Making Ends Meet

She used to sell

just about everything

to make ends meet

The many things

we sat on

played with

ate from

and wore

All reminders

that nothing

is permanent

Nothing stays

the same

We'd watch our stuff

get picked over

We'd watch them

try to haggle her

but she never showed

desperation

You'd never see

the loss

in her eyes

as money

exchanged hands

And just like that . . .

ours became theirs

-December 2014

It's Cold Outside Tonight

I close my eyes

and watch the river

bend beneath

my feet

I hope and pray

that the homeless man

finds someplace

warm enough

to sleep

Because it's cold outside

tonight

and as the waves

wash through me

I still know 

what feels

wrong

and what feels

right

We hurt each other

out of selfishness

If only

we'd been taught

to follow our bliss

Then we'd find

our true road

to happiness

Oh, it's cold outside

tonight

Living in this world

shouldn't be

such a

fight

Because there's no one

winning

on either side

Oh, it's cold outside

tonight 

-December 2014

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