess, having to guess,
Since hate has been the only thing
I've ever been sure of til now,
I guess that I promise one thing:
I will love you with every last second."

She can't decide
To scream in anger,
Twist in disgust,
Or gaze with pity in her star-bright blues
At this hopeless wreck

"With whatever time I have left
I will love you
I'm not saying that I deserve time
With or without you
Nonetheless, from right here and now I know only that I love you."

With all the demonstrations of power
She had seen
From the earliest of ages
Now she knew that truth and love hold no equals
When brought together

Then, with a flash
And sudden, shaking crash
The world around them is chaos
Shrapnel as sharp as the sword sheathed at her hip
Severs his open hand just below the elbow

He stumbles from both the chaos
And the wound
His final chance severed and gone
He falls and before his vessel explodes
He waves his bloody, bleeding stump

With a faint smile
An absence of joy
She will have burned into her memory
He opens his mouth, uttering,
"Bye."

Benjamin: One Hundred Tries Later

Benjamin: One Hundred Tries Later

Words of the past
Wrapped up in the progress
Of the present

I have grown
The ink of my pen flows
The strength of my words beats faster

Poetry, as it is
A release not from emotions
But from the repression of them

I speak through stanzas
Feel through ink
Bleed upon my sleeve

And for whom do I bleed
For anyone who reads
And feels the release from repression

I have students; I teach and learn
I have parents; I am loved and love
I have friends; I am cared for and care

It is for those
That I know
That I say thank you

It is for those
That I don't
That I say please feel

Feel the weight of your world
Upon your own two shoulders
And feel the strength in your truth

The truth in who you are
The truth in what you feel
The truth in the love you have

Share this truth
For no matter how much the world takes
There will always be some of you left to give

Lifelong Learner

Lifelong Learner

"Why must the summer end?"
The child asks.
"So we can keep learning."
The parent answers.

"What about you?
Since you're done with school,
Why does your summer end?"
The child asks, already missing the summer sun.

The parent smiles, the child mimics
The parent kisses their child
Then says,
"I never said anything about school."

Album Epilogue

Album Epilogue

With these thoughts in my mind
And these feelings in my heart
With these words on my lips
I just wanted you to know
That what you just heard
Could only ever possibly be
A gift from deep inside my soul
A gift for the one
The only
You

Album Prologue

Album Prologue

When you hold my hand,
How can you expect me not to grip?
When our lips meet,
How can you expect me not to kiss?
That beautiful face
That big ol' heart
I can't begin
To tell you what it would be like
To fall apart
Without you in my arms
There's nothing I can see
No horizon
No blue sky
No blue open sea
I am only
When I am with you

But can you possibly be
When you are with me?

Comprehension

Comprehension

I love you more
Than your mind can comprehend
But I'm sure
It's your heart that will always understand

So, don't think about it
Feel it
And let the tears come
And the smile spread

Know that it's the tears
You'll always have
As they cascade
Down memory lane

Every now and then
They'll trip
They'll slip
They are tears after all

Don't let them say
Don't cry
You cry
Because you remember

I can't thank you enough for that
That I might be missed
By someone so full of love
Those are tears worth shedding

See you later
Is what they say
Because goodbye
Is too sad

But here I am
Saying goodbye
In hopes that I might actually
Be able to appreciate

Everything you were
Everything you are
Everything I won't
Get to see you be

It's a tall order
But as big as I was
It's in the expanse of my heart
That I keep you forever

Goodbye,
I say
With tears
And a smile

For The Light

For The Light

Darkness does not descend
It does not envelop
Darkness has always been, is
And will always be

It's the struggle
As ever present
As the lacking
That one must endure

Without this endurance
This fortitude
There is darkness
Always

Seasons Dreamings

Seasons Dreamings

It's in the wintertime
That the sky goes from blue to gray
Unless, of course, you live
In sunny southern California
It's during this time of year
That my heart beats just a little bit slower
My mind matches pace
As I begin to sleep just a little bit deeper

Because I'm dreaming
Of that better tomorrow
Dreaming is all I really need
To have hope for those days
That are soon to follow
Dreaming
With my mind and heart in sync

It's in the springtime
That the light returns
Unless, of course, you live
Where it never turns off
It's during this time of year
That my eyes drown in color
A relentless rainbow
That makes me add my bright smile to the mix

Because I'm dreaming
Of that better tomorrow
Dreaming is all I really need
To have hope for those days
That are soon to follow
Dreaming
With my mind and heart in sync

It's in the summertime
That everyone gets a taste
Of sunny southern California
Unless, of course, you get the big taste of actually living there
It's during this time of year
That my heart melts
With every passing day
That just seems to race on by

Because I'm dreaming
Of that better tomorrow
Dreaming is all I really need
To have hope for those days
That are soon to follow
Dreaming
With my mind and heart in sync

It's in the time of autumn
That the places with leaves
Change their color before falling
To a cool, crisp ground, not found in sunny southern California
It's during this time of year
That I don't even notice
That the seasons have changed
It's just as hot as ever and the rainbow doesn't fade

Because I'm dreaming
Of that better tomorrow
Dreaming is all I really need
To have hope for those days
That are soon to follow
Dreaming
With my mind and heart in sync

Yes, my heart and mind
Keeping me dreaming
It's where I find my hope
But it's outside of them that I find love
So, I guess dreaming
Really isn't
All I'll ever need

Learning From The Best

Learning From The Best

I've been racking my brain
Hoping to stand up here and say
Each and every truth
I've learned from each and every
One of you

A teacher's job is to learn
As much as it is to teach
A teacher's job is to care
As much as it is to believe
That what we do matters

Days shrouded in doubt
Illuminated by that thought
That came flashing into your mind
That look of understanding
The pride and joy of knowing

I've been called inspiring,
But never have I felt
More grateful
To be inspired

Thank you, for everything

Now go change the world

Unconditional

Unconditional

Babum babum babum
A child's brand new innocence

Babum babum babum
A mother's racing concern

Babum babum babum
A father's overwhelming pride

In this one moment
On this spinning sphere
Of heartbeats
Hearts beat with their one
True purpose

Unconditional love

Time Traveler's Paradox

Time Traveler's Paradox

It's in our past
We find the lesson
It's in our present
We live the lesson
It's in our future
We carry the lesson

So why?
Why can't we exist
In all three dimensions
Of time
At the same time

Why do we measure time
As relative as it is?
But we can't be people
Of the past, present, and future
All at once?

It's because we try
Existing above time
We measure it as it
Measures us
And finds us wanting

More time for this
Less time for that
We obsess over the minutes
Counting down the hours
In anticipation of happiness
In dread of the unpleasant

We call ourselves masters of time
Just because we appear
To capture it in our touchscreens
Trap it on our wrists and in our pockets
But time bends to no mortal

Time is existence
Reality
The beginning
Middle
End

One Voice

One Voice

We stand
We speak
We sit
We listen

Together
Our voices are heard
Together
We refuse to abandon

It's in this strength
Our strength
A strength
Found in our unity

From behind the podium
And from our seats
Crowding the endless rows
With those of us who cherish

...

Cherish what's most important
The only force
That could save us
From its absence

In the hearts
Of those that
Kept us down
Shoved us away

In fear
And in ignorance
In self-seeking glorification
For which we pay the price

No more

We are a force
We are a will
We are the silenced
No longer

We do not rage ahead
In anger
No, we will save this world
With love

Dark Delightful Dreams

Dark Delightful Dreams

Lucky for you
My dreams never come true
Because if they did
You would be dead
Because all I dream
Is the end of you
You, and those empty eyes
You, and your crippling lies
All I dream
Is to see those eyes shut
Shut tight
Those lies
Corrupting you from within
Your very dreams

Generating Corruption

Generating Corruption

You come at us
With you and yours,
But we fight back
With ours and hours

That's right
With numbers and
With time
So much time

Time spent
In the trenches you dug
In the pits of repression
You purposefully built

To create this image
Of complacency
Of apathy and narcissism
That you can blame

For the failure
That is the present
That you constructed
In the past

You have stolen from us
Time itself
You have stolen
The future

Mama Always Said To Mind Your Manners

Mama Always Said To Mind Your Manners

Are you indeed polite
Or is it
You are incompetently contrite
In your abhorrence of and aversion to
The Truth?

I assure you
With all the power
Available to a poet's pen
That I have absolutely been
Of the utmost sincerity

When I say
Good day
I, indeed, hope you have one

When I say
How are you
I am not merely stating, but asking

When I wish
I wish with want for your blessings and benefits

When I ask
I ask, hoping to actually know The Truth

It is in neither my words
Nor my intentions alone

It's in the harmonious coalescence of both
Just as a day is not alone in its sunshine
Nor in its moonlight
But in the brilliant partnership of light between them

So

Good day to you
I wish you all the best
Whether you bring happy news or sad
I was wondering

How are you today?

The Light In Her Eyes (My Hawaiian Promise Ballad)

The Light In Her Eyes (My Hawaiian Promise Ballad)

Would, would you be mine
Would you be mine
If I could fly
As far as the stars
Oh, oh, so far
Just to prove
That I love you
Just as you are

My, my love would shine
My love would shine
Across the crowded midnight sky
And you, you would lay there
You would lay there
Sipping on a drink so smooth
Staring straight up at me
I'd be all you could see
Until the sun came into your view

But know that my promise is true
I'll be back real soon
Once I grab a hold of the moon
You, you may ask me why
Ask me why
And I'll look straight into you
Straight into those eyes
Those big brown eyes
And tell you the whole truth

You, you have my whole heart
You have my whole soul
But I am sure you already know
So here, here's the big news
I thought it all through
And I want to stay in your eyes
Forever shining for you
Just for you
So would you take this trembling hand

My hand would hold my whole heart
My whole empty heart
If I let us drift apart
So now I'm asking you
Only you
Can I be the light in your eyes?

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 4

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 4

There's this brand new little lady
In my life.
She's a future Tim Burton fan.
She's brought me to tears.
And all she had to do was get her picture taken
Without so much as a smile,
Because I take one look at her and see
Everything that's worth living for in this world
I'm glad I have my niece Coraline
In my life.

And I promise to love you little lady
Forever and always
Uncle Ben is and will be proud of you
I promise

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 3

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 3

There's this little lady
In my life.
She's a bubble master
She's a hide-n-seek champion
And she knows all of her aunts and uncles names
By heart,
Because she loves them with every last corner
Of that beautiful baby-girl heart
I'm glad I have my niece Alice
In my life.

And I promise to love you little lady
Forever and always
Uncle Ben is and will be proud of you
I promise

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 2

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 2

There's this brand new little guy
In my life.
He's a future Power Ranger.
He's already got a special place in my heart.
And he'll always have it
No matter how big his baby hands one day get,
Because my heart for him beats
With all the strength and expanse of the greatest ocean.
I'm glad I have Elijah
In my life.

And I promise to love you little guy
Forever and always
Uncle Ben is and will be proud of you
I promise

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 1

Uncle's Pride, Uncle's Love--Part 1

There's this little guy
In my life.
He's faster than the Flash
He's braver than Spider-Man
And he's not invincible,
But he doesn't need to be,
Because Uncle Ben will always be there to protect him
From every danger both imaginary and real.
I'm glad I have my godson Isaiah
In my life.

And I promise to love you little guy
Forever and always
Uncle Ben is and will be proud of you
I promise

The End

The End

You hold
My dried up heart
In your hands.
So why can't you nourish it?

You hold
My shattered dreams
In your hands.
So why can't you piece them back together?

You hold
My deteriorated mind
In your hands.
So why can't you get it thinking again?

You hold
My depleted soul
In your hands.
So why can't you fill it?

Why can't you save me?
Because it's simply too late.
I waited too long
To ask for help.

So I take my pride
My fear
With me

I take my space
My distance
With me

Being alone is not
What cost me
No, I like alone time
With this once good friend of mine

It's just that
I wasn't a good friend to myself
And haven't been
For some time

I should've asked
For help
So very long ago,
But now I ask this

Take my heart, my dreams
And my mind and my soul
Keep it close
Keep it always

So that in the end
I might at least be
A fading memory...

Father's Pride

Father's Pride

It's not in the folds
Of his wallet,
The layed over layers
Of green paper.

It's in the plastic
The protective casing,
For the images
Held closest to his heart.

It's not in the square footage
Of the house.
Nor in the acres
Of the yard.

It's in those hash-marks on the wall,
Marking the height of his greatest joy.
It's in the scraped knees
And in the climbed trees.

It's not in his boss' recognition
Of a job well done.
Nor in the length of his title
On the sign outside his door.

It's in the shirts, mugs, and cards
That say #1 Dad.
It's in the length of his patience,
Which will be tested everyday.

It's not in the trophies,
Even if winning is fun.
Nor in the medals,
Even if he's happy to see them shine.

It's in all the hard work,
The dedication and diligence.
It's in the faces of those other kids,
Teammates made happy by their child's spirit.

It's not in his child's bank account,
Even though he wants them to be well.
Nor in his child's job title,
Even though he wants them to succeed.

It's in his child's heart,
Their compassion for others of all fortune.
It's in his child's selflessness,
Their willingness to do and be for others.

If the father can feel
That his children are of love,
Genuine love,
Then pride comes naturally.

I will always
Be of love,
Because I am loved
By a proud father.

Getting It Right

Getting It Right

Children look at the world
With the kind of wonder
Adults scoff at as naivety.

Children embrace their fellow human being
With an unconditional sense of inclusion;
Adults teach them to be "more selective."

Children learn with the fervor
Of an open mind;
Adults box them in with test scores.

Children laugh and coo, giggle and drool
Using only the words Adults teach them
And Adults say the meanest things.

Adults insult one another
With the word "childish,"
Insisting that the target of their cruelty grow up,

But have you ever stopped to think
That being childish would mean
Being better.

It would mean you still have wonder
And therefore hope
For a world in desperate need.

It would mean your heart still beats
To the rhythm of love for one another,
Which has become a trait rarer than gold in Adults.

It would mean you still want to learn
Purely for the sake of learning,
Having successfully fought off intellectual complacency.

It would mean you're still genuine
With the emotions you show on your face and in your words,
Not having to resort to hashtags and emojis.

Put simply, yet profoundly
Much like a child would state:
Children get it right...
and then they become adults.

Forever Alone

Forever Alone

You read the title
And begin to assume
That this poem must be sad
Of doom and of gloom

But I walk this path
Filled not with loathing
Nor with wrath
Simply because it's mine to walk

I stand upon a lonely stage
With coupled oculi gazing
Transfixed on my stance
Both in stature and voice

But from behind those eyes
Is all the support I need
I reciprocate this gift of the soul
With honesty, humility, and passion

And that's what I have
That keeps me company forever
A passion for what I do
The difference I make

But it's my difference
To make
My heart
To fill

So I hold my heart
Within my chest
But it nestles peacefully
In their hands

Just because one must
Forever be but just the one
And therefore, in a way,
Alone

It does not mean
Their heart must be propped up
Solely by their own efforts
Especially when love is meant to be shared

Firsts

Firsts

In a world of firsts
A timeline of beginnings
Even an end
Is a first

Turn It Off

Turn It Off

There's a light
On my ceiling
Blink, Blink
It goes
Blink, Blink

These are the things
I notice
When all I really want
Is to shut things down
I'm not sad

Just tired
I'm tired of my brain
Running the 100 meter dash
Again and again and
Again

I want to find
The person with the starter's pistol
So I can rip it from their hands
And shove it down their throat
Stop the race

I want to stop
Look around
Shake hands with the other racers
Stop and sit
Talk

I want to rest my feet
And use my voice
But not for long
I want to shut down
Even my voice eventually

Eventually doesn't mean permanently
I'll get up at some point
And help the person
With the starter's pistol,
Back to their feet

I can't be angry at them
After all,
They were just doing their job.

With Words: An Unjust Description

With Words: An Unjust Description

Do not ask of me
A description of her heartbeat
That matches the rhythm
Beneath the almighty sea

A force grand in spectacle
And nurturing in faith
Faith in its presence
And tranquility

Do not ask of me
A description of her eyes
That harness the emotional spectrum
So that one might believe

To believe in something
Something real
Something greater
Dare I say divine

Do not ask of me
An understanding of her smile
That could make one sob
And heal the deepest wounds

All at once
She is so much
So much more
Than can be done justice

With words

Reflection

Reflection

Good morning
To the day
To the possibilities
That shine across her eyes

She smiles and says,
"Hey you."
And that's when that small sliver of sunlight
Floods the room and warms my soul

I don't want to get up
I want to stay
To stare
At that new day smile

"Stop it," she says
Cheeks flushed with the richest red
Even if I could
I wouldn't

She is who I want
This new day with her
Is the only kind of day
I could ever want

I want her to smile
I want her eyes to shine
I want her cheeks to flush
I want to be good enough for her

But she isn't there
She isn't smiling, eyes shining
Her cheeks aren't flushed
Because I'm not good enough

So why then does the sun shine?
Why do I smile?
From where does this warmth within flow?
Hope

I have hope in the new day
The possibilities I see
In those eyes
In the mirror

I'm not there yet
I have a ways to go
But I'll make it
And greet that new day saying,
"Good morning."

Upon the Canvas

Upon the Canvas

Painting memories in my mind

But its not the sights

Nor the sounds

That cover the canvas

Smiling as I reflect

Not upon the place

Not upon the time

But upon the people

Without the people

There would be nothing

But empty rooms

And hollow halls

Without the people

There are no smiles

No tears

No love

Without the people

My memories are lonely

Olive Juice Lullaby

Olive Juice Lullaby

A good morning kiss
With magic powers
"Oh, my Prince Charming has come,"
She awakens.

I love you son
I love you too mommy

A hallway covered in awards
It's the first thing,
The very first,
Any and all visitors see.

I love you son
I love you too mommy

Mommy's voice in my ear
Mommy's arms holding me close
Mommy's smiles lifting me up
Mommy's tears

I love you son
I love you too mommy

Her tears of joy
Of sorrow
They flow from her heart
A heart that loves

I love you son
I love you too mommy

A heart that loves
Completely
Wholeheartedly
Unconditionally

I love you son
I love you too mommy

Between the olive juice wishes
And the breakfast club stitches
Mommy has always been there
I love you mommy

In My Life - Professor Johnston

In My Life - Professor Johnston

There's this man
In my life.
He's funny
He's smart
And he approaches every single day with hope
No matter how dark the day appears to be
Because he is an inspiration defined by his smile
The kind of smile that lights up the dreariest room.
I'm glad I have Professor Johnston
In my life.

Exit

Exit

I was meant to see
The world, the whole of it
In all its glories

And this love I have for you
Is blocking my view
So I say goodbye

I'm sure you read these words
Tears in your eyes
I'm sure, because I wrote them
With tears in mine

I'm also sure
That you'll throw this paper away,
But keep the words
Forever in your heart

Just know that I too
Will keep these three special words,
Words you used to make me smile
Forever in mine

Farewell forever
In time I will fade
But the smiles, the memories, and the words
Will never say goodbye

Pretty, Pretty Girl

Pretty, Pretty Girl

There is no solution
In the falsified imagery
No liberation
In the behind-the-lens secrecy

And yet you are shoved
Behind an image

Images and imaginations

If only they could see
That I love you
For who you are
And who you'll be

One day they'll know
The beauty found solely
Within your soul

There is so much more for you to be
Than be defined by such a word as "pretty"

Pretty, pretty girl
You open the magazine
Turn on the TV
And are told
That you better be pretty

Pretty smile
Pretty hair
Pretty dress
Pretty everywhere
On the surface

But what that cover story won't say
What the networks won't show
Is that you're pretty strong
Pretty smart
Pretty bold

In fact, you are by no small measure these things

If they would demand
A calm, empty smile on the surface
It is because they fear
The mighty ocean that lies beneath

Now if only they could understand
Not to fear
But to embrace the magnificence
Of your potential

For my Mother
For my Sister
For my Grandmothers
For my Aunts, Cousins, and Nieces

For my friends
And for every one of my female students
Who felt wrongfully defined by your physical appearance
For what it's worth, I love you all.

Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity

I feel the pull of gravity
Upon my heart
And it is not heavy
No, it is uplifting

Once I find the one
That can make me fall up
All the way to cloud nine
All the way to the once unobtainable

I will know
That the pull on my heart
Was never gravity to begin with
It was love pulling me away

From all the things
Every single thing that once weighed me down

Her Promise

Her Promise

Do you this day
Open your heart?

Do you open your heart
To this gift?

This gift from her heart,
She offers with faith.

A faith far greater
Than ever felt before.

Never before has her heart swollen so full.
Never before has her world been so frightening.

And yet she stands,
Not upon her legs,
But upon her faith.

Her faith is an oath.
Her faith is true love.
All she is
Is now and forever for you.

So, I ask again:
Do you open your heart this day
And forever after?

His Promise

His Promise

Do you this day
Open your heart?

Do you open your heart
To this gift?

This gift from his heart,
He offers with hope.

A hope far greater
Than ever felt before.

Never before has his heart raced so fast.
Never before has his world been so still.

And yet he stands,
Not upon his legs,
But upon his hope.

His hope is a promise.
His hope is devotion.
All he is
Is now and forever for you.

So, I ask again:
Do you open your heart this day
And forever after?

An Epic Day of Sincerest Celebration

An Epic Day of Sincerest Celebration

On this special day
Not so long ago
A precious baby girl
Came screaming into this world

And ever since
The world has taken notice
Of this baby's cry
This young woman's spirit.

The world was changed
For the better that day
And her serenade
Is only just beginning

This is a poem, yes
But her's is an epic
And with time
She will cry out for this world

It will listen
It will learn
And thanks to her
It will change for the better

Voices

Voices

I have but one voice
In my heart
With which to speak the truth.

And a storm of voices
In my mind
That would silence that truth.

For the Kids From Destiny Islands

For the Kids From Destiny Islands

In the darkness
There is light
To be unleashed
By souls so brave, so true
That the key unlocks the heroes within

With the light within unleashed
The Keymasters traverse existence
And everything in between
Shining their light upon the darkness
That would engulf all it could consume

Everything would be lost
To this darkness
If not for the souls
Of pure light
At the very center of each world

With the key
And with valor, wisdom, and allies beside
The wielder of the key,
Worlds will be saved
And the light will reignite the bonds

Bonds of love and loss
Bonds of friendship and fear
Bonds of willpower and worry
Bonds of past, present, and future
Brought back together with the key

It will be an odyssey
Of pain and sacrifice,
But of growth.
The key will forever be needed
And a wielder's dedication to bear it.

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Seven

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Seven

Caps and gowns
Prom kings and class clowns
A bitter-sweet commencement
A contradictory bereavement
Congradulations

Future game changers
Not just a new cast of players
Some will always be in school
Some are just way too cool.
The strings have been cut

Doors have been opened
Destinations chosen
For some, loved ones hug
For others, people just shrug
Sniffling through the tears

Stay in touch, please
Don't be so apathetic about the release
Of old friends, turned to memory
Of old memories, made of sincerity
Inevitability

We worked so hard
Boats against the current
And yet we crouch down
At the starting line
Chasing our green light

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Six

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Six

Despite the weight
The constant, crushing weight
With growing chasm
Beneath the stubs we once
Called feet

Despite the fact
That I fell
So far, so deep, so hard
I came back
Like so many of us do

It is assumed most of us
Can't
We're apparently weak, apathetic,
Just because we just
Don't know

But we fight
We claw, scrape, and scream
We cry on shoulders
We raise with our hands
Instead of investing in the ignorance

We have our enemies without
And more within
But the good among us
Won't quit
We have another chasm to cross

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Five

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Five

Those four years
Feel like the only four
That can flash
Yet stand perfectly still.
It all just meshes together

The challenge
Is to find your present
When everyone is telling you
To plan out your future
Splitting yourself across time

Because of our sheer numbers
And an overwhelmed system
Many are left lost
In the green screen sea of digits
Who could begin to understand every story

But that's what we are
Stories,
Not equations,
Left unfinished
Yet shut closed

We were told to turn
The page
A new life
Built on fading memories
Replaced by new things to forget

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Four

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Four

School colors, mascots, and college prep
You've got four years
They said
Four years
To get it right

Not fair, I thought
Not enough time, I insisted
Not possible, I felt
How can my childhood
Already be over, I questioned

I'm not a child
But I'm not an adult
My mind fractures
Heart breaks
I scrape through the pieces, looking for my future

Play ball, study, and be a friend
Calculate, postulate, and analyze
Read, write, listen, and speak
Do all these things
And still find time to discover who you are

In what do I find
The willpower to go on
Who places the emerald light
Upon my shaking finger
When I'm lost in fear

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Three

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Three

Everyone's favorite subject
Is either recess
Or lunch
I prefer dodgeball
And pizza

Counting up from one
To five
I had hoped
To keep playing dodgeball
And eating pizza

But then it wasn't
About having fun anymore
You're growing
They said
Changing

It's a phase
They said
But no one told me
That I would go through
Temporary insanity

It's a crazy time in your life
They said without knowing
Just how right they were
Have to survive
Have to make it to the next step on the path

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Two

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto Two

I'm surrounded by them
They're my size
They sound like me
Some of them are little versions
Of my mom

It's confusing, but now I know
There are boys like me and Dad
And there are girls, like Mom
But more importantly,
We little ones are kids

Being a kid is awesome
Cartoons, crayons, and playtime
No smartphones, no twitter, and no facebook
You have only one goal
Be crazy and have fun

I thought that this was forever
And then I went to school
I wasn't scared
But it was different...
In a good way

Making friends for life
Without having the foggiest idea
As to what that really meant
I'm glad that's how it starts
There's hope in childhood

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto One

My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans - Canto One

At first
I can't so much as crawl
My baby belly
Fun to rest on, but no good
For moving forward

Then I perch myself
Upon the palms of my hands
And the pudgy knots
I don't yet know
Are called knees

The ungated rooms
Of this giant place
Are mine to explore
Mine to devour
As I giggle through my drool

The big ones
Show so much excitement
When the palms of my hands
Are replaced
By the soles of my feet

Their baby boy
Is growing up so fast
Even though
I'm no taller than the horsey
At least, not yet

Autobiography

So, I decided a while back to try and put my life, up to this point, into the form of a poem.  I'm seven cantos in and will be posting them momentarily.  I decided this was a good point to post, so that I could reflect on what I already have before moving forward.  You see, canto seven is the end of high school and before I start diving into those college years, I want to experience my own story as a reader; I want to take the chance to see what it is I've built for my story as a foundation for what's to come.  Also, since I haven't been out of college for very long I didn't want to try and trudge through such fresh memories without taking a hard look at what came before them.  I'd like to weave a connection from the farther past to the more recent past, and then hopefully into my present and future.  I hope you enjoy my autobiographical poem:  My Path Runs Ahead of Me and My Plans

No Relation to the Relative

No Relation to the Relative

Am I just a pinpoint pensman
Weaving fabricated feelings
To hit the mark
At the very center of the heart?

Am I just letting loose
Wistful emotions
To hide from the truth
At the very center of the balance?

Am I the ignorant one
Using merciful metaphors
To describe a merciless world
At the very center of what's real?

Truth is relative
And with this pen
I feel no relation

Inferno

Inferno
From the deepest,
Darkest pits of desire
Comes the tortuous,
Tumultuous monstrosities
Of humanity's flaws

Lured by Lust
Granted through Greed

Grown with Gluttony
Wrung in Wrath

Sullen in Sloth
Envisioned through Envy

There are temptations
Of kinds too many
To list
In seven categories

But we, as humans
Label our lives
All aspects
Even our sins
With perilous pride

The Sunset Spectacle of Smooth Melancholy

The Sunset Spectacle of Smooth Melancholy

A man once told me
He had never dreamed
But for one reason

He sat me down
Stated plainly
"I don't dream."

"Of course you do;
Everyone does."
Naivety spilling from my lips

Awkwardly stumbling
Over the smooth melancholy
Of his profound wisdom

"I don't."
More plain wisdom
No denying it

He explained
With hat in hand
The world in the other

That what we call
Dreaming
He calls sleepy imagination

"You have to have a dream
To dream."
He places hat to head

He walked away
But turned when bathed
In sunset spectacle

He smiled
And suddenly I knew
Why I had never dreamt

Why, until that day
When my dreams took form
I was stuck in my imagination

You have to have a dream
To dream
Which is why I never did

Until I met you

From Across the Room (Spirits)

From Across the Room (Spirits)
People on the outside
Simply cannot begin to see
That when those two sets of eyes
Met from across the room
A spirit came to be

It has begun
When this two comes from
One and one

This spirit does not stand for you
For me
This spirit stands for us
For we

We, the stargazers
The fate players
The navigators
Of our intrinsic mazes

She has that look in her eyes
That filters through the guys
Made of swag and fear

So that she might spot the man
Who with a smile sincere
Looks into her eyes

Into, not at
For the chance to meet
That beautiful person found beneath

All this does not begin with a kiss
No, it begins with a look and a wish

It's Your Birthday (A Song)

It's Your Birthday (A Song)
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
It's your very special day
And we're all here to celebrate

Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday

If I had known that one day
I'd meet you
Know you
Call you friend

I would've smiled, a little wider
Laughed, a little louder
Dreamed, a little bigger
Hoped, a little higher

So that when I first smiled at you
It would have been enough
To cure your bluest blues

Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday

I know it's a day
For you
And what you want

But if I could make just one request
All I really want to see
Is your beautiful smile
Smiling back at me

Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday

I will always be here
To smile on your special day
And say
Happy Happy Birthday

You Take a Look Inside and What Do You Find?

You Take a Look Inside and What Do You Find?

We write down lines
Comparing love to an endless list
Of sometimes cheesy, sometimes heartfelt rhymes
It's almost as if we can't resist

A man just might begin to feel
After all those years of keeping it in
That this poetic emotion is real
No matter how its presence exists within

But that's what he sees when he looks inside
When he looks at himself
It's not what he sees when he steps outside
When he looks at the world

No, you see the poetry fades
Melts away with the ice
Drowns in liquidated fossils
And chokes on the smog

Because we'd rather press the green
In between the folds of our wallets
Than press our hands
To the beating heart of one whose beat stops.
At the touch of us

We rack up the cash
Not knowing it straps us down
Surgically, precisely, and without remorse
It removes our hearts

We are bought, sold, traded
We barter for synthetic sensations
We purchase artificial affection
We invest in falsified feelings

This world is far too beautiful
To run on money
This strip of paper that we take
And use to measure human worth

Human Life

A once priceless existence
A true blessing
Now a punishment to those born poor
And a pass for those born rich

A pass through life
Through purpose
We've decided that a self-appointed purpose
Equates to a more worthy existence

These men and women who live
Without sacrifice
Stand in suits worth more
Than the measured value of human life

They ask us to sacrifice
They ask us to believe
That for some artificially constructed reason
They are more important than us

So, what do they see in the mirror?
Kings and Queens born with divine right.
What do they see through their perfectly cleaned windows?
Peasants fooled into believing they are in control.

But the joke is on them
They aren't in charge either
Not the ones still living
But the ones who live on in printed green

From their graves
They dictate our lives

This world was meant to be
For love
By love
Real

And we, as humans, have managed
To ruin that truth
And replace it with an artificial construct
Of currency, carelessness, and real, absolute hate

Break down the walls built around your hearts
Break down the system that would equate your life
To any price, of any measure

We can love again

So love, seriously that's all you really need
Well, at least it should be...

Five Year Plan

Five Year Plan

Can I trust
That when I stumble
Over my two
Left
Feet
My repetition,
My failures
In both song and dance
Suit and shame...

That one day I might
Be good enough,
Strong enough,
Smart enough...

Enough

My words are my own;
They belong to me,
But their effects
Are hardly mine.
I spew my anger,
Sing my love.
I curse my misfortune,
Reflect on opportunities lost.

Lost

My arms are too short,
Or my back is too far --
I don't know --
To give myself a pat.
My fears are too strong,
My inability too vast --
I don't care --
To tell you what I want
To do with my life.

Life

They say find hope
In life,
But how can one resist
That sweet release.
Religions of this world
Promise perfection in the next,
The after,
The beginning.
So, what kind of torture is this?
Taunted by time,
Plagued by pointlessness,
Numbed by our meaningless neuroses.

Numb

I don't want to stop feeling.
I just wish there was a way
I could
Without breathing.

The Longest Heartbeat

The Longest Heartbeat

The tears flow
From your eyes,
Down the cheeks
I can only dream
To one day see flushed
With that shade of red
That can only mean
One thing.

That song from your heart
To mine
Will hide for but a moment
Behind
The veil that matches
Your dress oh so perfectly.

It's in that dress
That you'll take
The longest walk of my life.

While the tempo
Of your heart's song
Will be the most serene tune
This world will ever know,
My heart's song will beat enough
For a lifetime
In the time it takes
For you to walk down the aisle
And forever into my arms.

Then, with your hands in mine,
My heart will stop.

For a moment
The life I once had
Will flash before
My eyes...
And I will smile,
Because of all the love
I have been blessed with
Will always be with me,
Making me strong enough
For what's ahead.

My heart will begin again
As my smile is etched
Into my soul by those
Beautiful words you use
To bring me back to life.

I am, and will forever be;
I do, and forever will;
I love, and forever I am blessed.

Losing Sleep

Losing Sleep

Losing sleep
Pen in hand
To the paper
Ink flowing,
Lines filling,
With the emotions
That keep my head spinning,
My heart racing,
My eyes open.

Losing sleep
With my thoughts
To guide me
From stanza to stanza.
As I retreat
Further into my own
Confusion.
My challenge:
To find my way
Not to the exit
But to the center.

It's in that center,
My center.
My balance.
For what thoughts could remove me
From my center?
But of course,
Could only be the thoughts
That one holds in between
The beats of their heart.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This poem was written for the one, the only, Adriana Alves.  She was gracious enough to allow me to share this with you all.  She is an amazing young woman and I am honored to have had the opportunity to be inspired by her.

Dear Adriana,

Forever and ever, you will hold a place in my poet's soul.  Thank you for what you've done for me and my poetry.

Genuinely,

Benjamin

With These Words

With These Words

With these words

Forests grow strong
Mountains stand tall
Rivers run wild
Nature provides us all

With these words

Spirits are lifted
Trust grows sincere
Hope is restored
Fear hides in fear

With these words

A union commences
Together it grows
Careful steps taken
The devotion sows

With these words

A family is formed
New life is made
In this house
The memories do not fade

With these words

The chance at new beginnings
Comes at the cry of a child
And with a calming smile
And rested hand we simply wait a while

With these words
One is left deceived
Leaving the kind of scar
That makes it hard to believe

That with these words
All wounds can be mended

But it is with these words
And some time
And some patience
That all wounds can be mended

The heart can be broken
The heart can be saved
It can beat again

With these words

Words of purity
Of honesty
Of devotion and joy

These three words
Together they form
The single greatest power
In all the world

So say these words
With your heart beating
Mind leaping
Over the infinite possibilities
The limitless potential

Of these words

Speak in truth
And these words
Will say it all

So, go on
Say them
Say them!

One right after
The other

I
Love
You

Again, with the same sincerity

I
Love
You

Again, with all that you are

I love you
I love you

I will always
Love You