People

Some people are like land mines. No matter how hard you try to avoid them, you'll always run into one of them by accident. And when you do, a reaction happens. A reaction that you're not happy about, even though you try to look at it as a glass that's half full. Sometimes the glass is full of poison. A glass of poison that's half full is just as bad as a glass of poison that's half empty.

Some people are like wind. You can't see it, but you know it's there because your cheeks tell you that something is moving and you trust it. These people come and go from your life. They might pretend to care for a little while, but they're constantly moving, and the best thing you can do is let the breeze blow instead of fighting it off.

Some people are like volcanoes. Deep down inside, the heat is churning, waiting to be released. They hold it in and try not to let it show. But sooner or later, they erupt, and it destroys everything in it's path. There's no way of predicting what's to come. It just happens. And you can't ever take it personally.

Some people are like swimming pools, and some people are like swimmers. On a hot summer day, a pool full of cool water is just what you want. You jump in, and the water welcomes you. You splash around, you go under water, and you enjoy the aquatic experience. But after awhile, your fingers and toes start to prune. You get bored of the pool, and you get out. When winter comes, you forget all about the joy it gave you. These swimmers use you. But the important thing to realize is that other people will come along, and maybe they might stay long enough to get pneumonia.

Some people are like blankets. They keep you warm when you're cold. They are always there for you. No matter how bad of a day you've had, you always know that at night, you can crawl into bed and feel comfort for at least a few hours. Never let go of these blankets, and never take them for granted. Even if they seem worn down, or used, remember that they were always there for you when you needed them.

And some people are like robots. Another face in the crowd. A voice unheard. A shadow of a shadow of a shadow. They go unnoticed. And sometimes they're completely unaware that they are even alive.

Some people are just people.

Masquerade

You stare at the party before you. Glamorous. It’s exactly like a scene out of any fairytale. Chandeliers dangle from the high ceiling, weighed down by diamonds and crystals. Although they hang still, it still seems as if they are threatening to fall down.
The floor reflects the light from the chandeliers. The walls bounce the voices back and forth. Each heel that strikes the floor is accompanied by a clack. You hear the countless conversations swirling around you, but you don’t understand any of them. All the voices and words blend together in one giant murmur.
Long, gorgeous gowns trail the glossy floor. Every girl on the dance floor wears a mask corresponding with her dress. Every boy wears the same penguin suit costume, each with a mask concealing his identity. The room is full of mystery and unanswered questions as everyone peers curiously at one another, wondering who exactly they’re dealing with.
A penguin suit walks up to you. Although the mask covers his mouth, you see the twinkle in his eyes and hear the smile in his voice. “You seem familiar,” he says slowly.
You return the smile. “Is this how you try to pick up girls?” you remark playfully.
He doesn’t reply at first. You see his eyes studying you, sure that he’s still smiling.
Under his gaze, you try not to squirm. Instead, you lift your chin, straighten your back, and lock your own eyes to him.
“Would you like to dance?” he asks you, holding out his hand for you.
You briefly glance down at his welcoming hand before taking it. “It would be my pleasure,” you reply, excited. The moment his hand wraps around your own, your palm grows sweaty and your heart beats faster.
And so the two of you dance. It’s graceful; rhythmic. You aren’t touching him, but you still feel his warmth emanating off his body that it almost seems as if your body is pressed against his. He breathes. You match your own to his. The butterflies within your stomach rampage in circles.
You can’t keep your cool for much longer. A grin permanently paints itself on your face along with a rosy red color gently brushed onto your cheeks. Unfortunately, the mask covers your transparent feelings.
The song ends. The two of you step away from one another. His warmth you felt, however, remains lingering on you.
“I’ll be right back,” you squeal, your voice an octave higher than it was prior to the dance.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” he replies, fairly amused. He’s taken a liking to you.
You turn and hurry away, trying to regain your composure. It’s difficult, considering you can’t seem to concentrate on anything other than Mr. Penguin Suit.
Accidentally, you bump into someone while your mind is preoccupied.
“Sorry,” you say, looking up at the person you just ran into. Your eyes widen and your jaw drops as you see a replicate of yourself. Or, so it seems like a replicate.
She has the same dress as you. Maybe not exactly the same, but an extremely similar one. Her mask is very similar as well. She has the same hair color as you; the same shade of skin, the same height. You feel like you’re looking in a mirror. The two of you look chillingly alike.
The only aspect different between the two of you were the eyes. As she holds your stunned gaze, you notice her eyes are deeper and darker compared to your own glowing set of carefree eyes. Her eyes don’t show surprise. Instead, they’re knowing and understanding. Very different from yours.
"You’re--" you start, trying to place a name with her hidden face. Before you can finish, a large crash interrupts you. The moment of truth.
Heads turn toward the fallen chandelier in the middle of the dance floor. Shattered glass is scattered everywhere. The guests stare at the chandelier in horror before panicking. They begin to run for the doors.
You bring your attention back to the look-alike girl. She lifts her mask and reveals a smile.
"--Love," you finish.
"And you’re Infatuation," she responds.
Glancing across the dance floor, you see Mr. Penguin Suit staring back at you, clearly puzzled. He doesn’t know which girl he danced with earlier in the night.
"He’s not searching for you," she says before slipping the mask back on. Her voice is soft, gentle. You can’t make a noise as she walks away toward a confused Mr. Penguin Suit. He gives you one last fleeting glance before giving Love his undivided attention.
You look the other way and notice another boy in a mask and a penguin suit costume staring at you curiously. Slightly raising your mask, you grant him a smile as you drift toward him.
The other boy isn’t your problem anymore. A new set of butterflies, giggles, and heartbeats are awaiting for you. Of course, he’ll mistake you for Love like they all do, but you’re alright with that now. You’re used to the quick, thrilling moments you’ll shortly share with him. It’s who you are.

Passing Angel

You and I,

We used to walk the same path.

Both of us were lost on a never-ending road,

Looking for answers around the darkest corners.

We both were searching for someone.

No one in particular,

Not a soul mate,

Not a friend,

Just someone who could understand.

The stars were brighter when you were walking beside me.

I felt stronger and safer in a world filled with danger.

We lived like we were winning the race,

Both knowing that it was impossible,

We acted like we were in the sky,

While they had us kissing the ground.

I never knew how lucky I was until I lost you,

You walked off the path,

Not leaving even footsteps for evidence.

The comfort you brought was washed away with the rain,

That hasn’t stopped since your hand left mine.

You were my angel,

You made me smile when my world crumbled around me.

Now all I see is the rubble left of what used to be,

My life and everything you meant to me.

Looking back now,

It’s almost as if you never had wings.

Violins

Entranced among the dancing masses,

the violins still play.

Wherever you go, the shadows follow

to slow you, to make you pray.

And you can hide, you can cover,

you can even make a run.

But the sleeping greys,

with their fiery passion,

will straddle along the Sun.

The swaying highs and the morning lows,

combined with all the blue,

stops for no one, no matter what

no matter what you do.

And you can hide, you can flounder,

you can even run away.

But then again, it's all the same.

February, March, April, May.

Ten thousand smiles could light the path

with the words that you'll never say.

Entranced among the dancing masses,

the violins still play.

Seven Minutes In Heaven (Part One)

“They say, when you’re about to die, that your life flashes before your eyes. Time practically comes to a halt and all your memories are relived in that final moment. From your first day of kindergarten when you tried to cut that cootie-infected girl’s hair while you were supposed to be napping. Crying your eyes out the first time you fell after taking the training wheels off of your bicycle, when dad gives you the standard talk about getting back on the horse. High school; finding out who you are and who you want to be. Trying out for the basketball team and tripping over your own feet. Discovering who your friends are and who just wanted to cheat on the Spanish test. And walking across the stage on that final day, without ever telling that special girl how you feel about her. One of many missed opportunities. Like blowing off the SATs to practice with your garage band. I mean, who needs college when you’re gonna be a rock star? Sooner or later though, reality sets in and the only opportunities still afforded to you are a minimum wage job and splitting the rent of a tiny cramped apartment with your former band mates. Sure, there are tough times. Memories you wish you didn’t have to see again. But I’ve realized that in our short stay in this world, the tough times, the difficult and dark days in our past, don’t have to spoil the good ones. Likewise, the good times don’t necessary make up for the bad ones. However… there are some truly perfect times; gloriously shining moments that no depressing thought or forgotten sin can overshadow… like when you stand up in front of everyone you know and say ‘I do’ to the love of your life. Or the first time you hold your baby girl and see just how precious she really is... hear her beautiful shrill voice crying for mommy… feel her take her first breathes of air… and listen to her heartbeat through her fragile little chest while she sleeps…”

Eric trailed off into silence and stared out of focus into his empty palms, gently overlaying each other in his lap.

“Is that what you saw, Eric?” Dr. Parker softly asked, rousing him from his trance-like gaze.

He looked up with glossy, reddening eyes. He was tired. Permanent dark circles and deep cut wrinkles made him appear older than he actually was. His short dark hair and scruffy unshaven face were peppered with pre-mature gray.

“Yeah,” he sighed after a beat, “the last thing I saw was my daughter’s face.”

“Er…” Dr. Parker started.

“BUT,” Eric exclaimed before she could finish a syllable, “but that’s not the end!”

“Oh really?” the doctor asked, somewhat taken aback by the vibrancy of her patient’s words, “What else did you see?”

“You know how folks say they’re in a dark tunnel and see a light that gets closer and closer?” He paused for Dr. Parker to nod in agreement. “Well Tess,” he started with half a grin, “do you know what’s at the other end of the tunnel?”

To be continued...

Sweet Life

Death is inevitable. We all know that life is fragile and must eventually come to an end. However hard we try, we can’t last forever. Despite our own mortality, nothing is more tragic than a life unnecessarily cut short.

There is a history of suicide in my family. My great-grandfather was depressed and convinced he was ridden with cancer, after he shot himself, the autopsy didn’t show a single malignancy. A great uncle divorced his wife then purposely overdosed on sleeping pills. And a great aunt unsuccessfully attempted suicide by cutting her wrists. Because of the impact that suicide has had on my life I know that it is not something to be taken lightly and it certainly isn’t an acceptable way to garner attention. So when teenagers threaten to kill themselves for some trivial reason such as a the end of a 3 day relationship, I, a complete pacifist, am overcome by the urge to hunt them down and shake and/or slap some sense into them!

Where is the perspective? Your life isn’t ruined and the world isn’t ending. Tomorrow the sun will rise and the planet will continue to spin. And on the off chance that it doesn’t, it’s because the sun went supernova and annihilated the solar system, not because your heart is broken.

Some people think that by committing suicide they are “doing the world a favor”. That they are relieving a burden from other people’s lives; perhaps because they have hurt someone and regret it so much that they believe some sort of martyrdom is the only acceptable retribution. In reality, what they’re doing is causing unbearable pain, guilt, regret, and uncertainty on an unknowable number of people.

Sometimes those who consider suicide do so because they think no one cares about them. Think again. Everyone has someone. No exceptions. Even if it’s not someone near you, there are people in this world who care about you... me, for example. Caring about a vast number of people whom you will never meet is a relatively new concept to human nature; nevertheless there are thousands out there, like myself, who care about you just because we share this lifetime.

To consider suicide is to consider that you would be better off dead than alive. Where is the logic? Despite what you may believe, death isn’t like going to sleep and it certainly isn’t like dreaming. Even saying that you see only darkness or nothingness is an overstatement. The neural connections in the brain cease, awareness or consciousness of any sort is simply impossible. If you believe in some form of the soul living on after physical death then suicide makes even less sense! Most religions maintain that killing yourself prevents you from entering their version of utopia (e.g. Heaven). Basically a religious person committing suicide says ‘eternal damnation in a fiery realm of torment would be better than living another day’. Whichever way you look at it, death is final and absolute.

Life is precious. Why is this so hard for us to understand? We consider suicide because we lose all hope. But there is always hope, even if it's beyond our sight. No matter how bleak your outlook, there is always something worth going on for. Always. Everyday has its own sweetness, even the sad ones. You mourn, but you live.

Remember This Parade

We float by as clouds after a rainy afternoon

Our silhouettes dance like reflections inside a foggy mirror

The sun shines brightly on the beating of our hearts

Violins play as wind whistles through gold-colored trees

Bare feet pad across white-washed wooden floors

Lips press softly in between hushed breaths

Hands interlock and whispers cue the interlude

Rain couldn't fall on this glorious parade

Right here, where the streets have no names

Where waves crash endlessly against rocky cliffs

Birds sing melodies to the sound of blood rushing

Bodies dance circles in the dim light

We are a red umbrella under a stormy night

"Love" doesn't sound strong enough for this

This is what happens when two souls collide

Because everything I stand for is in your eyes

Your smile fills my days with blinding light

The warmth of your skin cascades across my body

Sending shivers down my spine, we dance

Midnight spirals pirouette in our dreams

Masquerade the truth and unveil the lies

Haunted as you are by your past, just forget

Now, as the darkness creeps upon us,

Wrap me in your incandescent arms

I am completely fascinated by you

You're always on my mind

Flammable

Heat. Orange. In flames. In fiery streaks of melting construction.
This world which was once built on a foundation of steel and strength has now been molded into a gnarled remainder of what used to be. There is no light. There are no mirrors.


It's just you, and whatever your outstretched arms can gather. Can remember.


Memories. Flashback. Panic. Colors dance in front of your eyes, back and forth, until the shadows dissolve them just like they dissolved themselves. Absent from absence itself.


I'm walking. I'm walking slowly. But I'm going backwards. I know this because they tell me. Everyone.


I'm surrounded. I try to think. Where did everything go wrong? Was it always like this? Have I always been surviving instead of living?


So I breathe. Inhale, exhale. I close my eyes.


Inhale, exhale.


I'm living. I'm living. Slowly.


Heat. Orange. In flames. In fiery streaks of melting construction.


This world will never change. This world will never be the same.


Inhale, exhale. Just like our parents. Just like our ancestors.


Just like our neighbor who's on the registered sex offender list. Just like the girl that looks in the mirror every morning, every night, every chance she gets, hoping that one time she won't be disappointed by what she sees. The swelter never leaves.


Heat. Orange. In flames. In fiery streaks of melting construction.

Side of Time

Winds of ice
rip through the thin fabric of my sweater,
piercing my chilled bones.
In a world of shadows,
I'm all alone.
I open my eyes,
and peer through my eyelashes of snow;
everything is blanketed in a blinding white,
but I know better.
I exhale slowly,
and watch as my warm breath battles the cold air,
spiraling forever upwards.
I raise my eyes,
tracing every peak and curve of the mountain ahead of me.
My heart begins to race,
as my hands begin to reach, without having to be asked.
It's twilight.
The last rays of sun kiss my frozen cheeks,
before disappearing behind a blanket of darkness.
I begin to climb,
my limbs knowing exactly how to bend and twist to meet
every obstacle.
My mind leaves,
swirling into pictures and pieces, trying desperately
to detach.
My heart holds tighter,
as pain and desire rip through my whole being.
Gritting my teeth,
I climb higher.
Reach, grab, pull.
The actions spill over into words,
that I whisper under my breath.
Time disappears beneath my feet,
as my concentration waives.
I feel myself slipping,
but I don't resist.
Once more, I repeat the words,
before releasing my slight grip on the edge.
I feel like a feather,
drifting to earth,
a forgotten piece of a whole, that no longer needs it
to be complete.
The wind coarses through me,
working with gravity, pulling me ever closer.
"No!" I gasp, throwing out a desperate hand.
Crude rocks slice through the soft pads of my fingertips,
as I climb, while falling.
Slowly, my world pulls itself to a halt,
placing me back in time.
Words flow through my mind, and leave my lips once more.
Only now, I am singing new words,
a lullaby of sorts.
Gentle words to remind my heart,
that even though I'm climbing,
it's only to fall apart.

Ο θησαυρός μου

Αν κοιτάξεις τ' αστέρια θα θαυμάσεις το φως τους
ζωγραφίζουν ορίζοντες και ο ουρανός ο σταθμός τους,
μα θα δεις και ένα αστέρι που θα πέφτει αναμμένο
το ανόητο χάνεται μα δε μοιάζει θλιμμένο...

Αν κοιτάξεις τον κόσμο θα αντικρύσεις  τον πόνο,
οι αξίες φθηνές και το χρήμα στον θρόνο,
σαν παιδί ταραγμένο που τα βράδια φοβάται
μα μπορεί και ονειρεύεται και ευτυχισμένο κοιμάται...

Αν κοιτάξεις τα μάτια μου θα αντικρύσεις εσένα,
η καρδιά μου δική σου, είναι δώρο από μένα,
μη σε πνίγει το χθες, στο παρόν να ελπίζεις
χαμογέλα, σου πάει, σαν τον ήλιο φωτίζεις...

Έχεις δώσει πολλά και απορώ αν τ' αξίζω,
η αγάπη μοιάζει θησαυρός που αγγίζω,
νιώσε τώρα το χτύπο μιας καρδιάς που αρρωσταίνει
μακριά σου νεκρός που μόνο εσύ ανασταίνεις ...

Unseen Truth

A chance to speak those words burning in my throat,

A chance to let you know every deep secret hidden behind the walls we’ve built,

Strong and sturdy so no one can see how fractured our lives have become.

We are safe behind these brick walls.

The sentences we try to form,

Never make it past our lips.

They get caught up in our imagination,

As we watch the possibilities of what could be.

Staring at the truth of what might happen if we let our thoughts slip through our sealed lips.

They would find out every detail,

Every lie we’ve told to avoid confrontation,

Every smile we’ve plastered just to make it through the day,

Every thought of giving up that has ever passed by our never ceasing minds.

They would know us, for who we truly are,

Not the identity we’ve created to make life simpler,

The one that believes every lie,

The one that never has to fake a smile,

The one who would never give up on the grasp she has on hope.

But that wall and that identity will all fall away someday,

We will accidentally let our thoughts move past our mind,

And we will be left to deal with the chaos we have made,

A hurricane that will wash away all the safety we hold on to.

Until then, we will be lost behind our walls,

Keeping our hands over our mouths to keep you from seeing the secrets of our dysfunctional world.

Breathe

Constantly searching for the one thing that will bring you joy

Turn back from your self fulfilling lies

Listen to the whispers

Join in with the chorus of tomorrow's prophecies

Never make a sound

Enter a world where nobody cares about the decisions you make

Do what you feel

Not what everyone else believes

Run until the world comes to an end

Where the sky kisses the earth

Sing until you can no longer feel the vibrations of your voice

When the screaming inside your head becomes too loud

Whisper

Escape into the sorrows of this godforsaken city

Release your broken heart into the mess we've made

Let the blood run into the streets

It's a river of misery

Open your eyes and exhale

Breathe out the bad and start fresh

Every breath you take is a new memory

Change your name and move away

Forget about your past

You have no regrets

Leave this place and your hopes and dreams

Eat your heart out and swallow the pain

Release the tension and run away

Calm your senses

Slow your breathing

Hero.

Behind closed eyes, you see nothing but darkness. A few moments pass. You make out an obscure boy standing between shadows. His broad shoulders are meant to protect and to care. His chin is lifted, proud and dependable.

As his eyes glance around the unfamiliar environment, you find an array of light flickering through his bright irises.

Faith. Warmth. Freedom.

The lights dance around his eyes, forever moving. They pierce through the dark haze, keeping him safe and afloat. The darkness won’t consume him.

You're wrong though.

The shadows grow, morphing into fog. The murky air devours the weakening light. Unafraid, he stands his ground, prepared for the unknown. But soon, all his light is taken away.

Your eyes drowsily open to meet the night. Closing your eyes, you try to fall asleep again. To your dismay, it’s impossible.

Groggily, you get out of bed and walk over to open your window. In the vibrant moonlight, you notice someone.

A long, elegant gown follows the curves of her body before fanning out around her. She sits on the grass, face raised to the moon. Her soft hair glimmers in the moonlight, chasing the gentle breeze of the night.

Taking a seat, you rest your head against the wall and wonder what she’s doing on your front lawn in the middle of the night.

Before you can ponder about the girl any longer, you’re brought back to the darkness. The boy so confident earlier is now trapped within blackness, lost and suspicious.

A pair of hands seizes his one arm, pulling him to the right. A soft buzzing resonates through the air. The boy glances, worried, in that direction.

Another pair of hands grabs his other arm, fiercely dragging him to the left. The boy winces in pain. The buzzing soon turns into a ring.

There are two different pitches, seemingly arguing. Each pair yanks at the boy’s arms simultaneously, as if he was a prize won by the best fighter. With each tug, the ring grows louder.

The boy recoils in pain. He clenches his teeth, so no cry can escape from his mouth. As he’s being torn apart, the tugging becomes more vicious while the ringing becomes unbearable.

His shoulders sag, ready to give in. His lowered head keeps his lifeless gaze glued to the floor. His eyes show no more light. Shadows slither through the once bright eyes.

Hurt. Fear. Doubt.

The tugging and the ringing reach their climax before falling completely silent. The hands release their grip on the boy’s arms, scuttling away.

He falls into the darkness, breathless and cold.

Your eyes fly open, wide awake. Your heart is ready to jump out of your chest. You wipe your sweaty palms on your pants. The goose bumps on your skin prickle as you shiver from the remnants of your dream.

Standing up, you close your opened window. Outside, you notice the girl still occupies both your lawn and the moon.

You walk through your quiet house and slip through the front door, heading for the girl.

She hears your footsteps and looks up with a goofy smile. "Good morning," she greets you. "I thought it might be rude of me to ring your doorbell so early." Your heart begins to calm down. The goose bumps fade. You’re relieved to see your best friend, despite the ungodly hour.

She pats the grass next to her, inviting you to sit down. You take the invitation. Instantly, your friend begins to ramble about her exciting evening at a masquerade ball. As you listen, you can’t help but be soothed by her voice.

Soon enough, the boy shrouded in darkness reappears. The scene continues. He lies there on the ground, nearly broken and hopeless. Nearly, but not wholly.

It takes a while, but slowly, specks of light resurface in his gray eyes. Weak at first, they only heal the wounds within his body. However, the light strengthens and eliminates the smothering dullness, heaving him back on his feet.

The black color is picked away, like how a child picks dried glue off his fingers. Gradually, his fingers are clean; the color black is gone.

Although tired and weary, he lifts his head and stands straight, revealing his eyes. The dark chemicals mix with the dancing lights, forming an intricate world behind his eyes.

Wise. Knowing. Understanding.

He seems to see right through your skin into your soul, finding the truth. Nothing is hidden from him. No longer broken. No longer hopeless. He is reborn with every lesson already learned.

In the new illumination, you recognize him. The way he stands. The structure of his face. The silence he keeps.

He is you; you are him.

With eyes open again, your friend mutters, "Sorry for boring you."

You smile in apology. You see the sun has risen slightly above the horizon.

She stands up beside you, stretching her arms. "Long night," she comments. "Let's eat." Already, she’s walking toward your kitchen.

You follow her lead.

"I don't get you," she sighs. "People hand over their vulnerability to you, and you give to them a new confidence." She makes a face. "And you always keep silent, never complaining about the burden." Her long dress catches underneath her feet constantly as she stumbles along. "You’re like an undefined law. No one understands you, but everyone knows you’re the good guy."

The moment she trips, your outstretched arms are there to catch her.

Relief washes over her face. "It’s nice to know I’ll always be caught whenever I fall." Re-establishing her balance, she holds his hands. "You know, I think that’s why we make such good friends, despite how mysterious you are. I need you, and you kind of need me." She grins. "After all, I am Love and you are Trust."

Hurricane

You are a hurricane

Blissfully engulfing me in the mercy

you so willingly hold present at any moment.

And here I am, rustling about in the grace You withhold.

With heartstrings attached,

I'll use what little hope I have left to believe that,

maybe I didn't mess up as badly as I thought.

And the hope to never confide

myself against You ever again.

But most of all, the kind of hope I need,

to believe that you can and will keep me safe

from the obscurities one can hold.

I fall. I fumble. I mess up. And I say things that I don't mean.

I'm hopeless. I'm scared. I'm tired.

I'm ready to get rid of the dirt. Just fall.

And let You catch me.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time

there was this boy

with a head full of problems

and a lack of motivation

and no one cared

His father told him he wasn't good enough

and so he believed him

and so he slept all day

and so he never replied

Once upon a time

there was this boy

and this boy had an idea

but he didn't want to be made fun of

for having it

and Everyone told him he was weird

and so he believed them

and so he slept all day

and so he never tried

Once upon a time

there was this boy

with no reason to live

but to be free from death

and this boy had a wish

and he wished it every night

The stars told him that he was okay

and so he believed them

and so he slept all day

and so he never died

Once upon a time

there was this boy

and every time he felt happy

this girl was the cause

He told himself if he could sleep all day

and dream about her

that maybe this dream could be reality

and so he believed it

and so he slept all day

and so he never cried

Once upon a time

there was this boy

and one day he decided to reply

"If I'm not good enough for you,

then you're not good enough for me"

and the night sky urged him to try

His wish came true, his dream a reality,

he lived a wonderful life

The world told him to give up, to lay down and die.

and so he never believed a word they said

and so he slept for the strength, not to hide from the truth

and so he kissed the girl every night

Relive The Prelude.

Can we just go back the start?

Back to when the only things that could hurt us were sticks and stones,

Where the words spoken meant nothing.

They were just syllables and spaces,

Nothing more, nothing less.

Nearing the end now,

We realize the meaning of those words,

How much power they truly have over our minds and lives.

Changing the way we see the horizon.

We no longer watch through our own eyes,

We see the light from a different perspective,

Suddenly understanding the pure beauty of the world we walk through everyday.

And before you make your exit,

Could you do me a final favor?

Grant me this wish,

A simple sentence to disguise the sinking feeling,

Sing me a lullaby to get rid of the nightmares of insanity,

Keep my heart safe when you are a hundred lonely miles away.

A look back on the times we felt limitless,

Remember the endless Sunday nights,

That we spent watching the stars,

Hearing our countless dreams about forever.

Can we just go back to the start?

Your Lullaby

Indecision mocks your tired eyes as
Silhouettes of your past dance through your mind.

Secrets linger on the tip of your tongue,
Unsure, even of themselves.
Naked, despite the infinite layers, you
Glow defiantly with words left unsung.

Blindly feeling through a maze of lights,
You find that one has gone out.

Misunderstood and sleepy,
You pick her up.

Her silence whispers through you,
Enveloping you in blissful peace.
Artfully molded, you
Resign;
To everything she beholds.

My Stranger

You don't know me

Underneath this beautiful façade

Below the surface of my ivory skin

I am a monster

I'm dangerous

Ruthless in nature

Don't try to understand me

I'll burn you

I can't love

My heart is a war zone

Torn between loving and hating

It's a mess

My life is a disaster

Hope is irrelevant
Lies fill my blood

They will overcome me

Insomnia is my best friend
Countless days spent wandering
Lost souls are never peaceful

Lovers are restless

They are hidden inside me

My demons scream

Teeth bared and wings open

They tear open my insides

I don't know who I am anymore

My life is a mystery to me

These demons take control

I am a stranger to myself

Burn with Me

The clock’s run out, we’ve reached the brink
We fiddled as our world crumbled beneath our feet
And wept when the heavens burned without mercy
Yet, beyond rhyme or reason, it spared the two of us
Left us standing. Floating. Falling together in the purified abyss
Only us and a lonely glow looming in the distance
We run to it, a beacon in the darkness
It’s Pandora’s sacred virtue
A dwindling gleam of hope that drives us forward
Seconds pass in ages, at last we reach it
A smoldering fire


You and I, we face the flames
We three impossible things at the edge of night
Sins and shadows cast far behind us
By divine instinct we know what we must do
I take your hands in mine and look you in the eyes
They glisten with fear and uncertainty

And the silver light of your shining soul
A perfect embrace before the plunge
Together we will burn

Glowing cinders dance like Beltane torches
Each spark destined to become a shining cosmic jewel
Wisps of flame spin threads of fate
And weave a tapestry of febrile dreams

We will bask in the splendor of fire
Like a Phoenix, resurrected from the ashes of death
Consummated by the same inferno that ravaged our worlds
Our immortal passion will create life anew

We will be coronated by flames
Wreathed and robed in illustrious scarlet
And adorned by crowns of golden dawn
Two hearts ablaze in eternal glory

Burn with me?