Stilted Confusion

You can't just talk sweet words--

Flickering sweet flames that flare

In the darkness of our nights, sporadically

Instead of measured periodically

Where one can be sure,

One isn't left to be allowed confusion.

You have to make things happen

If you want wishes to come to fruition.

If you want happiness to come

Like bright rays shining over the hills,

Their grace grazing over your rooftop.

Out

When I was a child, I adored the countryside—

The peaceful fields the whistling in the trees,

The wide expanse of green and gold,

The stars shining stark bright in the vast dark sky.

Now?

            I hate it.

It’s the cage I’ve always feared, that makes my heart squeeze

The lungs suffocate, draining part of my living brain.

I’m done screaming and not being heard.

Even if I’m not comfortable, even if it isn’t perfect,

Even if I’m apprehensive, or even scared—

I’m going to use the truth,

            Actions

Louder than words

            Are going to speak.

My silence, my absence

Will be heard.

            And the cage

I’ll force it to disappear.

A Letter

Maybe I’ll just write it all in a letter,

            The words I have inside will spill out

In my scratching of cursive and print,

Instead of type.

Will you get it?

I’ve no idea.

Will it be to you, addressed at all?

            What will it imply?

Questions and answers—

            Of us?

            You and I?

You or I?

Love will fall upon each line.

Feelings held in, feelings known.

Truths

            Open doors

Wide flung windows,

From my soul to yours.

I’ll write you a love letter,

Like the notes we used to pass—

            But this will have more to it,

Than the two teenagers in the past.

My heart will bleed through the ink,

Staining the paper black,

            And to you who is always on my mind,

I hope it will tell all

            And more,

While pining for its reply.

Some Things Are Hard To Say

People in a small town

They like to laugh,

About good hearted things,

Stupid things,

And things that crack people’s hearts.

Not all things should be used

As a joke

            As a pun.

Some talk about what has happened to them.

Some have worked to see justice done.

Others remain silent, to avoid the

            Spotlight.

Communities, especially those in a small town,

Or close-knit social groups,

They tend to have a knack

For pointing the beam

            The finger

Ready to hurt people more

Whether or not they mean to,

Because words find blame.

            Words are blame.

Whether or not

A person has chosen

To speak, it does not mean

That there’s not something wrong;

            That there’s not a pain

Fighting and drowning.

Perhaps they’re scared.

Perhaps they don’t feel safe.

Perhaps they’re still working up the strength.

Perhaps they don’t want

            To be made as a victim.

Perhaps they’re just trying to hold on

            Maintain who they are

Allow you to keep the façade.

But even as a community of two

            Or two million—

It is the duty of others to respect.

What happened to true respect?

People need to feel like they won’t be judged,

Like there is a haven,

Otherwise, they may just be struggling

            Locked in the inside,

Waiting with time.

Seven Little Words

Seven little words

I dream of

Just seven little words

I hope for

Can you stay a little while

Just stay and talk

We don’t have to expect anything

But be the two of us.

Seven little words

They bind us

Just seven little words

You have me

Can you take the stand

I’ll gladly take your hand

We don’t have to be anything

But the two of us.

Seven little words

I see you

Just seven little words

I believe in

Stay by my side

I’ll show you what’s inside

We don’t have to rush

But just be the two of us.

Seven little words

So kiss me

Just seven little words

I’ll show you

You are what I need

And it’s time we had our chance

The door opened again

When you said, you loved me still.

Seven little words

Just seven little words

Yeah, I never stopped loving you, too.

No, It's Not

Isn’t it funny how

Just one simple action

Can put enough power into a threat

That is made countless times

From child to adult,

It still keeps you down.

You want to fight it,

But just a smack of words,

Your mind reverts,

Fear sits there like the monster under the bed

Lurking and waiting—

It makes you quiet.

You shut your mouth,

Silence.

Breathe In

Breathe in,

Breathe out.

Let in,

I drown.

I want that love.

I survive without it.

The kiss at night

Within the silence.

Brush your hand

Against this soul

Do you feel

The cracks so old?

Remove the words

The unsaid and spoken.

Listen to the heartbeat

Please, take action.

Thump.

Flutter.

Still.

Together.

Want to be Selfish

Each step I take,

Is another towards my saving grace.

You say you want to hold my hand,

My heart wants our second chance.

So do I stay and breathe in the love,

Or do I keep moving on?

Chorus:

You say that you do love me.

Always going to have a place in your heart.

You speak the words before I can,

But how do I break the old habit

When my heart wants to be selfish?

Damn…I want to be selfish.

I don’t know this bend in my path.

I know our love to be true,

But it’s so hard to break down the walls

I built because of you.

So do I let them fall to give it another try,

Or do I keep moving on?

Chorus

The futures full of questions

And yet when I’m with you again

Everything slips away and I stop caring.

My heart starts beating better because it’s on

And my mind starts shutting off.

So do I keep moving on?

Chorus

Can I be selfish this once?

Tick

Tick…Tick…Tick.

Tock.

Sometimes I just want to runaway,

Or let my feelings loose

Gather up all of my strength,

So that my silence is heard.

Chorus:

Ticking down the years,

I count up all the tears.

He’s lost his temper once again,

The essence of my fears.

I cringe from the fist,

That kind of blow that never comes.

All I get are bullets

Made of reactions and words.

Chorus

It seems I can’t escape,

Where you come from always weighs.

Just have to hold on

Until I get some peace.

Chorus

Tick…Tick…Tick.

Shhh…

Jekyll and Hyde

Your words,

Cut just like a knife.

I don’t know what to do.

It’s like I’m being gutted out alive.

Chorus:

What you say,

Does more damage than a bruise.

It’s emotional and mental abuse.

I want to hide away,

But it haunts me like a ghost.

You say yes, then no

I’m confused of where to go.

Make me feel alone.

Want me to depend on you.

Chorus

For every positive, there’s a negative.

Enunciate the syllables

You know that the clearer it’s stated,

The longer it takes for time to heal.

Chorus

There’s no running without falling.

So I ask God

To save me with His grace.

I’m going to survive.

Goodbye, Jekyll and Hyde.

Anymore

Don’t turn away,

Don’t walk away

Come here and face me.

Time we laid all the chips and cards down

It’s time we talked,

And it wont be easy.

Bridge:

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But your words no longer hurt me;

No, you can’t hurt me anymore.

You took my heart,

You made and broke me,

You were my happy place,

Come here and tell me how

I can replace all of what you’ve done

And what you did to crack me.

Bridge

Because I am stronger,

Did you think that I’d let myself

Love you forever and ever?

You’re wrong, I’m not your slave

Honey, you’ve misplayed the game

And now you’re left all alone.

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But your words no longer hurt me anymore.