Insanity

Never did a sunflower grow while hiding in the shade of day

When dusk and dawn collide

then crash

               down

into the universe expanding onto a black canvas

Where everything and nothing coexist

And it is right

...

Never did a sunflower grow while hiding in the shade of day

When rhyme and reason cease to make sense

and instead,

                -time stops

…

Never did a sunflower grow while trying to grow as another flower

T'would be silly,

                    am I wrong for thinking so?

For if a rose has a thorn

and a bed has a frame

then what shoes do jesters wear?

Or do they wear any at all?

…

Never did a sunflower grow while hiding in the shade of day

After envy sank her fangs into its small neck

injecting her lethal poison

             as she skirted away

       with a crowd cheering close behind

while the sunflower withered into a mere skeleton of what it could have become

Quivering Knees

I wandered alone

though my mind was with you

as I sang a song to no one in particular

about nothing that would be useful to anyone at all

About the towering trees,

the bumbling and ever-so-humbling bees

bounding their way through the wildflower fields,

and my quivering knees

on the day that I first met you

Of the days that flew by

while the hours droned on

and a life that only I

       can so clearly imagine

Like a dream passing through

the memories left unkempt

in a journal long forgotten

    -perhaps locked away from the light of day

That children go out in search for
after hearing the stories from their grandfather
while he quietly wishes to himself
              that the journal was his to keep
rather than an inescapable thought
that leaves him in a restless daydream

While he sings to nobody in particular
about nothing that would be useful to anyone at all
His eyes growing faint

As my heart was

                once long ago

when I wandered alone

       
      and yet,

  my mind will always be with you.

A Call To Arms (Finding a Passion)

I'll be honest with you. All of you. It really is not as difficult as you make it out to be. It is not as complicated, cruel, deceiving, and selfish as it's been described to me as. Read Corinthians sometime, you know, in the Bible. It's a good book believe it or not. I haven't read it all but then again, you don't have to read a book all at once. And that's another thing. Reading. You need to read. Read anything. Everything. Read all that you can because the more educated you are, the more useful and well rounded you are. The more stimulated your mind will be. Find something you enjoy, dedicate time to it, and love it for all that it's worth. And that is what I'm trying to get at.

Love. Passion. That yearning to do something for pure and simple joy. Sheer joy. I mean, honestly, can you tell me what you love? Take a moment to reflect. Did you have to think long and hard on it? No offense, but if so, I feel sorry for you. You've been on this planet, living and breathing, for a decent amount of time yet you lack a driving force to move yourself towards something bigger. Somewhere better. Anywhere. Where's the fire in your heart to do something? Become someone. We're all in search of who we are. Who we are to become. And what we're here for. If you claim that you're not, then you're lying to yourself and others. And I'm not saying you have to find a hidden temple, solve the world's most difficult math equation, cure cancer, or change the world like that. Just do something that makes you happy and motivates you to become someone better. Become all that you can be.

Love what you do, love who you are. Love those around you because as much as you might not be able to stand them, the more you learn to tolerate, the better off you'll be. The more positive you are, the easier life will seem. Life isn't always roses and butterflies. Sometimes life really does suck. Sometimes you do need a moment to break down and cry for a bit. But you have to move on eventually.

Make goals. Fulfill those goals. Eat what you want and enjoy it. Meet people and be genuine.

Listen to what others say. Truly. Don't just hear. There is a difference you know.

Believe in the goodness in everyone and realize that darkness lurks in all of us.

Love the life you have. Live and lead a life that you can love.

Just find something or someone that will help you become a better person, and then love that someone or something with everything you have in you for blessing you in such a way.

Because love never gives up nor does it ever give in. Love never fails.   

Lily Grey (a sestina)

Her name was Lily Grey

And like the breeze, she is free

As she dances among the rolling hills painted green

With the coming of Spring. Oh, she was young,

A true angel in her fair town.

           -you can still hear her father cry.

She would wake suddenly with nightmares and he would whisper “don't cry

my dear, I'll never let anyone hurt my Lily Grey.”

The folks still whisper about her in town

As if she'll come bounding back home, hair flying free

Her image frozen in time, she will be young

Like Spring's first green.

Like the first humming bird, flapping wildly, body a blurred green,

Or the world after eyes rubbed red from a long, hard cry

over how she was so young.

Oh, that poor Lily Grey!

Though now her soul runs free

throughout her mourning town

It was only three Springs ago that the bells rang across this town

The dress she wore was a floral green

as she sang so loud and free

“The lilies are in full bloom!” while her song became a joyous cry

And that was the dear Lily Grey.

She was so young.

...So young.

They sent search parties out from the town

They crept through the forest, yelling out “Lily Grey!

Come home, little one!” Only to find themselves lost in a thick green

brush. Struck by despair, they could only cry.

Her footprints led deeper into the wood, as if she had simply broke free.

As if she just kicked off her shoes and thought to herself I am free

Her thoughts deranged from being so young

but a man who had searched swore he heard her cry

for her father, or that's at least rumored throughout town

Like how her eyes reflected the depths of Heaven, such a beautiful green

because everyone loved Lily Grey

They loved seeing her run free through the town

or sitting below the young maple tree in the common; the leaves a fresh green

-And how her father still cries for his dear Lily Grey.

Within Dreaming

Little things recall us to Earth
Like awakening in the depths of the night
The brilliant shine of the stars
Freckling the ever expansive universe
Beauty booming
Beckoning with her nightly songs
To his breath on my neck,
His arm wrapped tight around my waist

Like when reality turns her cheek
And the sky turns a dark, ominous grey
Swallowing up the fiery sun’s
Lustful shine
And dementia takes over
Swiftly as a morning’s bird takes flight
Into the passing hours

But the buzz of the alarm
Wakes me from my quiet dreaming

It’s the little things which recall us to Earth

Prayers

You only pray when something is wrong
When the wrong words are the only words
that you can make out to sound right


When things fall apartand can't be put back together
As the world spins madly by

When closed eyes reveal an open world 
And the dreamer is king

Because let's face it
You only pray when something is wrong
When your world has spun crazily out of control
and not even darkness can pull you deep into its abyss 


You just float by -emotionless-
as you question how you got here
and how you are to get out


While looking up to God, hands clasped together 
as you begin to murmur “Dear God, I know it has been a while... but I really need you...”
We all know that it's true
because we do


We all need you to save us from something
-perhaps just ourselves


And I can only ask,
“Dear God, 
please. Please save us from whatever is to come
And whatever has already passed.
Please, God.Please save me.


Amen"

A Walk Alone With You

Through the woods I went

On a walk alone

with you.

The pink sky faded into the darkening night

While the stars began to emerge;

Their eyes peering down on us.

You took my hand,

as I took yours

Together we walked

on my walk alone

with you.

Wishing to wander

through the gated path to Heaven

While we danced among the galaxies

that spanned out towards infinity

                  -Wherever that may be.

Yet our minds raced

as we traced and retraced

each of our every steps

As the day slid into the depths of night,

I dreamt that I was

On my walk alone

with you.