Just One

Walking out
One cigarette lit in his hand
He had a strong grip
As expected of a soldier
A brief moment of r e l e a s e
[CAPTIVATED HIM]
Smoke lazily filled his mind
Satisfied, he let out a puff
But too quickly the cigarette grew heavy between his thick fingers
A burdening weight
A voice, a reminder, Emily's hatred
It all held him in place
Throwing the cigarette down
He stepped on it
Boldly
Grinding it into the cement

As the flame went down
He watched...
Dreams dim to ash

Lullaby Aunt

It's not good enough yet
Try again.
Shut your eyes
Lock up the rest of the world
Honour the melody

So she strains her vocal chords
Trying not to miss a note
With visible effort
She sings until she forgets how to speak
The instability of emotions still conquers her sound

Gotten that much harder lately
Find peace with the music
The lyrics of every song
Have jumbled themselves into nothing more
Than words
All too alike, too simple
She's not a quitter, she is reminded daily
Her commitment won't get phased

Not because she wants success
Or recognition
It's beyond that
She sings for an aunt
Who, years ago, would sweep her into a deep sleep
With a single lullaby
A soft, innocent tune

A woman
Who
Could
Have
Moved
Millions
With a single note...
With a single effort

Her lullaby aunt

I'd Rather

These numbers, these formulas
Drowned in my thoughts
Hazy and obscure
I'd rather go outside
Take a walk down the sunny sidewalk
Feel the slight breeze on the back of my neck
As long hair is pushed to the side
I'D RATHER TAKE A NAP
On the soft green grass
In the shade of the tallest tree in the park
I'd rather listen to music
Dance
Sing
Draw

But here I sit
Trying to decipher the meaning behind these formulas
Behind these numbers and rules
When I'd much rather...

Interview

He puts on his black leather jacket,
And brushes off any remnants of crumbs on his
Scuffed jeans,
As he swallows the last bit of his bread

Ignoring the vibration of the cell phone in his pocket,
He realizes that he is running late,
Again

"Don't mess this up son,
You know we can use that money,"
The words RING in his mind

He combs his hair with one slick hand movement,
Grabs the white pills on the counter just in case
And leaves for the door

He doesn't run,
Because he is sick,
And because he is tired

Instead he reaches for the doorknob,
Inhales,
And steps out

Aims

indentDreaming of the future
Hoping to learn focus
Overlook fears of failure
Avoid liars and manipulators
Fight battles that must be fought
Learn
Explore
Experience...memoirs, mistakes
Keep head up
Balance emotions
Discover a sense of equilibrium
Encourage +positive+ attitude
Remove pink glasses
Observe the world for what it is
What is has developed into
indentWhat it may still become

Fear

A dark room
We settle in like dust
Haunted walls
Eye to eye
Control
Blocked from our most valued ambitions
Most desired successes
This evil, this beast has no boundaries
Creeps up on us at night in our dreams
Into our minds
Peaks in through tinted windows
Touches the handle of our door
As we fear losing a loved one
Betrayal
Lies
We fear the unknown
Border it, contain it
Before it is given the chance to
Bar you
In its cells

Weak

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

How far can you push yourself

To follow the willingness of a spirit

That’s brought down by your own flesh?

Raw, pink flesh that layers the bones

Carnal nature of humankind

You realize how little control you possess

A mess

When you are told that you’re

Weak as a kitten

Or

Weak as a rat

You know that

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

So you run from that link

You dispose of that link

Unless...

You are that link?