I Listen Outside

Is there nothing here

in this dawn

I listen outside

as the rain drips on

and on and on

Like the birds

that flap 

their wings

I listen outside

just to hear

their voices sing

Some are gone

taking cover

beneath a leaf

While others dance

and I breathe in

the relief

I listen outside

as the rain

drips free

I have many things

left to discover

inside of me

-December 2014

I wrote this for Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Music

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ MUSIC

Multiplying Promises

Do you ever 

close your eyes

long enough 

to dream

you know,

this awful world

isn't as awful

as it seems

Each time I think

you've learned

from your

mistakes

There you go

multiplying promises

until the last one

breaks

I watch

the pieces shatter

and splinter

in my bones

and all the words

that you say

don't mean

anything

anymore

-December 2014

Every Single Time

You keep

my heart beating

with just your 

silhouette

I haven't discovered

all there is 

to discover

about you, yet

but I'm on

my way

and I promise you

today

that I'll always

want to know more

about

your face

and how you

can calm me

with your warm

embrace

Oh, yes

it's true

I do 

love you

and when you put

your hand in mine

I'm grateful

that I've found you

every single

time

-December 2014 

Today

I didn't plan on you

today

I thought I could just look

the other 

way

and continue

to feel 

free

for a minute there

I felt like I was just

me

I guess I didn't know

how to accept

that this is me

now

when the truth is

this has been me

I just didn't see it

somehow

It's not an everyday struggle

anymore

but some days

when I turn that knob

it's you

standing at my

door

and I want to slam it

and lock it up

tight

sometimes I can't 

find the courage

to stand alone and

fight

and I wonder

if that's

okay

because there's just times

when I don't want

to cry

today

no, I don't want

to cry

today

I say

as the tears

start rolling 

down

and my breathing

becomes

the only

sound

no, I didn't want

to cry

today

but if I let it out now

perhaps tomorrow

will be

a better 

day

-November 2014

My Everything

I'm in it

I'm in the

swimming valleys

of everlasting growth

I feel naked

next to you

That's how

it should be

There's no tomorrow

without your eyes

or your touch

Your warmth

precedes your smile

I lie beside you

and feel your breath

grow rapid and sweet

You're my everything

You exist

just for my soul

Your taste

drips from my tongue

and I know

I'll be yours forever

-October 2014

Under The Sun

Do we all live here

with our twisted souls

I've eaten the last cherry

from my cherry bowl

Does that matter

to you

the way I run

through water

while you watch

from the ledge

Once you could find me

lassoed to every word

that was said

I could hold on so tightly

to that thin

little thread

But I've undone

every fiber

one by one

Now if you'd ever

like to find me

I'll be the one basking

under the sun

-October 2014

Firefly

Hello firefly

that's been buzzing

in my ear

My darkest moments

haven't felt so dark

whenever you've been near

I've never seen anything

quite like you before

I giggle to myself

when I think of how

I almost missed

this door

But the bell

kept on ringing

and I often 

wondered why

Now I see all the light

that's been missing

thanks to this little firefly

-October 2014

Autumn

The warmth

of the sun

has become

bearable

My hair

shines golden

when touched

by the light

the old blooms

have all begun

to fade

and wither

becoming a part 

of the earth's soil

once again

I close my eyes

and feel the softness

of the light

breeze

letting me know

a new season

is coming

I watch

as she chews 

on grass

to soothe

her old belly

and listen

to the chirping

of the birds

reminding me

as I breath in

that I'm alive

-September 2014

My Way

I'm not looking

for another

beginning

I'm not looking 

for the ending

I'm just

traveling

the only way

I know how

I've made it

this far

And nothing is going

to keep me

from following

my heart

no matter who

you are

You can take

a good long look

at me

But you can keep

your opinions

to yourself

about what it is

you see

I know I'm not

a millionaire 

but judging someone

by their monetary worth

just isn't fair

I may not live

the way you do

Just remember

that I'm me

and nothing you say

will turn me

into you

-September 2014

I'll Always Breathe You In

I'm borrowing you

I hope that's 

okay

I know I'll have to

give you up

one of these 

days

But until

that day comes

I'm going to soak up

all the moments

you make me feel

undone

I'll cover every inch

of you

with the softness

of my skin

and before we close

our eyes

each night

I'll always 

breathe you in

-August 2014

Unraveling

I see the way

you dream

You've opened up

my eyes

My soul is bursting

with one hundred colors

for you

I see the light dance

in your eyes

I can use it

to watch you

unravel

You keep unraveling

before me

With each thread lost

I see more of your gold

more of your glow

I can feel my soul dancing

and it's dancing 

for you

-June 2014

Detached

We walk

with our heads

pointed down

Our faces

lit up

with nonsense

We ignore

all the realness

and soak up

all the fake

Our dreams

become

laughter

While our fears

become

our comfort

Afraid we'll

shatter

if we move

-August 2014

Flawed Seamstress

Her patchwork
appears to be
a little shoddy
after further examination
These stitches
were not
sewn tightly
She sees separations
here and there
She was a fool
to think
it would keep her
warm enough 
at night

-July 2014

Weighted

I feel the grittiness

as I pack the sand

in your chest

You shall feel

all the weight 

you've burdened

me with

Does God really breed

such hate

such evil

such disgrace

I never had 

the chance

to know purity

and innocence

You became my creator

of all things

shameful

I bathed

a thousand times

and still felt

unclean

You've stained me

with your colors

of guilt

I'm riddled

with holes

from my own noise

and flashbacks

of your face

your smell

your touch

If I let you sink

in the muddy waters

will I recognize

the bell that rings

or the familiar stranger

of a peaceful nights

sleep 

-July 2014

Unwanted Guest

How do I 

let you go

I can feel

that you're trapped

You're locked

inside of me

Deep down

I know I have the key

I feel it

But this puzzle

makes me queazy

I'm dizzy

with these thoughts

of you

Just when I think

that I've escaped you

Here I am

Trapped in another

doorless room

with you

Your dark eyes

they burn me

Your touch

I feel you singe

my skin

How can you be

so careless

so dark

so strong

Am I feeding you

my own strength 

so willingly

How careless

of me

You've been my

unwanted guest

I thought you'd just leave

on your own 

-July 2014

Clearly

I've wanted to see you

for all that you are

I know that I have

made it this far

At least as far as I 

can tell

We're right here where

the universe 

is wishing us well

I never thought 

I could see anyone

as clearly as I see you

And I know

that you see me

Some may wonder

how it can be

But I've opened myself up

to you

The way that you did

to me

It's amazing

Oh, you're amazing

to me

You're all the things

I always wanted

to be

Being right here 

with you

makes me want to be

all that I know

I can be

You're my touchstone

through life

You're my gravity

And I'll always be right here

with you

The way I know 

you always will

for me

-July 2014

The Hero We Find

The journey

may not always

make sense

But we still

must travel it

We will never know

how much strength

we carry

Until the day comes

when we must wield it

We'll wield it against

our dragons

our darkness

And when we walk

alone in the shadows

we must be brave

Brave enough 

to see

to realize

That all the darkness

that we face

is only here to teach us

just how blissful

the light will be

Because when we reach

that light

we will feel 

its warmth

its grace

We'll see that the light

has always been there

inside us

Waiting to be discovered

And the darkness will fade

and we'll know

just how strong

we truly are

And we'll find

that the only hero

we've ever needed 

has always been 

ourselves

-June 2014

Companions

I love the clarity

that we've found

You're my blessing

and my treasured soul

You're my muse

and I use you

for all things

You bring me life

The roads we take

will not always feel

this smooth

this wide

this free

But we'll always travel

together

Side by side

Beneath the light

of the sun

and the moon

-June 2014

Colder

I wrote this a long time ago and I just came across it the other day. I'm calling this my "Dark" period. I was hesitant on sharing it, but then I came to the understanding that we all have darkness in us. At one point or another, we can all feel swallowed up by the darkness. And that's okay because without the dark, we would never fully appreciate the light.

Colder

I hate the world

and all its coldness

My skin shivers

and I feel the chill 

in my lungs

So cold and dry

As I walk 

my legs pain

The asphalt is both

my embrace

and my enemy

My feet saddened 

by the hardness

Where is it leading me

My mind is weary

and confusion sets in

I can't see daylight 

anymore

I walk . . .

Alone at times

The world 

is so much colder

when I do

My body jerks

and hesitates

before each movement

It's always dark

-February 2001

The Hope We Seek

Where is our Lennon

Our Kennedy

Our King

Is there anyone out there

with hope

they can bring

We sacrifice happiness

Our joys

Our bliss

Why are we taught

there are more important things

than this

Is our beacon

somehow lost at sea

Or is the hope

that we seek

Inside of you

Inside of me

June 2014

Willingly Bound

I can feel your ties

I can feel that you're binding me

to you

I feel no need to brace

when you push

And you'll feel no tug

when you pull

I'm your willing

participant

And you're my trusted

soul

And just as I'm bound

to you

You are bound

to me

And together when we walk

We will walk free

-June 2014

Keep Moving

Keep moving

Even when the ground

feels stale

Move against the wind

Never keep yourself

against the rail

Keep moving

Keep moving past

your fears

Let go of what's done

You can't undo

all those years

And whenever you feel lost

inside of your own space

Close your eyes and breathe

Remember, that you'll eventually

find your place

As long as you keep moving

-May 2014

Sweet Singer

Your heart sings to me

and mine echoes your song

All those years without you

could've been spent

hearing this all along

But I didn't know

we could sing so sweet

And now I'm reminded

every time I feel your heat

You spread right through

my veins

I can get lost in your voice

every time you call my name

So I'm gonna hold on to you

for the rest of my days

And I'll show you, show you

how I love you

in a hundred different ways

So let's keep making

this sweet music together

And let's stay lost inside

each other forever

-May 2014