OPEN MIC ARCHIVES

Up-dated August 17, 2000

You Believed
(dedicated to Mrs. Buscher, my 9th grade English teacher)
Tia Richardson 

I was feeling 
really bad today
I thought
I couldn't go no

I bought some pills and water
I was gonna take them all
I guess thought
They'd ease my pain

I didn't think
anyone would care
It never crossed my mind
that someone believed

sitting in the classroom
I plotted out my plan
I wrote out my good-byes
then you called my name

you handed me a paper 
in which i had turned in
there was a note written
to me at the end

you wrote that 
you believed in me
and that you knew
I will succeed

it said I was
a good writer
and that I had 
artistic talent

you'll never know 
just how much
that little note
meant to me

it saved my life
that little note
made me realize
that someone believed in me
~^~

Seasons
Paula Vogelson

AN AUTUMN NIGHT BLEEDS SILENTLY
MY CRIES BLEND IN WITH THE WIND
THOUSANDS OF LEAVES FALL AROUND ME
I KEEP THINKING OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THE NIGHT LASTS LONGER, IT'S OPPRESSIVE
IT ONLY GIVES ME MORE TIME TO THINK
IF I COULD STAND THE TASTE OF POISON
I'D POUR MYSELF A DRINK

A WINTER NIGHT CHILLS THROUGH ME
THE COLDNESS TEARS MY HEART
THE NIGHT LASTS LONGER, AND LONGER
IT GIVES ME TIME TO FALL APART

LIFE AND DEATH ARE SIMILAR
AND SEASONS CONTINUE TO CHANGE 
A BEAUTIFUL ROSE IN BLOOM IS DECEIVING
TO ME IT ONLY SYMBOLIZES PAIN

MOST PEOPLE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS
NOT ME, I MUST ASK WHY?
WHY WHEN YOU'RE GIVEN SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL,
DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO DIE??

~^~

Night is falling, it's the death of humanity
Silence is calling, it's the beginning of insanity
Carry Me Away
Ride the lightning to a brave new land
Take your time and pray
Take your steps lightly and hold out your hand
Listen to the crying, it's the end of a struggle
Be weary of all the lying it's too much to juggle
Pick your head up off the floor 
Before those you love walk out your door
Carry Me Away, from all the insanity
Make all your amends And stand up tall and proud
The world on you depends To pronounce love and scream it out loud
You've got to keep the fire burning, To fuel the lights in your eyes
Carry Me Away
From me stop turning, I can see in the night I can see your lies
Don't try and hide your disappointment
When I try and walk away
It's not for my amusement
It's to quietly say: Carry Me Away
Amanda Matusiak

~^~

Book of Light
David Koepke


Book
of light--

Pages
like a cloudbreak
restlessly... on the move

a bright
a shadow winged
October day.

~^~

****HAPPY BIRTHDAY!***
(Dedicated to my dearest sis)
 MAHVESH


Happy birthday to you
your gift is still due
May you smile like the flowers
And you shine like the stars
May you have more birthdays
And you have fun filled days
May God be with you
In whatever you do.
***************

~^~

Twisted on My Side
 Maribel Vega

I sleep
folded up like origami
next to your body

it is late
the sky outside is pale
china blue
the clock ticks
its one icy note
lingering in the air

I contemplate the indifference
there

The moon tucks its
swollen belly
behind a cloud of dusty vapors

and as quickly as I awakened
I have fallen back to sleep

~^~

My lips are silenced
by the sweet chirping crickets
lulling me to sleep.

 Susan Shen

~^~

Under a Bradford Pear
Kevin Adkisson


Illusive and solid;
filled and empty.
View of the purple night;
scene of the yellow day.
Follow God with reckless abandon
do not let what could be
end in a misty dream.
Feel the blade of grass cut you
dirt grainy beneath you.
A twig in your side
wind in your face.
Hot sun upon your back
cool earth under your navel.
Give it all away
sleep a lovers sleep
live a lover's dream.

~^~

A Song is A Song
Corey

A Song is a song no matter how it sounds
Use a beat even your feet
A song is a song to remember.

~^~

THE SONG
William Manson

Musically minded gifted one,
Try and see the morning sun,
Capture the day in song and sing,
Of a beautiful earthly godly thing,
The words so sweet and melody strong,
Is where my heart and soul belong,
I feel the moment special and new,
Produced in words, I gave to you,
The tune angelic, feelings within,
Void of hostility, hatred or sin,
Make my day special, loving and sweet,
Your voice is so trancelike, gentle and meek,
Take me now into the realms of glory,
This song you sing is an endless story,
Memories past present unfurled,
With meaning of hope, for a brand new world,
All I ask is the simplest of things,
Use my words wisely, hope humanity sings.

~^~

Damn You
by Wallace A. Zard


They didn’t publish me, Damn them all then
I’ll submit poems, thousands times ten
I’ll write this poetry, dusk until dawn
Until that damn publisher puts me back on…

This stupid publisher must be such a fool
To not add my poems is freaking un-cool
The poems are decent, some of them rhyme
To not see them printed, a damn waste of time…

And so it shall happen, so it shall be
You’ll get two trillion damn poems from me
I’ll not stop typing, not for a day
Until I get published again I can say…

To threaten you often would not be my style
To get you to publish this poem and smile
So I will then threaten, only by this
Kind of a mushy, wet poetry kiss…

Please print my poems, I know they suck bad
But these are the best that I ever have had
They may lack direction, and may lack true skill
But I can write worse and still probably will…

~^~

Oh Philly, my Philly!
Gary Dranch


To Philadelphia come the party hopefuls.
Braying loud proclamations, flailing with
suds abounding, come the conquering party
heroes. Crown the son King and Hail-onto-him!
From this citadel, bastion of Freedom's
liberty bell, whence all-cracked in dungeon
green stately intones: "Oh, Philly, my
Philly". Here's a pastiche of America.
Blending black, yellow, white and red like
Betsy Ross stitched long ago. "You're
from", "I'm from", "we're all one here",
ne're an air of dissent. On Philly streets
dissolute young, lamb-like, bleat bland,
soundless tones for posterity. The party
hopefuls have come to stay the execution of
time. Bulbs flash in-concert, wincing and
dancing in time to forget. They are but
footnotes in step to oblivion. Oh, Philly,
my Philly, remember us in your annals proud!

~^~

Someone died tonight
And dimmed out all the lights
My heart stopped for a beat
With a feeling bittersweet

My eyes never opened so wide
Emotions swept away w/ the tide
And I know I want God on my side
Cause time is running out
And it's sooner than you think
And life has never been so beautiful...
 Jon Bolden

~^~

i never thought you'd show
could not believe you did
when all at once, my dreams made true
shy-child again, i hid

another mournful long and lonely saddened night
if i don't die from fear
i fear i'll die of fright
 cheral

~^~

I am manacled by chains
That can never be unlocked
Chains that isolate
Chains that sadden and hurt
Ripping through me
Every which way I move
Freedom is not an option
Especially when the holder of the key
Is me
 Becka Allen

~^~

Longing To Wonder
Rick Garthwaite,jr

The longing, the confusion, the fear,
in many different ways.
The crying, the tears - longing to understand life
with passing days.
The longing, the pain, the fear dwells in vain as
I awake every day.
The pain, the longing, the loneliness.
Hoping its not the same.
Longing to wonder if my life will ever be.
Whispering, hoping - A guide i need,
A gentle hand, a warm glow.
Crying tears, Needing help through my loneliness, my fears.
Longing to make everything clear.
Haunting, loneliness, fear, just a whisper, just a tear...

~^~

I was warm
as you passed through me,
body and soul,
rising and falling all night long
as tongues wandered upon flesh.
a thousand storms
in our two souls
lingered deep into the night
as liquid shadows danced like fire
upon the far walls
cast there by late-night TV static
and a random headlight.
our bodies melted together
that night
as you and I became
more than an intangible dream.
we owned the stars
and morning was
a thousand light-years away.
 Leeann badfish

~^~

Two Different People With Two Different Emotions

Have you ever loved someone so much 
That you would give him the whole 
Entire world if he asked for it?
But then you find out he doesn't 
Feel the same way about you.
You feel your heart sink
If he doesn't love you then who will?
He knows that he has to move on
And he probably already has
But you know that you'll never be able to
Being just friends, doesn't seem good enough
He's been there through all my pain
He's given me support, love, and heartache
We're not as close as we used to be
Two different people with two different emotions
We're supposed to be together
But even to me that doesn't seem possible now
I've always known, he'd be in my heart
It'll be a year since I've seen him
It seems like eternity
My love for him is too strong
I'm just hurting myself even more
By not letting go
But how can you let go to someone you've loved
It feels like your letting a piece you go with him
Have I ever felt this way about anyone else?
I know he'll never feel the same way ever again
And just knowing that causes more pain
If he only really knew how I felt
I still don't think it would make a difference
We're to far away know
Even when we were close, I felt us growing apart
We both have our own lives but some how 
It seems like he should be apart of mine 
We're not as close as we used to be
Just two different people with two different emotions

Amie Christine Baratta

~^~

Burning lilacs
dark purple frozen
in milky whiteness
Green shooting across
sea of purple, white.

Sole light in my cave.

Celtic voice
sings a ballad
"...and galloped away to the land"
song about love, loss
revenge
death.
"...Watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there"

A single breathe, darkness
envelopes me.
First notes of the next song
" la da dida dida..."
piano in the darkness.

Carol Willow

~^~

Cheated
Mela Katra

I thought you really liked me
I thought you really cared
Everyday I was so damn happy
But now all I have is my despair

Days were like a dream 
And you seemed so very friendly
But things were not what they seemed
Truly you were deadly

You filled me with such hope
you made fill so needed
I don't know how I'll ever cope
For now I fill so cheated

You took away my self esteem
You took away my flare
Now I have nothing to keep me
but this terrible night mare

I wish I could get back at you
But you were much to big and strong
You took my shiny and new and made it old and used
and now it's done and gone

I was just another faceless name
A passer by in a crowed street
If only I had known your game
I would not feel so cheap

So very, very, cheap
and hurt,
and alone,
and scared,....

~^~

'Impervious to the Imperious' by 'Benj'
The Stone (01/01/2000)


Hold my hand,
And look into my eyes,
The Stone that is beneath us,
Is also in the skies.
For somewhere in the darkness,
A place lies just to see,
A place that was created,
For the likes of you and me.
From under, where the dew lies,
To far beyond our reach,
The powers of the universe,
Can speak, and so will teach.
So listen with an open mind,
And with an open heart,
For each of us can find a place,
And herein lies the start.

You and me,
You will see,
Blessed Be.

~^~

It all depends on you
Monica L. Villanueva


And all I can do is wait
For my own fate
Because I've got no power
To tackle this together...

It all depends on you...

Every single thing 
Reminds me of memories 
And deep within 
I felt pain too much to bear

For all I can say...
There isn't a good way...
And for that, I know it's true...
It all depends on you... 

I don't care if...
You can wait till end of time 
All I care about is...
If you can survive... 

The test, the burden, 
The waiting that will laden 
You...
For all I know...
I can't let you go 
And I don't want to rue 
...It all depends on you...

~^~

IN THAT BLACK HOLE/ RIDE A HORSE
janet llch


IN THAT BLACK HOLE OF DESOLATION
WHERE MY HEART SHOULD BE
LIVES ONLY BITTERNESS AND
SEARING AGONY.

IT IS SO HARD TO FIND CONSOLATION
WITH THE PAIN SO GREAT
WHERE ONLY EMPTINESS AWAITS
OH DEATH, BE NOT LATE.

RIDE A HORSE?

HOW DO YOU RIDE A HORSE?
GET ON ITS BACK OF COURSE.
HOLD TIGHTLY WITH YOUR KNEES,
AND DUCK GOING UNDER TREES.
LOW LIMBS ARE VERY HARD ON YOU.
THEY MAKE YOU BLACK AND BLUE. 

~^~

My Life's Manifesto

When my eyes gaze into the blue abyss above,
Endless limits with infinite boundaries sink into my mind.

What has been? What was? Where is it going? Who am I? What am I?

All this uncertainty, all those feelings of mortality. Etched into the blue above, impending yet withstanding.

Under the blue of forever lies an answer
Inside the answer lay many answers with answers to answers. Answers to questions that haven't been answered. Answers to questions that haven't been questioned. Find the answer which birth all answers... then you shall posses the knowledge that no one has ever nor ever will have. How can you know the book without having read the ending?

I think I found my answer. It's not THE answer, but it's MY answer. I believe my answer is Seeing The Morning. I'll be sure once I'm done with the book of My Life. What do you think your answer might be?

-Michael Lorincz

~^~

Magpie
Melanie A Connor


People look at you and are afraid.
People see you and worry takes over their minds.
Who said you'd be the one to represent all that is sorrowful?
Did you ask to be the aide on which we place blame? Was it an
offer you couldn't refuse?
When I look, I see grace, as you soar into the sky. I notice the elegance
of your long feathery tail. I accept the beauty which nature has 
bestowed on you.
Never has it crossed my mind to be wary of you; why should it - 
you're a black and white bird.

~^~

Underneath The Trees
Gregory M. Thompson 


Underneath the trees I leaned on her breast
Listening to her love, leaving her chest.
I looked into her eyes and cupped her face
And kissed her lips with passion and grace.
Somewhere now blows a nice, cool breeze...
Underneath the trees.

She smiled to me and spoke of caressing
I complied and began physical expressing.
This she enjoyed and kissed me again
Her lips playing mine like a violin.
We stood up and left in two ecstasies...
Underneath the trees.

~^~

DOES LIFE HURT
DAMIEN MULLIN


HEY DON'T YOU WANNA BE SOMEONE?
HEY I'VE FALLEN SO MANY TIMES
IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE UP
HEY CANT LOVE THESE EMPTY WORDS
CAUSE NOTHING IS ALWAYS ENOUGH

HEY DON'T SORROW TASTE SO SWEET
MAKES ME REAL NOT SOMETHING BETTER
I'M TOO SCARED TO DISAPPOINT YOU 
BUT AM I TO OLD TO DREAM

HEY DOES THIS LIFE HURT?
EVERY CUT SEEMS SO FAMILIAR
WHY DOES IT HURT TO CARE
TO FIND SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR.
~^~

"What Happened?"
Anna Mears


What happened to those days, Daddy, when I could hold your hand?
Those days we were together playing happily in the sand?

What happened to those days, Daddy, when life was always great?
When you'd tuck me into bed and say "I love you" when it was late?

What happened to our closeness, Daddy, we'd laugh and smile and play?
When you'd push me on the swings "HIGHER, HIGHER" I would say?

What happened to our friendship, our happiness our tears?
What happened to helping each other with our problems and our fears?

Something happened to those days, Daddy, they'll never be the same.
Something happened to those days, Daddy, life's no longer just a game.

Something happened to our friendship our happiness our tears.
But the memories will always be with me growing stronger through the years.

~^~

Black and Blue
Ashley Burdett


Bloodied nose and a bruised up head, all of this cause of what you said.
You should watch your mouth and mind your place,
Then he wouldn't have to introduce his fist to your face.
Is this your idea of love so true,
A guy that beats the life out of you?
All your friends say to get out fast,
Or next time you'll be a thing of the past.
Yet you wonder why ma won't give him a whirl,
how could she love someone killing her baby girl.
Think of your kids, Ryan and Marie,
You think that's what they like to see?
Mommy's blood on the kitchen floor,
Daddy bolting for the front door.
Face it, it's not his love for you,
But his love of beating you black and blue.

~^~
Sky Catcher
Theresa Rose

I hear a sweet little red robin
And she sings a happy tune.

I see a strong proud hoot owl
And she flies high by the glow of the moon.

I see a nesting snow white dove
And she is priming her soft feathery breast.

I see the old gray alley cat
And she's put them all to rest.
~^~

Bird Song
Liz bubba


A bird sings a song
One that isn't long
When it sings it never gets it wrong

~^~

Never Exhale
I inhale and take a deep breath of you, never to exhale knowing that I will lose you. My lungs expand to take in this sensation, my heartbeats faster and my blood rushes and now, I'm addicted to you. Yet, I cannot exhale knowing that I will lose you.
Your sweet fragrances can fill a room and you have a way of moving me but keeping me still. I think to let you go, for I must move on but I hear my name ascending in silent vapors, but I will not exhale knowing that I will lose you.
You invade my body to soothe my cravings for you; you bear a white naked truth that can be seen from miles away. The truth is I need you every minute of the day. You give me a sense of serenity that God Himself will not give. Therefore, I won't exhale knowing that I will lose you.
You are white as purity herself, hazy to the untrained eye. You tease me with suffocation. Realities like death seems like a chance at immortality. Never to die, always to be remembered. A fire has ignited in my heart, but it's all right for it is your love searing through my soul. My mind seems to be falling in the bottomless pits of Hell; still I'm not worried because it is your love exposing my evil thoughts. My body loses control and begins to shudder at the thought of my figureless fate, but that is only your love revealing to me the cold realities of ecstasy, never will I exhale, knowing that I will lose you.
You will always be a part of me, always and forever on my everlasting thoughts. Just like smoke is seen and disappears in an array of time. If I let go of you, here today, gone tomorrow. So, I have to make a choice not to exhale knowing that I will lose you.
Jacques Francois

~^~

11:00 i run out side
and then i feel him by my side

We take a walk to the beach 
and find it isn't hard to reach

We walk along hand in hand
across the coolness of beach sand

We look into each others eyes 
making sure we tell no lies

the moon shines across the lake 
a picture i know my memory will take

Our love is great 
there is no words of hate

We go back up towards the store 
as we walk and talk some more

We climb up onto the roof
making sure we leave no proof

As we lay and talk for hours 
we marvel at the skies majestic powers

2:00 am we must now part 
although it breaks both our hearts
Souzy-Q

~^~

QUO VADIS
Stella Stenley


Someone said, ‘The world is getting smaller,
And some nation neighbors live in peace’.
But others begin to see themselves as taller,
And among such people there will be one 
whose self image, in his fantasy 
Becomes all-powerful. His fantasy is his reality. 
And he becomes all powerful, as his reality 
inspires loyalty, and love, at first,
Which then becomes doubt and distrust and 
finally fear, as the powerful ones fantasy 
becomes his reality - with unbounded power 
which eventually destroys his nation and others and finally, himself.
Such has it been through the ages 
As a quick look at history reveals.
The birth of a tyrant - greedy for power.
Deceitful, murderous, ruinous of his people,
Attila the Hun, Kubla Khan, Julius Caesar, 
Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, and others.
And so it will be ever thus, through the 
ages. 
~^~

Tom Cat
Lia Shrewsbury


He prowls
And skulks
With pride
He can't hide

He looks at you
With indulging eyes
As if to say
I think I'll stay

His fur is groomed
With the sweetest scent
With wild content

And when he 
Sees you his look
Is a dare for he's
The Tom Cat-Devil may care

~^~

I DREAM I DARE
AMIT MATHUR


Today I have a dream , today I make a dare,
I promise myself I'm gonna get right there.
I'm standing alone but I have no fear ,
So I shout out loud I wanna make it clear.

CATCH ME IF U CAN,
TRY TO STOP ME, IF U THINK U R A MAN,
'COZ I'VE SPREAD MY WINGS & I'M READY TO FLY,
MY AIM THE STARS MY GOAL THE SKY.

When I run I wanna beat the raptor ,
Will is the fuel that can push much faster.
Desire is what I need to win,
A fire is what I need within.
My passion I'm sure is gonna get me there,
All I have to do is to get into gear.
So I shout out loud , I wanna make it clear.

CATCH ME IF U CAN,
TRY TO STOP ME IF U THINK U R A MAN,
'COZ I'VE SPREAD MY WINGS & I'M READY TO FLY,
MY AIM THE STARS MY GOAL THE SKY.

Winds & storms come close to me,
I challenge your guts you'll have to flee.
Or if u want you can be my friend,
Make me fall , so I learn to stand
Life is so quick , I can't get late.
I don't want to wait for my fate
& all that I wish I'm gonna create
It's now or never for I want to be there,
So I shout out loud I wanna make it clear.

CATCH ME IF U CAN,
TRY TO STOP ME IF U THINK U R A MAN,
'COZ I'VE SPREAD MY WINGS & I'M READY TO FLY,
MY AIM THE STARS MY GOAL THE SKY

~^~

Life's Manure
Joshua Amos Graff

Sometimes I feel like the deck is stacked
When promises are taken back
And when my best is not enough
Could it be that I'm not up to snuff
Maybe I don't have what it takes
To lay my claims and place my stakes
Who can ever know for sure
Until they're put through life's manure

~^~

"Perfect Opposite"
 roxy

here come the fears
you've dreaded.
you're running
for your life
in the darkness
of the day
and there's nowhere
left to hide
because that's life.
you're the perfect opposite
of what people
want you to be;
your golden grin,
your cry within.
your smile still
haunts you.
you have let the monster
in so it has
taken over.
you are the
perfect opposite.

~^~

BLOODLUST
stevenkwrite


Night is liquid black
seeping through cracks
fueling inner fires

Where innocence burns
in restless minds
on forbidden, flaming pyres

Flickering licking agony

Strain of knowledge
loss of light
Law and order lose the fight

Closed door opens on scarlet possibility... 

~^~

HOW STRANGE
Rene A. Martin


How strange!
While tens of thousands
elsewhere
curse the external darkness of their lives
and dream of escape
to this land of the brave and the free
itself the product 
of earlier dreamers' dreams,
tens of thousands
here
hourly
often at the risk of life and sanity
purchase chemical release
escape
from the lives they lead
here
in the land of hope and opportunity.
How strange ...

~^~

Stoopid 8/6/00
Mikko Vass

Leave, just go away
I don't want to be like this
I don't want to feel like this
Scared and worthless
Stupid and immature
I feel as if the whole world is watching,
Watching waiting
Waiting for me to stuff up, muck up

I don't want you to see me like this
I don't want you to think of me like this
So stupid and immature
I know I'm immature, but I can't help it
I don't want to look like this anymore
I don't want to be looked at like this anymore

Fear the future
Resent the past
Look what I've done
Look what I've become

~^~

Missed that part,did you.
i could have gone back the chapter to re read
this time maybe id be interested,
i'm not sure,would you.
the answers in the back of the book,
i could always cheat,have you.
pay a bit more attention ,i could.
i'm doubting,are you
its not due yet a couple of days to go.
patience to read it what i didnt first.
always could have.
you didn't ,did you.
always could have.i didn't.

Tamar Greatrix

~^~

Patiently Waiting 
Anthony Master


Sitting alone I think of you
Fantasizing of being there
Next to you, Holding you
Your soft skin against mine
Gazing intimately into your eyes
Patiently waiting for dreams to come true
For my prayers to be answered
Till the day our hearts collide in endless bliss

~^~

Waking up
heather

eyelashes crusted over
with this mornings mascara,
last nights
tears.
face swollen and eyes aching
from headache throbbing,
misconceptions,
fears.

waking up to find
a pair of hands,
still translucent, 
shaky.
a small constellation of
blood marks on my skin - a 
reddened reminder: is Truth, 
(Life), faking?

(and its here my world
has shattered.)

~^~

sight of ocean
anthony b. liranza


all my joys have nourished you
all my sorrows have you fed upon
and there is nothing left
of the morning in which you threw me away
nothing but the memory of the way
the dew pearled on the window
as i waited for you
and i am waiting in stillness
and i am waiting in my silence
for you have taken the ocean
from me.

~^~

*this is for my dad that I love so much*
Amber Clark

A hero in my eyes
your the one I know i can run to
because I know a hero lies in you

all my troubles and fears disappear in your arms
in your arms no one can harm me

from life to death and laughs to cries
you're a hero in my eyes

I love you so very much
when I'm away i long for your touch

daddy you're my hero
you watch how step in life

so i don't fall
you're the greatest dad of all

~^~
ARE YOU THERE?
~Cazz~

Are you there?
Can you see
The pain and fear inside of me?
Are you there?
Can you hear
My silent wish that you were near?
Are you there?
Do you know
What's inside, the things I don't show?
Are you there?
Do you wonder why
Everything around me makes me cry?
Are you there?
Do you try to find
Your way through the dark, a way out of my mind?

~^~

Flesh Moon
Tina Gulotta

We often pass through these walls
like voices of sopranos and altos
voices that kiss angels
and I know yours has
Some have that taste 
in their mouths
the taste of heaven
of stars and moons
And my still lips
open
while planets fall to the ground
of heather and dew
soft spikes of blue violet
rubbing against the air
heavy with their scent
along our footpaths
our secret walks
that curl up with the autumn chill
the cool black grips us
another year
~^~

MOM
Dorothy Fowler 

I love you Mom,
Maybe words aren’t enough,
Either way releasing you is going to be tough.
I love the way you give your love,
You gave it whole souled with all of the above.
Serenity is my goal,
To remove my heart of all its holes.
The past will not die with you,
But why does it have to be so soon?!
Satan is to blame, 
But still it feels the same.
The day you leave, 
My heart will bleed.
Trust in Jehovah is what they say,
Read the Bible, kneel, and pray for the day,
When you will return to me and death will be gone,
And I never again will feel so alone.
Jesus trusted Jehovah and I will too,
Be like my mom; just like you.
~^~

A Philosophy of Flowers
 Aaron Dickhoff 


Triton spears to the sun
And all around the hill
The flaming faces calmed by wind
And beaming in the still

Solemn worshipers of the sun
Their faces follow rapped
Sipping golden nectar
Every vein is darkly mapped

Quite in the cool of morning
Heavy heads hung like sages
Bedded in the earth
Foundations to touch the ages

Swollen blossoms in the rain
Silken pedals shedding dew
The elements but do enhance
The beauty burning through

Each day taken as is comes
Life found in soil and sky
In the bed they were planted
Are they are content to lie

Diverse environs do they have
And bearing wild or stayed
Beside the road or window box
Or growing on a grave

~^~

A glowing wind,
Beneath me sends,
A love for me to tend.

Love from heaven,
As true as sin,
Will never be taken.

Wrapped around,
It has no bond,
There is no softer sound.

A love like this,
Is better than bliss,
And as soft as a sweet kiss.

My soul us full,
With love it pulls,
My heart into a soft lull.

My heart is complete,
Nothing could compete,
With a love the world could never meet.

"Christa"

~^~

The Circle
Benjamin Keyser 


Your face of silhouettes
Dance gracefully across my inner departures.
Moonlight on this soft embrace.
Never suspecting you to put me at risk.
My heart locked away for years.
You have opened it daily with your magic.
Forging me into a new creation.
No longer just me, but me and you.

Hopeful I find you there.
Weaving your innocent web into my soul.
Follow you to your secret place.
Where you have hidden my heart for days now.
Gracefully, you overstep my boundaries.
Leaving me gasping for air, but submission is your destiny.
Helpless, I commit to you all I have.
No longer love, but unconditional love.

In your hands I find my resting place.
Like a soft cloud for me to cling to.
Your outstretched arms seem so holy and safe.
Mercifulessly, hands that have killed me.
Trusting to you all of my open wounded heart.
I gave you everything, you couldn't give me anything.
Disappointed, stranded from your love.
No longer me and you, but me.

~^~

What Makes Me Happy
Sara J. Harms

The feeling that wells
From the core of my being
When you gaze into my eyes
Is pure magic.

Your touch warms and uplifts
My words and thoughts.
When I see you smile,
My eyes shimmer with happiness
Simply because you are happy.

You tell me you love me,
And I melt;
I can sense the truth and feeling
In those few words.

Nothing has ever made me happier
Than the love we share.
And nothing ever will

~^~

No More
Jamie Taysangel

Yesterday I cried
Today I'll say goodbye
Cause in my life 
No more are you

You wanted to run
So far away
So free you are
To roam and play

In your life
There's someone new
She's not like me
But she's better than you

So in your life
No more am I 
You didn't want me
So goodbye

~^~

Feeling down about to drown
In this new world turned upside down
Your mind starts to think and sets a frown
Confusion is a must
Your words turn to dust
Like a dried up expressions that doesn't mean very much
Where's that closeness between you and a friend
You know that person who will stick with you until the end
Could it be that there's no one there
Just an imaginary figure outlined by the air
you feel this way for so long
Do you even care?
The empty feeling of disgust that you suppress
Only adds on to the stress
Where your future goes from here you can only guess
Will you get back to where you were going
Or is it all the same tail?
From your standing point you see the word FAIL
And you recollect all the unwanted memories of this ugly tail

 Travis O'Neal

~^~

Puddle of people
lie in the world
hearts meshed together
my boy loves me
his girl is my soul
beautiful yet troubled
how he sees it
believes in me
hands outreached in trust
never let go
innocence lost
some never gained
pearls in muddy water
jewels in the sand
gold in the palms 
of the rich man's hand
give the alms to the bandaged poor
my boy loves me his innocent heart
pure soul
loves me
maucoin

~^~

Emptiness fills me
My heart is frozen
Tears fill my eyes
I try to stay calm 
I cant help but to cry
I cry for you I cry for me
And then I cry for the empty space in my heart
You used to fill it
Then one day she came along
She took you from me forever
I could never win you back
Not even if I tried
So I hide my feelings and just pretend
I pretend I’m ok, that we are just friends and I like it that way.
jess

~^~

Angel Down The Street
Jimmy 

The love that I feel
the pain is so great
how am I to deal
with this love that I hate

the answer is clear
as I look to the sky
i know she is near
and im not going to die

she tells me I'll live
but help she has none
why can't she just give
and make it be done

one day i know
it will all be fine
I will look back though
and remember that angel of mine

~^~

I think to myself why,
Why I am I here,
Am I destine to do something,
Or am I here to live in another mindless vessel,
I see it as a quest,
A quest to see how far I will take my life,
To see if I can complete the great plan that the great creator has for me,
I wonder how I am doing so far,
Am I going on the right path to salvation,
Or am I going on the wrong path to eternal damnation,
I hope I go into each test with the courage,
More like the honor,
To overcome that monstrous obstacle,
I know now that I have some kind of purpose,
In this useless vessel,
To beat that great conquest,
Called life.

Troy L. Sinclair III

~^~

Beauty
Krystal Ward


Laughter causes belly aches
Tears cause sore eyes
Smiling makes my jaw hurt 
And frowning makes me sleepy
So what I say to you now
Is let me love you inside
Because I don't want you to cry
I don't need you to laugh
Please don't smile for me either
Because knowing you love me is beauty enough

~^~

What Is Best For Me
The Jag


I can not lose that strength, I can’t forget I’m the man.
I must make it happen, if I want it to be.

I am the one with the power, I am the one with the control,
of my future...of my destiny.

The people I bring into my life, I listen to all of their advice,
for it may be an aid in what I want to achieve.

But, all and all, I make the call, whether I climb or fall,
I decide what is best for me.

When I slip...I fall. I live with the scrapes and the scares.
when I’m cut, I am the one who bleeds.

I live, my life, day to day, despite who’s there along the way.
I decide what is best for me.

I’m the one, who must buckle down, I’m the one, who must hold my ground.
I am the one, who holds the key.

Decisions are all mine to make. My hills to climb, my walls to break.
I must know , I am the one who must believe.

I must grasp, I must understand, It is, really, all in my hands,
if I want to grow, if I want to succeed.

The responsibility is mine... for no-ones efforts, nor their time,
will ever find what is best for me

~^~

Thinkin Of U…
Henry zurn


watchin my life go by
through the days and thruogh the nitez
as the stars move in the sky
i wonder about u
where u are wat ur doin
hopin i can be there with u
i would love to be with u go where ur goin
see wat u see
be wat u be
i want to understand wat u see
to understand y an angel like u would be here
with me...
i want to be there
with u....

~^~

Now And Forever
Amber P.

From the first time I saw you, I knew I loved you.
We soon became close friends.
I had your friendship but I wanted more,
I wanted a relationship.
You have been there for me, & i have been there for you.
You were there when my parent's weren't,
I was there when your parent's split up.
We grew up together,
And in that time my love for you has grown, too.
Then one day I took a chance with our friendship.
I told you how I felt.
I was happy when you said you felt the same.
We talked & said we would give it a chance.
We also made a promise that day,
If it didn't work we would still be best friends.
That was 2 yrs ago and we're still together.
You are always telling me you love me.
I never say it back, because I'm scared.
I'm scared of my heart, but now I'm not.
Baby, I want you to know, that I will now & forever love you.

~^~

DESPERATION
Joan Stevens

With words of desperation
I turned you away,
And the pain in lonely silence
Echoed through the day...
And the silence caught within me,
As I gasped at the air,
And I groped the empty stillness,
But no relief was there...
And a pain stuck in my chest,
As tears stung my eyes,
And as agony consumed me,
Distance stifled my cries.
Now I reach across the miles
In words whispered and slow,
For I'm so afraid to love you,
But I cannot let you go.

~^~

Waiting
Stephanie Baker 


Love is passing with time,
hearts waiting,
Their burning desire,
second,minutes,hours,past,
Souls waiting,
To be together at last .

~^~

Its something that needs no explanation 
For there are no words to describe 
This feeling beneath my soul 
that lies deep down inside. 

It brings me such warmth 
to feel the way that I do 
I am grateful that I've found it 
for this time it feels true. 

Its a thing that has brought me happiness 
or leads me into a smile 
Its something that I won't forget 
Finding it took awhile. 

It causes time to stand still 
has the power to make time fly 
Can cause everything to look wonderful 
making it hard to say goodbye. 

For sure its brought me loneliness 
and times where I've felt sad 
Its even brought tears to my eyes 
But its the best thing I've ever had

midnitemoon

~^~

Two short poems
Dawn Griffith 

As the eyes are watching you,
watch the eyes who are watching

~~

Those who live shelter lives
are the ones who will be saved
and their eyes will be opened 
as clear as sky 

~^~

Stillness
-Sarah E. Graham-


In this aged morning
you are lingering
walking barefoot
still
in my confusion
losing innocence 

~^~

Sing soft, sing sweet,
Beyond the trees, 
Doing what I please, 
Here amongst the river reeds.

Sitting here within the grass, 
Singing songs about the past, 
Wondering if we will last,
While staring at the river vast. 

Here I stay until the night, 
Watching the moon glowing bright, 
Wrap my arms around me tight, 
Waiting for the morning light.

And when the morning sun will rise,
To see the world with brand new eyes, 
To see him here right by my side,
Here we’ll stay, my love and I.
Anna Asuan

~^~

Abusive Mentality
Kokuma A Owens


The thunder growls as the wind roars, and the rain pours bringing a swamp of sadness.
The swamp took my only possession letting it sink down to the bottom like quicksand.
This madness of searching for that one thing was lightning crossing each other path. 
Hopelessness looking for joy.
A bridge that will never cross it's gate to happiness. 
Where the sun shines, and the flowers grow.
What happens will love grows and then disappear, that thunder starts again bringing rain that floods your heart. How many times do we trust?
Only to be played for a fool. 
The snake of hatred has come to kill it's prey, making the possession weak from it's poison venom. 
Creating a barrier around the heart. Love will never come. The pain unbearable to withstand. 
The happiness wash away with the rain.
A betrayal that hardens the heart, deviated into the wild holding captive the key of forgiveness. 
Who should be humiliate and used? To be abuse and forsaken by one's love.
Sincerely a broken heart.

~^~

Times when we are alone
I cherish every moment
I've never felt this way before
I can't explain it 
You do something to me
Something good, something I love
I love you

 allen-

~*~

Melancholia
Rusty the Sevent


the soft thudding of the piano keys
not making up any song
Just hitting softly
as a background sound
A lone figure stood
the face unseen
looking beyond the horizon
back bent,
shoulders stooped...

~^~

To The Masses
Christopher Busselle

A man travels through electric mountain tops
Trying to stop their reaching
He must climb the sides above their crops
In order to change their teaching
He dreams of a death to the masses
A rethinking of thought
For as the old ground collapses 
A new one is sought
The skies are overflowing
Polluted with vagary
But the man extrudes all-knowing
I hope he saves me 

~^~

A Slave
Becky White

I found myself a slave to desire,
it tastes bitter.
I rip out my heart, and taste, and eat it.
Out of fear, I shiver.
My life with no rhyme, or reason, crazy and out of season.
All that I was, or claimed to be, is not me.

~^~

mantra of loss
Anthony Caldwell 


slow drag on a cigarette
don't ask me where my ambition went
thoughts like children refusing bed
as i lament again what went unsaid

~^~

To be loved 
Greg Emilio Quintana


Don't get me wrong 
I'm happy with you 
there's a lot of things 
different many are new.
To be in your arms and
know that you care, is 
power enough to take us 
anywhere, let me tell you
a secret from the depths of
my soul, your love in my 
life fills a gigantic 
hole. If you could 
only imagine what went 
through my mind when 
you told me you loved 
me for the very first 
time, part of my dream 
had just come true, you 
loving me and me loving 
you. Now there's no need 
to look at the past, I 
know in my heart this 
love will last. 
I will never be alone 
again.
~^~

Feeling called love
Sarah Elizabeth Hough

You came into my life
Seeing me
Wanting me
Twisting around me
Circling my soul
Your beautiful graces
Your flattering words
Soared me high into a place Where I longed to be
But those flattering words were poisoned words
They smothered me
Drowned me
Pushed me into that place 
That felling called love
Where I stumbled
Blind and helpless
Believing
Deceiving myself
And when you left me
I finally began to see

That you never really loved me

~^~

Reflection
Ty Keefer

For years she was your daughter and he was your son
When you were together you had lots of fun.

Your visits were short and spaced out
But your love for each other was never a doubt.

Recently, you became the greatest of friends
You would talk about your ups and downs and all of the bends.

Who knew that it would soon come to an end
When you all had so much love to send.

Sadly, they left this world in a fiery blaze
When they reach their eternal destination they will truly be amazed.

They have gone to Heaven to be with God and his son
And in their heart you will always be number one.

All of your friends are here to help you through the sadness and pain
We will do our best to get you through the clouds and the rain.

You've loved them since their time of birth 
They'll be together in Heaven, the same as on Earth.
~^~

LOVE'S GROWTH..
By Hans


Love is like a flower
It blossoms everyday
In the field of dreams
Where lovers stray away...

~^~

Fall out of myself
And into you
Suck away who I am
And make it into you
You'll shine brighter
Brighter than before
I'll fade into the ground
To become more of nothingness
Than I was before
Cara 

~^~

LOVE AND HATE
Kenny Hollingsworth

There is good in everyone ,but in some there might be none. We're different in our own way, and that's the way things should stay. Right there my love took a start, here I've had a broken heart. For another love i think I'll wait, for i don't want to feel both love and hate.
~^~

The Flowers Bloom-
Karina Partington


In this garden of darkness souls will collide
An explosion of fate will erupt into the sweet cold rain
The child of twilight will shed his hot salty tears,
Into a river that flows in complete silence
The stars will shine in this defiance of destiny,
Providing light to the flowers that die in the sun's power
Screams are no longer heard by the night's thick air, 
For they are swallowed the minute they leave lips
The true beauty of the situatuion can only be grasped by those that have hope
Now is the waking moment of demons...
Of life.

~^~

I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE
I KNOW I HAVE"
ITS IN MY MIND BUT I CANT SEE IT YET
I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE 
I KNOW I HAVE"
A DREAM IS ALL
IN A DREAM WHERE MY MIND HAS TAKEN ME 
BEFORE"
I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE
I" KNOW I HAVE
MAYBE IN A PAST LIFE 
A MAGNET OF SOME FORCE 
IS PULLING ME TO HIM
MY FEET WONT STOP
"MY EYES WONT DROP
MY HEART MIGHT STOP
I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE I KNOW I HAVE

!!!!!!!I KNOW !!!!!!!I KNOW !!!!!!!YOUR MY MAN

"BLYTH" 

~^~
Whispers
David Prieto 


I hear whispers in the night,
It's you voice that speaks to me.
In my head goes round and round,
And in the darkness guiding.

I hear whispers in the night, 
It's your voice that sings to me.
Like an angel's song enchanting,
Ever clear, everlasting.

I hear whispers in the night, 
It's your voice that cries to me.
Reaching through the distance,
And forever trying to find me.

I hear whispers in the night,
It's your voice that speaks to me.
Soothing words for a troubled heart,
Bringing peace and final sleep.

~^~
Where can I go?
 Brandy Williams

Where can I go Lord to listen to your voice as you speak to my soul?
Where can I go when despair seems to take hold? Where can I go when the words of
people does nothing to help? Where can I go when I feel like breaking in eternal pieces?
Where can I go when I sit in a daze, and the pain that dwells deep inside my
soul never ceases? 
Incline thy ears to me, and listen to my plea. My anguish overpowers me and
will not let me stand. My spirit is imprisoned by sadness and hurts from 
the pain of life, you said that you would be there in my time of strife. 
Where can I go? I look for you, I seek you dear Lord, in my hour of despair.
My soul dirty and dark and evil things cling to the edges of my heart.
Where can I go? Speak to my heart and whisper your voice of wisdom and mercy
to me. Give me your strength so that I may be able to stand. One day to go
home and be with you and the one's I love.
Peace and happiness beyond imagine that is where I can go to be
with you Lord forevermore.

~^~

"A Different Light"
By Thomas Gallagher


Life and death start at the same time
One kills the other I suppose
Poor heart...
Can't take the pressure put on it by the soul
It must be the rose-colored glasses
They make you see heart ache & pain 
In a different light
They turn human anguish & emotion
Into the color of life
~^~

Dead Inside 
Stephanie Taven

I cry and cry but no one cares 
I am so lonely I want to die
I could scream and scream 
and never be seen 
I could run threw a crowd
and never be seen
So if I were to die why would
they notice 
What is so different 
I am alive but dead inside 
My heart has turned cold 
My mind goes numb 
Help me please help me now 
I am dying on the inside 
and no one can even tell 
So why can't I die all together 
and just forget this place now 

~^~

I've always liked you,
I've always thought you were sweet,
I've always liked your laugh,
I've always thought about your feelings,
I've always liked to talk to you,
I've always thought you could be the one,
I've always liked to hear your voice,
I've always thought I could till you I love you,
Like always I waited too late.

 Jeff Lutostanski

~^~

Another day, another lie
Another star falls out of the sky
Another laugh, another cry
Another love and I don't know why

Dancing in the sunshine
Swimming in the rain
But no matter how much I try
I still can't hide the pain

Living in insanity
The same thing day after day
Placing myself in the same situations
That I should have learned from anyway

Running as fast as I can
And I haven't got anywhere yet
Diving through the depths of time
And then walking through what's left.

John Sides 

~^~

THE WALLS
sam wm goodrich

OH HOW SAFE I FEEL IN MY COZY LITTLE WORLD
AWAY FROM ALL THE VIOLENCE DESTRUCTION AND PERIL
PROTECTED DAY AND NIGHT THROUGHOUT THE BADDEST OF WEATHER
WARM IN THE WINTER, COLD IN THE SUMMER DOESN’T MATTER THE TEMPERATURE, WHATEVER
IT GETS NO BETTER THAN THIS PLACE
I’M PROTECTED FROM ALL YOU FOOLS, DOESN’T MATTER THE RACE
SO SECURE IN MY LITTLE COMFORT ZONE
BUT FOR SOME REASON I’M STARTING TO FEEL ALONE
THE AIR IS GETTING THIN 
THESE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN
WHAT KIND OF PLACE HAVE I CREATED THIS CANNOT BE TRUE
I THOUGHT I WAS PROTECTING MYSELF, NOW I DON’T HAVE A CLUE
THESE WALLS ARE SO TALL, SO WIDE, I’M SCARED
SOMEONE LET ME OUT OF HERE SO I CAN BREATHE THE AIR
I THOUGHT BY PUTTING THESE WALLS UP IT WAS A GREAT DECISION
HOW LITTLE DID I KNOW I HAVE CREATED MY OWN PRISON
FOOLISH AM I, I FEEL EVER SO SMALL
I NEED SOMEONE'S HELP, PLEASE HELP ME OUT OF THESE WALLS
~^~

IN THE MIST OF THE AIR I HAVE A VISION OF YOU
YOU ARE LONELY, CONFUSED, AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
YOUR DREAMS DANCE IN FRONT OF YOU AS IF YOU WERE THERE
BUT YOU CAN'T REACH THE DREAMS YOU WANT ME TO SHARE
AS YOUR LIFE PLAYS OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES
YOU DROP LIKE RAIN AND YOUR HEART CRIES
HOW DID I GET HERE, WHERE DO I GO 
PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW
I WISH I COULD HELP AND SAVE YOU FROM THE FALL
BUT YOU WOULDN'T LET ME BE PART OF YOUR LIFE AT ALL
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE ARE TO LOVE AND BE FREE
I COULDN'T GET YOU TO ACCEPT THIS GIFT FROM ME
OPEN YOUR HEART AND DRIFT IN THE AIR
I WILL BE WAITING FOR A LOVE WE CAN SHARE
DON'T ATTEMPT TO FALL IF AT FIRST YOU DO NOT SEE
I WILL BE THERE, I PROMISE, JUST REACH FOR ME
I WANT TO PROTECT YOU FROM ALL LIFE'S HARM
AND I HOPE YOU WILL BE WILLING TO GRAB MY ARM
I KNOW I LOVE YOU AND YOU KNOW I CARE
WE CAN SEE ABOUT YOU IN THE MIST OF THE AIR
 SHEENA SMITH

~^~

The reality of a scary dream
Jamie Lee


As I look beyond the windows pane,
Into the darkness and chill of rain,
I'm cold and alone in a beggars grave.
A tear brushes down my dirty cheek,
feeling the warmth of that salty sea.
I close my eyes and look beyond,
The place I am, the place I'm from.
But where would I be beyond this place?
In a home, with love and excitement for all to say?
Or here where the wind whips in rain?
I left that place so long ago,
That dream of yesterday, gone today.

~^~

"Look what you've done"
Cynthia Y. Little

The sun shines, but my world is dark/My head is clouded, and I can't see straight/Tears fall like rain, bringing seas of salt/Feelings floating in me that I can't explain/The storm dies in your presence/But you can't always be there for me/In fact this is the last time you will see me again/And the pain quickly rises/A knife right through my heart/Breathing quickens/Pulse soars/Fear over takes my body/The great fear of being alone/Alone and completely without you/Without you I will surely die/And dying alone is my worst fear/Where will you be when I fail myself?/You became part of me/The part of me that completes me/I want to stay whole/Whole and complete/But you took that part away from me/It's not that I blame you/If anything I blame myself/Blame myself for always wanting more/More than you were willing to give/My nights so meaningless and cold/My days so long and hurtful/Everything good that I touch falls apart/I touched us and we fell apart/And apart from you I will remain/Forever lost in a different realm/Floating on dreams of love/I miss you already/And I know I will love you forever and a day

~^~

My love
By Lisa

You always been in my heart,
Staying here keeping me warm and safe,
A love so pure and true,
And how lucky I am to have you,
Yet our distance are so far,
Not even in an arm's reach,
I wish to be in your arms for real,
To feel your warm embrace,
As you whisper that loving words to me,
To be together always,
Yet this distance, hardened my heart,
Hard to believe if our wish would come true,
Doubts hovered in my heart,
Wondering if we will be together,
But I will try to hold this pure love of mine,
Putting it in a safe place in my heart,
Waiting a dream to come true soon... 
~^~

Never alone
khaili conway


The sun rises over the hill top in the morning
and in the evening it sets on the hill
it leaves me all alone
but I'm not alone
I'm with the moon and the stars of the heavens
with the moon and the stars of the heavens
I'm not alone
I'm with the moon and the stars of the heavens

~^~

He cast his eyes at the waters, that lapped gently against the bay
He sat and sadly wondered of a love that had gone away
Their love had crept up on them, like a thief into the night
And when they finally saw it, it had caused a dreadful fright
They the saw it blossom. like a lilac it quickly grew
It created sweet aromas, it's aura softly blue
So vast, so full, so joyous, it had made their lives complete
Yet he did not see it coming when her love went on retreat
Yes it happened oh so quickly like a thief into the night
Her love had slowly drifted her heart had taken flight
He wonders how he continues, with his heart in such demise
He will miss the glistening twinkle when he looks into her eyes
His life will be so lonely, now that she has gone away
He knows he will love her only that love he has lost today
 tom lalonde

~^~

A Sonnet for Margie
T. Mullens


Who has not known love in the summer when
the warmth of the sun yields the heat of the
night and passion lies restless on the skin?
Love made of breathless kisses and softly
whispered embraces; enough to fill
the universe from the curve along the edge
of time to the deepest places left still,
left quiet by words once spoken in pledge.

But you and I have known love on the days
when the sun was a memory, a ghost
pale behind dark clouds, the warmth of its rays
a myth half recalled; a time when most
would find no love upon the earth, there we
found each other, found our reason to be.

~^~

sunlight creeps on the day of independence, but yet by nightfall i am seeking your hand. this unfamiliar breeze of releif sends chills running through my insides, some how making me feel pure. this beautiful gust of sanity drips off you like sin drips off my dirty soul. you make it bearable to live with myself. 
gasping for some open air, i lye in this confined hell. i look for a reason to stay and your image flashes in my mind.we don't deserve this, and i have broken free, now take my hand and follow me to a shameless land . and if this land is bare, the silence we'll share.
ashleigh ferraro

~^~

freeze dried memories
seen on the fringe
starless expansive space
crimson angels
touched my soul
i held her head
in my lap
she called me a saint
i loved her
on hollywood blvd
as i stood
yellow dotted line
arms spread
screaming to the skies
Isaac hildebrandt

~^~

If rainbows could be plucked from air,
Like threads woven into hair.
Or stars be seized from midnight skies,
Vanished into sparkling ice.
Roses fresh with midnight dew,
Sprinkled into scents, really new.
Magical happenings everywhere,
Happening over here and there.
Anyone could create a magic whirl,
Full of secrets, dreams and hopes.
Splendid as a lustrous pearl,
Hidden in my heart,
Sealed with my kiss.
poetic_genius

~^~

Alligator Boots
kirby biggs

He was standing there with his embellished stetson 
and his alligator boots; and his woman on his arm.
He was proud, that man.
Proud of his Alligator Boots.
Proud of his Stetson.
Proud of his Woman.
And he had his Dignity.
Even if he didn’t have anything else, he was King of his world.
He looked up at the window of the airport bus, and at me,
in my blue-striped power suit and starched collar,
on the way to fly to, in his mind, God knows where,
and I looked back at him.
He could have said, “F*ck You Gringo!”,
and I could have said, “No, F*ck You Cowboy!”
But he didn’t; and I didn’t.
He pretended not to notice, and I glanced away.
I wonder if he envied me my life with its complications and intrigue,
uncertainties and self-doubt,
as much as I envied him in his kingdom. 
~^~

NO TWISTED HEART OF REASON
J Cooley 

Have ever seen the dance of a candle
a flicker in the wind across the mantel
the broken glass against the wall
that tortured heart left beating raw
those moments in pain
more open wounds to your blame 
a notch in your belt
your own heart you melt

~^~

Dreams:
By CCSridar


Dream Dreams, but don't expect them all to become reality.
Be happy, when you have tried everything within your capacity.

Dreams are really a very strange business,
You run after them and lose all your happiness.

Dream of things you can do, not what you can get
'Cause once you have a dream you can never forget.

Dreams make mankind a class apart;
But remember Dreams can tear you apart.

Dream of materialistic things 
And you can achieve them, come what may.
Dream of ethereal things
And what comes next, you have no say.

Dreams help you run away
From a world of everyday pressures.
They pamper you and cosset you,
And fulfill all your tiny pleasures.

It is only when they crash all around you 
That you begin to maintain,
Maybe it was not, in the first place,
Worth all that pain.

But all said and done,
When everyone and everything else goes away,
And you have not a single companion;
For you, its your dreams that stay.

~^~

The Storm
by Stacia Walker

The storm battles the ship and everything goes awry.
I look at the waves so diligently as they try to end the life.
The life as we have come to know it.
So peaceful and calm as the sea before us just days ago.
The waves, as they roll across the deck, remind me of a time before we just met.
The waves reek havoc with our tiny ship and overturn they try.
But the anchor holds and only God knows why.
The foundation is strong and the sails remain.
Although battered and torn they look almost the same.
As I look to the sky, I see a shimmering light.
What could it be on this murky, stormy night?
The tiny ship bounces and rocks back and forth.
And I think to myself what's all this worth?
As I look into the night, I began to pray.
I pray that it will soon turn into day.
The boat rocked and I felt a hand so bold.
The voice behind it said, 'never fear, for the anchor will hold.'
We should have been under the waves by now.
But, somehow we were guided by the light just above the bow.
I looked into the spray as it hit my face.
And realized, we were really meant to be in this place.
For all the things we have come up against,
We have won and been given a second chance.
I look to the sky as the sea begins to calm and the waves begin to dissipate,
and I think to myself we survived because we had faith.
A faith with a foundation so strong could not be broken by any ordinary means.
The man behind the voice was the man in my dreams.
He took my hand and he began to cry.
We made it with the help of God and a good man by our side.
He took my face into his hand and he said,' although the ship is battered
and torn and the sails are worn, the anchor still holds.'
With a faith as strong as ours, nothing could ever deter us or get in our way.
Because, the anchor still holds and it keeps holding everyday.

~^~

True Imagination
~*Crystalynn*~


Where shall I turn while in between conscious and unconscious
I turn and wonder where I am and what's around me
Is what I see really true and is it what it seems to be
I look and find it is the truth and am aware of the being
But is seeing all in honesty and truth reason for believing
Where does the inspiration come to play and guidance try to lead
How I worry what is real or just a figment of a dream
It does seem that the wind is burning and the fire is blowing
The earth seems to flow while the water stands still
While I float in and out of this being 
the moon shines in the day and the sun glows at night

~^~

CHURCHBOY JOE
~Kashmire


You sit on your throne of Christianity with your Bible in hand.
You treated me like a worthless piece of trash.
You played your ex-wife and I against each other causing a war.
You abandoned your children from your first marriage.
You yelled at me, controlled me, laughed at me and broke my spirit.
You crept into your sister-in-laws bed days after your brother died and married her.
You still hate me for leaving you because of the way you treated me.
You continue to do anything to tear my life apart.
You file bankruptcy to throw your debts onto me.
You turn our son against me because of your obsession to control.
You can't stand it that I can exist without you.

~^~

Connection
Chris Kropog

There comes a joining in our life
A shining love within a light

A raging fire from the ground 
That frees our soul in which we're bound

This thriving power that's so unique
It burns a bond in a spirit link

A telltale sign we share from the start
This knowing song sung from the heart

This weaving twin woven by design
A lifted burden from a weary mind

A living force fulfilled by fate
Has arisen to this higher state

~^~

LOST LOVE
Donna Newton

Alone in this darkness, alone in this pain.
Its no use, I should give up, there's nothing here to gain.
The night has taken the sun away, all that remains is a carpet of gray.
Screaming inside, can you hear me?
There is just no escape, I can never flee.
Searching for a way out, but the doors are locked.
So tired of being tortured, tired of being mocked.
I ask myself,  "where did I go"?
I wonder if I will ever know.
There's no trace of who I was, no memory of who I used to be.
Just who I am now, yet I'm not so sure it's me.

~^~

ARE WE ALONE?
Kashmire


Heaven has ignored me
My prayers have not been answered
Show me who you are

~^~

"Tomorrow"
Michael Rosario

Tomorrow you shall wake,
and forget the mistakes you've made
Tomorrow you shall die,
and forget you ever cried
Tomorrow you'll be gone,
and live among the dead
Your worries will be gone,
but will weigh on them instead

~^~

The Words
Stephanie Lewis 


You asked me once,
“Do you blame God anymore for your pain?”
My simple reply was “No.”
When I cry he sees my tears,
When I pray he listened,
When I crumble he picks me up,
When I just need a shoulder to cry on
he’s there.
You asked, “Me how do you know?”
My answer is, 
I remembered the words.
The words I wrote to grieve for a friend,
The words I wrote as prayer for mothers,
The words that bring comfort to others.
God is in my words,
He let me feel the pain enough to write.
Like a child learning not to tough a flame by being burned.
I learned to show my pain in the words.
God gave me a voice amidst the silence.
Pray and soon you’ll see where God placed the Gift in
you.

~^~

HOPEFULLY LONELY
SteveO
I've discovered the reason for my loneliness
It's been haunting me so long now
No warm body will fill it
No joy will destroy it
It's what causes me sadness
It's what gives me hope
The drive
The motivation
The will to go on in search of more
It's not friends I search for
Not women
Not a better life
Not these creature comforts I surround myself with
There is only one thing
The happiness
The fulfillment
The life that only my soulmate can give

~^~

So Many Times
Tiffany Pesapane


So many times I've tried
So many times I've cried

So many times I've listened
So many times I've wined

I sit in my room and 
think
When it comes down to it
i am very weak.

I love a guys who doesn't 
love me.

I guess you could say he
pleased me.

I want to try,
But I don't want 
to cry.
~^~

Crashing
Jazmyne Kneubuehl


I'm falling apart
falling day by day
my world came crashing down
everything that is anything is gone
either gone or destroyed
destroyed by the evil fires of hate
the vengeful fires burn
leaving eternal scars on my soul
leaving them to heal

i'm falling apart
i lost my soul already
my mind is next in line
i'm being taken over
the spiteful fires burn
they have consumed me now
all that is left is hate
my world came crashing down
my only peace now comes from pain
from the pain of others

i hear the screams of others
and i also feel their pain
i sense the fear in their eyes
it is my only comfort
and it comes with such a price
the lives of others
this is the price
and it all seems fair enough
after all
my world came crashing down

~^~

Myself
Christina R Capodagli

Impatience,insecurities,jealousy,driving myself to insanity.
Haunted by a past my mind allows to follow me like a second shadow.
I'll never be the same,I will always feel this pain.Forever hide in shame because in the end I only have myself to blame.

~^~
Carefree Days
By Paul Teodori


Nothing can destroy or take away 
The carefree joy of my boyhood’s early days.

There they stand, those golden days
Bound in Time,
And in this memory of mine,
All bound around by golden Thread.
For there was something divine,
Something sublime,
About those carefree days
And the carefree ways in which I passed them.

And yet having pondered over this much, I must declare,
That, although at a distance all seems so bright and happy and fair,
There was much amiss with those carefree days and those carefree ways.

For carefree days and carefree ways
Have no breadth or substance.
They are as the earth of old,
Before God spoke.

~^~

NOT SO BAD
ANTHONY LOPEZ

SITTING ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD. IT'S NOT SO BAD
SPARE CHANGING FOR FOOD, OR MAYBE EVEN 
A PLACE TO CRASH. IT'S NOT SO BAD
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE THREE WEEKS
IT'S NOT TRUE WHAT PEOPLE SAY
IT DOES GET COLD HERE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT
IT RAINS TOO, BUT IT'S NOT SO BAD
I'M TIRED AND HUNGRY
I MISS MY LITTLE SISTER
AND I WONDER HOW SHE'S DEALING WITH MY STEPFATHER
I PRAY TO GOD THAT IT'S NOT SO BAD
MAYBE I'LL CALL THIS GUY I MET
SAID HE'D TAKE CARE OF ME
I KNOW WHAT HE EXPECTS, AND TOLD HIM SO
HE SMILED INNOCENTLY LIKE I'M SURE HE HAD
A THOUSAND TIMES BEFORE AND SAID
SWEETNESS, IT'S NOT SO BAD

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Page Copyright © AHApoetry.com 2000.

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