OPEN MIC ENCORE!

January, 2001

A Winter's Day
ken Brandt

With the children playing in the snow 
No one will ever know
Just how far the leaves will blow?
Or will this snow ever go
Maybe I will stay for a while
This time I will walk for a mile
With a cigarette in my hand I can smile
I couldn’t think of doing anything vile?
But there’s always temptation
Like the feeling of a snow flake on the cheek
Something so cold it makes the eye blink
When it opens a teardrop falls
Like an a piece of ice that shatters 
There’s a point when nothing else matters
I just sit on a snow covered park bench
Watching these kids playing on the ice covered lake
I sit and light another cigarette
Ashes like snowflakes in the wind
Turning everything gray like raining day
It reminds me of this winters day
That I watch the children play
I will never say what happened today
When I sat on that snow-covered bench
While flicking my ashes into this lake
They will drown while the ice breaks
Just another innocent bystander 
Another onlooker for my amusement
Never thinking of what might have been or why?
I get up from that park bench and wave goodbye
Walking back the way I came
Knowing that nothing in life will ever be the same
And that no one will ever know
Just how far the leaves will blow?
Or will this snow ever go…

~*~

Walk with me to the mountains,
let me show you the flowing fountains
Reach out, hold my hand,
as we survey this beautiful land
Look!!!!! these beautiful trees,
Let us sit here, you and me
Wow!!!did you see that?
A beautiful trout playing acrobat
See!!!!!! over there,
that big, standing erect, black bear
Hold it!!! stand up, look up!!!!!!
hundreds of flying ducks
Let's head on, walk awhile,
Oh yes, with that beautiful smile
Up above an eagle soars,
could you ask for anymore
Yonder there!!! a cow elk,
A baby calf getting her milk
In the distance, a coyote howls,
An old dead tree, a big horned owl
Beautiful flowers, deep green grass,
Hundreds of mushrooms, all in a mass
Up ahead, a thundering sound,
Quickly , drop to the ground
Listen!!!!! can you hear,
It is water cascading down
Rounding the bend, what do we see???
God's creation for you and me
A gigantic waterfall, wow, what a sight,
beautiful rainbow formed from rays of light
The sun has gone down,
As we head back with a frown
This day must end as we head to town
William W Chadsey

~*~

You
Lorraine Landin

You are the constant awareness of love.
The only right entity within my life.
Who could have ever known that one person could hold al the qualities of sincere passion.

You see my flaws and imperfections.
I see your light, which shines to greater proportions of darkness.
You stumble within it all comforted by all your qualities within yourself
I wish to be there also with you.

You hold a special place in time, held between the strands of new life embowered by the ever glistening shower of lights upon the dreary night sky.
You live day by day amongst them all, the faceless and soulless people of this earth, your beauty shines above them all.

You remind me of a perfect day.
Untouched by sorrow weeps of the sky with unseen anger of bolting joist.
A perfect day, a perfect sky, a perfect window to all the beauty of this world all here in this moment, just for you.

~*~

Colorful World
Jason Shepard

The world becomes more beautiful
When one falls in love
Not because life becomes colorful
But because it is love
That opens our eyes
So we can spread our wings and fly
We have not moved just found each other
And grew to the size of giants with one another
Winter's cold cannot enter
The summers warmth and eternal splendor
What is your substance, what are you made of
To find in me something you so love
Your heart beats in a rhythmic calming
Causing the leap of the strongest longing
Lights so bright they blind my eyes
To the darkness of the night skies
You pull so strong I fall breathlessly
As your eyes tempt me to fall helplessly
Into your soul, where forever I’d stay
To bask in the happiness you’ve lent me today

~*~

God
Keisha Wall

When the sun shines on my face 
it's God's blanket to keep me warm,

When the wind blows on my face 
it's God touching my face,

When a butterfly lands on my face
it's God giving me a little kiss,

When I walk on the grass with no shoes
it's God tickling my feet,

When I lay down to sleep
it's God watching over me through the long night,

That's how I know, that God loves me,

~*~

peace of mind
Kevin Ward 

The wind howls through sullen trees as cricket's chirp merrily

Feelings of death and dread swept through my room up to my bed

Without warning these feelings came like a great typhoon with so much pain

Right past my curtains into my room rays of hope did shine through

With it came fairies with silver wings flying about whispering of happy things

These little beings with silver wings did warn of me "take great heed when darkness comes for when it swallows you there will be no fun"

Then the light did push back the darkness that i had felt

Across my room down the hall into gloom

To this day i heed there warning and wake up with a smile each and every morning

~*~

All in the midst of love
© Danielle Edwards 

its with only 1 embrace i shiver
as you trace your hands down my spine
its this feeling that i get in my stomach
as we unite
its breath taking kisses that last a lifetime
its sweaty bodies in their own sweet song
its 2 souls becoming one
its so sweet and endearing
its passion without a limit
its ultimate a bliss
its long days and even longer nights
its the rainbow across my face
its oceans of attention and caressing
its what we create 
All in the midst of love

~*~

My Soul
Keri Quigley

In my hand I hold your soul,
I feel that I can cry no more,
Blinded by my hate for you,
My only goal has been misruled,
To live and be loved by you,
But here I am all alone,
With nobody's hand,
To hold my soul.
~*~

True Friend
chitra

Who is your true friend?
The one who their shoulders lend,
And cheer you in your deepest sorrow,
Or one who your joys only borrow.

Who is your true friend?
The one who their ears lend,
To hear your sad tearful stories,
Or one who enjoys only your glories.

Is there really a true friend! 
I need jus one of that kind,
Who will abide by my in times of joy and sorrow,
“Do not worry, I am there for you” said my shadow.

~*~

Mindful Unrest 
amanda dillingham

The world may hear me, see me, even love me, 
yet they will never know, 
what happens inside my mind 
every time I am alone. 

An army of dreams, oblivious to realities, 
marches bravely past a troop of all reason, of all practicalities; 
eye to eye they fight- 
yet the battle of truth has no fatalities. 

Each force grows stronger, 
to only march on longer. 
No dispute ever settled, 
no side champions the winning medal. 

Finally, once more they will rest, 
but only until the next time to again atest 
the direction of life, 
of human victories, struggles and strife. 

And in their moments' retreat, 
contemplate the strategy 
to conquer, to reign, 
to defeat.
~*~

If You Only Knew
Debbie J. Davis

If you only knew, that I felt that you
had no remorse inside.
That you wouldn't even care at all
If I sat alone and cried.
How everyday when I walked around
and felt like I could die,
You would only laugh and criticize
and maybe wonder why,
I never try to change myself,
If you could only understand,
the problems in my life are hard,
they're far beyond demand.
You don't even grasp the concept,
that the mocking hurts so bad,
it makes my heart bleed inside,
and feel so awfully sad.
Why should I even go on at all,
when you make me feel I have nothing to gain,
When everyday you sit and watch me cry,
and get pleasure from my pain?

~*~

Missing you,
what else can I do
but only think of you

Sarrah Dupuis

~*~

red aspen leaves
color quiets rage
I think of you 

Elizabeth Lyulkin

~*~

TREES
Melissa Savides

Trees hug the sky 
In reach for the diamonds 
That sparkle above
The puffy white clouds 
Dance the waltz 
With old Mr. sun 
Embracing the newness
Of the clean, crisp spring air
Or a cool crisp day 
As autumn casts its spell
There’s the rustle of leaves 
Eager to escape and dance
With the breeze
Floating across this beautiful land
It’s hazy and warm
The flowers giggle with glee
Smiling back
At there feathered friends
That flutter and laughs
Lingering in the warmth of the golden ball of flame
Nighttime falls rather to quick
The moon peers out over the sun
To guide the stars 
And allow dreams to run 
Nature shuts its eyes 
As silence falls 
The world 
Says good-by
To all
~*~

Closely resembling an Octopus
Brian

Lips like soft blankets,
Gently panting desperate,
Gasping and squealing,
Like a catch phrase,
Outside an asylum,
Convulsing madly with music,
No rhythm, no key, no heart, no soul.
I saw this man with red in his eye,
Inside a mirror, he was on the other side.
He danced to Korn, and Moby, and Nsync.
When he died,
Nobody cared,
Nobody laughed,
But nobody cared.

~*~

In Green
Nick Roske

I saw a man speak
He wore green
Green pants and shirt
The hair on his head
Thins, like the soles of my shoes
A walking mind
In green, he speaks of his children
Of his world
He laughs
I laugh
This private experience
This life
Inspires him
this man, this poet, this child
Who can age
But chooses not to
This person in green
Hands me his life
I realize
I have no color
I am not
In green
I accept his life
As his own
One day I hope,
to live
to love
to be a husband
a father
to be...

...in green

~*~

That Place
Alison Robinson

It Had A History No One Could Explain.
And If Those Great Walls Could Talk They Would Never Say A Word.
And Those Walls, Boards, And Nail Saw It All.
Saw All The Memories In The Making.
Saw All The Treasure, All The Thoughts, All Those Hot Summer Nights, And Even Saw The Beginning Of Life And It’s End.

It Was A Hiding Spot For Many,
Others Just A Waste Of Land.
It Was A Meaningful Tower Of Friendship, Love And Hate.
It Was A Palace No Princess Could Ever Dream Of.
And It Was Very Quiet And Special.

As The Old Ragged Building Sat On The Water,
It Is As Quiet As Ever. 
It Consumes Many Thoughts

You See It As Debris
I See It As Riches.
You See It As A Big Mess And Just Another Chore.

Well Now It’s Gone For You And Out Of Your Way.
But For Others This Place Remains A Mystery, On How And Why This Happened.
I Wish It Was Still Here But I Guess This Happened For The Best.

No More Star Gazing In The High Grassy Yard, No More Fights With Friends inside Those Walls Of Brick.
No More Sharing Thoughts And Feelings, No More Hiding.

But All Because A Mistake Of One Person Can Put Down These Treasures In A Second.
And Someday You Will Realize The Impact Of That Place. 
~*~

MY LIFE
Justin O'Reilly 

i started life clean and pure 
as life moved on i wasn't sure
what lies in front of me on the road of life?
will i need to sacrifice?
i started to do things i would soon regret
my cousin told me to so i took a hit
what was happening to my life?
it felt like i was stabbed with a knife
i thought, "how could God turn his back?"
how could he let my life slide off track?
as life moved on i started to see
that God will never turn away from me
i realized it was me who turned my back
it was me who let my life slide off track
God forgive me, for i have sinned
i'm sorry, i will never turn my back again
i will go to church and read the bible 
i will become your holy disciple
Shout to the Lord All the Earth let us sing!!!
Power and Majesty Praise to the King!!!
Thank you God, for i've been blessed
I love you God, you are the best
you gave me family and friends i love
for that i thank the lord above
Just like the promise you wrote on my heart
I Promise We Will NEVER Depart!!

This is a true story about my life

~*~

Symbiotic poetry
what the hell does it mean
poor people
waiting for daddies check
crnogora

~*~

We are obsessed with our own greed
Samantha Robson

We are obsessed with our own greed
And thrilled by our own lies
We can't face our own design
And always try to hide.
Our insecurity hurts others more,
And our creativity is pitied
But even so I'm not so sure
That this is everyone's thought.
People thrive on envy
And try to trip us on our way
So we fall and then get up 
It happens again and we believe what they say.
Are you really so vulnerable
That you can't see for yourself
What others think is not more important
Than what we think ourselves.
The strategy of thought
Is to find out what they think
We tear our minds apart with this
When all we need to do is let our thoughts link.

When all we have to do is let our minds link.
~*~

Nocturnal Journey
Khachatur Badalian 

The starry night is enfolding the world
A nocturnal spell is veiling my orbs
And a mesmeric harp in its eloquent tune
Is seducing my mind with its lulling bloom.

In the velvet of the darkness
I see flocks of agile horses.
They are galloping unbroken
Wrapped in mystery unspoken.

Cascading mustangs on the slumbering hills
They are dancing as far as the sea,
Moving o’er the land, you can feel its gentle hand
Leading on to their destiny.

Take me with you on this journey
Where the boundaries of time are now tossed
In cathedrals of the forests
In the words of the tongues now lost.

Find the answers, ask the questions 
Set your fantasies unbound
Find the roots and gap the fractures
Solve the secrets hemming round.

~*~

And so I am forced to learn my lessons
James Donnelly 

But not through a lack of guidance given;
Never the less none received.
Eyes wet as I face unknown winds, I give all to 
The experience, to see what unproven mouths
Have only spoke of in age, not wisdom,
For none is so rare as a common time,
And I chase the darkness while you speak of stars.

Guided by impulse and dreams
We ascend burn and fall, only to 
Wake once more, while what can be said of different
Days and old age is not so strange; ancient rivers
Still change direction. And so I am forced to learn my lessons,
Not through a lack of guidance given, never the less
None received.

~*~

Just A Dream Away
Amanda

What does it mean,
I can't figure you out,
The harder and harder I try,
The more complex you become,
So just sit with me tonight
and let your brown eyes sink into mine,
Let me feel your arms wrapped tightly around me,
Give me the security your lips always
promised in the beginning,
And when the sun rises,
This night will be lost.

~*~

Why do I lover her?
I know I don't need her
But she is always her
She is true to me
And hardly upsets me
She is strange to me
But it make sense to me
Why is this happening to me
Why can I only see
Even when my eyes do not
I still see her
More beautiful than I have ever seen
I try to find logic when it is not there
But I know I care about her well-being
When she is mad I try to make her glad
I hate to see her sad
I rather her hold my hand
I wish I could have her to be mine
And only mine
But it seems that I can not
I can only try but will always come up short
I try to get her out of all sort of troubles
But it seems my heart just crumbles
I tremble when she makes me not me
I wonder who am I?
Is this me or was that me
I feel I am so confused
This lights a fuse in me
I exclude all of my clues
I refuse to quit
I would rather listen fools spit lyrics
Than to her critics talk about me and her
Her and me
There is no real her and me
There is just me
All alone 
Like I always am
Why oh why
Do I love her?
art edstang

~*~

This feeling is so very true.
The only way I can think of you.
Day and night I think of you
The way that you pick me up 
when I am feeling blue.
To be with you is the only way.
The only way I feel every day.
I can only see us together,
together, forever, I hope and pray,
But we have to take it day by day,
For we are so far away.
No one before you let me say just how I felt,
If I could I would have told them how bad felt.
Now that I have you to be with I can say,
I am so happy day to day.
Just thinking of you puts a smile on my face,
Only wish I could be with you "FACE TO FACE".
Your tender words fill my heart with feelings,
Feelings of love and not hate.
I can never truly say that I have had a better friend
You are a friend that never ends.
I can only see myself with you
the one and only beautiful you.
This is the way
The way I think of you!
by me, Easy E
Eric Johnston

~*~

NOT AT THE MOVIES
stevenk

everywhere I go 
everywhere I see 

traces of you and me 

it was bad in the beginning 
and has become worse than I thought could be 

because 

everywhere I go 
everywhere I see 

traces of you and me 

I prayed 
by now I would be free 

but 

everywhere I go 
everywhere I see 

that 

wherever I might be 
you are not here with me 

not at the movies 
nor under the stars 
not by the lake 
or in the car... 

~*~

THE TRANSFORMERS
Troy Edison Yaw 

When I was eight
I was watching the Transformers;
Now that I'm already twenty
It is still a deep part of me!

I used to love Optimus Prime
He is the Autobots leader;
I used to dislike Starscream
Because he tries hard to be the leader!

I used to like the Dinobots
Especially their leader Grimlock;
He is kinda dumb but kind
He is stubborn and hard as a rock!

It doesn't matter
I would love to watch any episode again;
I got the blood of a pure Transformer fan
To watch it again would not be in vain!
~*~

Alone
Christina satanicnun

Alone...

where I can think about anything
no one can hear what I say in my head
no one would understand if they could

Alone...

where I can be myself
and not be judged 
free to daydream 

...all alone
~*~

Day at End
george r. martin

diving boards of heaven
hell's graveyard and the drab winds it adorns
the steel shock of empty cardboard hits the rain as it fades away
leads us to dawn and its glorious rain
god becomes the schizophrenic leper who discriminates the wings from the horns
self stigmata the only impossible link to our shadowed children
their shimmering bracelets
or nailed holes
we once bleed through
in our soft faith, as heretical death crept up
in our martyred souls, as the mobs moped up our blood
in our purest love alive
as it led us to dawn and its glorious pain
alas, i am alone
we are alone
amen. 

~*~

I'm Not
Valerie Horniman

I'm not broken
I'm not running
Like you are.

I'm not afraid
I'm not hiding
Like you are.

I'm not weak
I'm not deceitful
Like you are.

I'm not prejudice
I'm not hateful
Like you are.

I'm not...
Like you.

~*~

“What I Want?”
Alyssa Creasy 

I wanna see your fear
To get me out of here
I wanna know your way
So I can really make your day
I wanna see your face
So it can keep me in place
I wanna hear your knock
So I can really turn the lock

I wanna make you see
The inside of me
The one who’s really there
When no one seems to care
The one who lies deep within
The one who knows all my sin
So you can see once for all
If you wanna take the fall

You see I hurt for you
Like a mother to child
I really hurt for you
But I wanna stay mild
‘Cause I can’t take the pain
When I can’t see through the rain
And I can’t take the blow
When it really starts to snow

I’m rattled by this fear
As though I’m not really here
And I don’t wanna hear anymore
I’m not listening to you
I’m not listening to me
I’m not listening…to anything

~*~

"Show me..."
 Greta Manionak.

Show me the answer
and point the way which we should go.
How many times will our tears be shed
and flood the soil 
that you have made for our feet?
Does really after the storm
the sun come back?
I know it does!
And it's a reverence of yours!
I did experienced your splendor many times.
I beg you, never sentence me
to what I fear so much - 
the weakness,
making the eyes of mine so wet...
~*~

MINDSCAPE
(c)Jude Adebosoye Ogunade

I think of things on my mind.
I am a great one of a kind.
One of a different kind;
For my mind is a different mind.

My mind is free, I live, for I think.
No one can take away that which I think.
Whether I am lonely or twosome,
My mind to me is a thinking thing.

Come, walk with me and let's stroll,
Along the coast of a mind serene.
Come, let us wander in pure imagination,
And dream of great and marvelous expectation.

Let's build castle not in the air
Let's build castles in the stars!
Let's build castles of pure thoughts,
And with thoughts let's change the world.

Will you build with me?
Forget the enemies-give them no thoughts
Remember the friends cherish them with wit
Remember the world - water it to abundant life
~*~

When I walk downstairs, I see an empty couch wear you usually sit and it makes me upset. Cause I know in a half an hour you and Afton won't be coming downstairs to collect you pizza and soda, and we won't all drive to her house, wear even though I spend most of the time fighting to keep my eyes open. Just for the sake of remembering being with you. When we drive home i'm sometimes tired, but I know when you ask to stay up I won't be so tired anymore cause i wanna grab every chance i can get to spend time with you. I wanna cry when i think of the games we used to play when we were younger, cause i know we will never play them again and the closest we'll get to playing them is a talk and a laugh about how cute they were. When I look back on my life so far i noticed that you were a huge part of it and now that you're gone it seems there's not much else. I look at you now in college, but i know you're the same exact guy who used to squeeze into the cereal cabinet with me, and there's certain days when i can remember everything that happened and i'm not quite sure exactly what I'd give to get them back. There is nothing you could do to make me think of any less and i hope you always know that. You make me grateful that i had a brother to have all these memories with. I think that i think about things too much but it's hard forgetting the times when we would build forts when there was a thunderstorm, cause for some reason we thought that they protected us. And when i hug you i know i'm hugging the same guy that i would watch Saved By the Bell with every afternoon. And every time we stay up it's never different i always have fun no matter what movie we watch or how tired i am. I don't like to think about we'll some day be forty and we'll visit each other on birthday's and holidays and greet each other with a kiss on a cheek and talk about the good old days when we played football in the yard next door and hockey up the street. Cause i'd rather be back in those days than thinking about them. When i walk by your room. 

Maia

~*~

A Trade for the World
ArplnGreezmnky

Just right now, they offered me,
eternal life for you.
But trust me, there'll never be,
eyes like yours so blue.

Just right now, they tempted me,
with money, to never end.
But trust in me, there'll never be,
enough to make me bend.

Just right now, in trade for you,
they offered me the sun.
But trust in me, there'll never be,
like you, another one.

Just right now, they showed to me,
for you in trade the shores.
But trust in me, there'll never be,
a beauty quite like yours.

Just right now, they offered for you
the world, for all to see.
But trust in me, there'll never be,
a love like yours from me.

~*~

Only You
Dave Dalisay

I've never been so happy this way before
For it's you who made me so happy
There's nothing I can ask for more
Darling why can't you see it all

It's nice to see how you smile at me
It's nice to hear those words you're telling me
But all of those will remain a memory
Because you have loved somebody

Knowing you were heaven to me
Because you have brought back life in me
And even though you're just a memory
It will always be a special part of me

Though time will past and rivers dry
The thought of you keeps me on high
And even if fate will take it's course
You'll always be my first and last recourse

~*~
GOD WHAT DO ANGELS DO?
ERINN MC

GOD DO ANGELS FLY UP IN THE SKY ALL DAY?
GOD DO ANGELS SING A SONG SO SWEET THAT ONLY YOUR HEART CAN HEAR?
GOD DO ANGELS HEAR THE SILENT PRAYERS OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN HOW SLEEP AT NIGHT?
GOD DO ANGELS FEEL THE PAINE THAT IS IN YOUR HEART WHEN YOUR SAD?
GOD DO ANGELS TALK IN WHISPER SO SWEET THAT YOU CAN ONLY HEAR IT IN YOUR DREAMS?
GOD DO ANGELS LOVE ME?

~*~

THE RAIN DIDN'T COME OUT
ERINN MCC 

THE RAIN DIDN'T COME OUT TO DAY MAYBE IT'S HIDING SOME WERE IN THE CLOUDS
OR IT'S PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH ME. I WONDER IF IT'S RISING IN ENTER PART OF THE WORLD. I DON'T KNOW BUT THE SUN DIDN'T COME OUT TO DAY. BECAUSE IT'S RAINING.

~*~

cowboys are orphans
wish i was a cowboy
cowboys don't have problems
wish i was a cowboy
 angie

~*~

I NEVER GOT TO SAY GOOD-BYE
melisenda gabrielle

Mommy and Daddy have past away.
Never to be seen again,
For they didn't want to stay

I said Good Morning when I woke,
But I got home a little to late.
When I saw them my heart broke.
I guess it was just their fate.

I never got to say Good-Bye,
Because Mommy and Daddy killed themselves.
Why does everyone have to die?

~*~

Here I am
(A sad song)
Sašo Èepin

Here I am,
lying in my bed alone,
thinking ´bout my life
and writing sad, sad song.
Here I am,
without you by my side,
searching for new rhyme,
which would make you smile.
Here I am,
with black thoughts in my head,
I can't write happy song,
I create a song so sad.

This ain't murder ballad,
and it ain't something wrong,
it ain't love poem neither,
it's only a sad song.

And there are you,
so beautiful and kind,
you make me feel so blue,
cause you're the red light in my mind.
And there you lie,
so far away from me,
I'm writing this sad song,
I'm writing it for thee.

Cause this ain't murder ballad,
and it ain't something wrong,
it ain't love poem neither,
it's only a sad song.
~*~

"EMPTY PLACE"
Radi-md

It's an ordinary place
beautiful and empty
a place full of pain
no one's here.

Empty silences
hear this voice
someone screams,
can't you hear it.

A peaceful day
cloudy sky
and I would say 
this is perfect day to die!

Again this scream,
this is my soul
are you ready to die?
Sorrow hearts are already flown!

~*~

I am the co-editor of a new literary magazine, The Anima Animus. We are currently accepting submissions for the following: poems, short stories, essays, fiction, satire, aphorisms, reviews, and any other kinds of writing. In addition, we are looking for someone to write a monthly opinion column. This individual should be someone who is not controversial, but can PROVOKE controversy. We look to publish only creative, original, and NON-typical pieces. For more information, e-mail us.

~*~

Violence and pollution 
Sarfaraaz Mukkudem

violence, violence come let's break this awful silence
Killing off our air do you think it's fair
Seek not our solution in police raids
Let us rather seek the people's aid

For only with their co- operation
can we maybe better this rainbow nation 
Let's not rape the Cape 
Let's rather keep South Africa in shape 

~*~

WHEN LOVE HURTS
TYM

Children love to run and play
but some just simply run away.
Life at home can be to much to take
need to hidden need a break.
Mommy drinks and lives in the past
Daddy loves me, f*cks my ass.
The abuse is something to deep to speak of
don't believe I ever knew love.
At sixteen I'm turning tricks
making money getting off dicks.
What is a doll, how do you dress it
my life is hell, I've made such a mess of it.
It must be me, perhaps I am to blame
at least out here I have no shame.
The night and I are still quite young
but I've aged so much and I don't know fun.
I roll them and count it and earn my pay
the corner is where I go to play.
Compared to home, here I am free
I'm in control and love can't touch me.

~*~

"Dead God"
Dusty Goos

The world is stained through blood-burned eyes
all last night I cried
I dreamed you died
feared the dream hadn't lied
I tire of them telling me of a soul mate
when I never felt fate
idle love turned to hate
all I think about is you, Kate
how can I be born again if I never lived at all
on my own it is hard to stand tall
and it feels like the skies will fall
without pain I wouldn't feel anything at all
falling victim to love's neglect
and it shows its effect
by my face in the mirror reflects
I'm standing in the shadows of the dead God I reject.

~*~

the marriage of a corpse in hell
ty bennett 

the intention of protection is found in the absence of expectation.
the contemplation of suggestion hopes for a space to watch out what you tell yourself. the mind that talks cant be trusted to build itself a foundation.
its suffocating words block the passage of breath. its firm belief in itself 
cracks like the scull of a dead corpse under the pressure of a mountain.
its appetite devours the subtle energy transparent to reason.
its hunger is the compulsion of sleep.
in sickness and in health. for better or for worse.
till death do us part.

~*~

The War
Sargent 1/2001

You stand upon the pinnacle behold the riches of the earth
Bow to me and I shall give the gift of this whole world
Just kneel before me this once let master roll off Your tongue
I'll make all Your dreams come true I am the chosen one

For I am this world's ruler power is mine to wield
Life and Death are in my hands I make all desires real

You rule for now this is true you were reborn of lies
Get behind me great deceiver least you forget who gave you life
I have come into this world with one purpose in mind
To bruise your head and you My heal sacrificed for all mankind

For I Am that I Am yet even I can not save you
Once the angel of light now eternal darkness you choose

Oh high and mighty Son of God I laugh right in Your face
If You don't bow to me right now I swear I'll make You pay
War, death and hatred I'll spew out on human seed
They'll believe it's God's wrath when I deal demon deeds

I am the prince of darkness the thief of countless souls
I'm the most beautiful creature look upon me and behold

Hold your tongue you slimy snake I'll not believe your lies
I know you well old Lucifer from me there's no disguise
Satan you are powerful yet weak before My eyes
You may thrive in your kingdom until it is My time

Next time I come with a sword I shall lock you up in chains
One thousand years of misery then I will finish this game

~*~

Blind Vision
Spezzal

The sun behind the clouds
The grass under the snow
The face under the mask
The secrets that I know

The reason for the act
The person everyone really wants to be
The book inside the cover
The feelings inside me

The gift inside the casual box
The explanation for the notion
The child inside the grown-up
The sand beneath the ocean

The thoughts that I'm thinking
The microcosm in my mind
The person behind the image
The truth behind the lies

~*~

A Little Longer
 Karen 

As you give me a kiss, and I call you back for one more, I wish you could stay for just a little longer. When we say goodbye, it hurts inside. I crouch down on my knees and watch you pull away. I give a wave, and blow a kiss. I think about when I can see you next. The minutes seem like hours. I run up to my room, and see the spot where you just had laid. A formation of your body, stenciled perfectly on my blanket. I smell my pillow, were your head laid softly. It smells like you, and a sense of security, and warmth overcomes me. I try to take in every breath I can. I think maybe if I can hold onto this feeling, this smell for just a little longer, maybe the minutes won’t go by as slowly. Maybe I can feel myself in your arms once more, or your lips against mine, for just a little longer…

~*~

"The Sun and Moon"
 Beth

The sun is bright,
The moon is white.
They do not feel pain or joy.
Or do they?
All day do they play?
No, they shed our loving light.
Do they laugh?
Do they cry?
Do they even sing?
Yes.
Their laughter is the thunder, which keeps us huddled with our family at night.
Their tears are the rains, which keeps us stuck like glue to our friends under an umbrella.
Their peaceful, calm singing hums us to sleep at night,
So who is to hear it?
The sun and moon shed us with their tears of joy.
To keep us alive, drinking, and well.
The sun is bright, the moon is white.
They do not feel pain or joy.
Or do they?

~*~

HEIRLOOM
Meg 

An outlined figure.
So, I quit.
I'll be the little,
unfortunate one.
Tie me up with scissors.
Batter my lungs in 
Vain.
The ink ran clear.
A jack rabbit bounced
and I butt a cigarette 
out.
Dog-earred pages in
a prisoners journal.
a signatured inscription mutilated
in a wink of his
star-spangled eye.

~*~

Evolution has its flaws
always ventures with talons and claws
war its perpetual friend
lending the silent ring 
an epoch sings
treasures of ancient demise 
blot the gray eyes
gayety hides in the belly of a tape worms lies


lugubrious times peel and clutch
It doesn't lean on your potpouri scene
saturated on my face grace
the end is all that was ever made to save us
though I walk by with a postured stance
and give a gentleman's glance



Technology all you ever did for evolution was the atom bomb
A vestibule to to cathedral where the new race strives 

 Rick Graves

~*~

PUNCTUATION MARKS
Gail Goto

Crossing tea leaves in a china cup is 
like reading lines in the palm of your hand.
Fortunate are the ones that asterisk in the universe and
don’t consult Ouija boards or quote Nostradamus.

As I dot eyes with a mascara wand
and arch brows with a pull and a pluck,
they fall over like fallen commas. 
Except, right side up.

A smile is enriched by the quotient of 
sensation and passion.
But the apostrophe turns south with the 
coming of a period.

Oh, how I wish to consummate with an exclamation point.
But, desires are dashed by the sinister menace of a hyphen.
So, I attempt the ladder rungs of a slash only to rump down the back slash. 
But, I won’t be held parenthetically bracketed to the unquestionable…

because, what lies in the future is followed by a colon.

~*~

Omega
Betty Worsfold 


I came in silence
And now I leave in silence;
And all the silent spaces
From then to now
Wash gently between us;
And all the words unspoken
Pile up as mountains to the sky.


But oh, my dear
To say,
To hear,
To know, at last -
The time for silences is past.

~*~

OH, LORD HELP ME
Derrick L. Voris

Please, tell me when this pain begins?
From the Heavens or Earth,
or from where these feet have traveled the dirt.
Begging the Lord to let it end.
Yet, each day the radiant mistress walks from the East.
So, let the beauty of the rose blossom into a fine wine,
And, let the yoke of misery be cast aside.
So, I may drink and live with pride.

~*~

FAITH
Brock

Just look closer who really cares if god's child- on
then you'll see we U ren and
the are N eyes. and so
real different? 'Cause D Yes, absolutely on 
me We are all the same E we lov- and
what do you think? R are ed so on and so on
You're looking at all by he thinks
the his him the world
real and of us.
me so

~*~

THE DREAM
ROSALIND TURNER

I DREAMED OF YOU LAST NIGHT MY LOVE
SUCH WONDERFUL SPLENDOR SO DEEP
AND ONCE I OPENED UP MY EYES 
I WISHED I WAS STILL ASLEEP
ONCE I TELL YOU WHAT HAD HAPPENED, YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE
JUST HOW YOU TOOK CONTROL OF MY HEART AND FILLED MY FANTASIES
YOU PLACED YOUR HANDS ON MY FACE AND CARESSED IT TENDERLY
I GAZED DEEPLY INTO YOUR EYES AND SAW ALL YOU HAD FOR ME
THEN WE WALKED ALONG THE BEACH, BAREFOOT IN THE SAND
WATCHING THE MOON DANCE ON THE OCEAN, AS WE STOOD THERE HAND IN HAND
AND THEN YOU LAID ME ON THE SHORE AND GENTLY STROKE MY BACK
I FELT CHILLS FROM HEAD TO TOE, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED LIKE THAT
AS WE LAID THERE ON THE WHITE SAND AND WATCHED THE RISE OF THE SUN
YOU SOFTLY KISSED ME ON THE LIPS, THAT'S WHEN I KNEW YOU WERE THE ONE
THE ONE WHO SETS MY HEART ROARING, THE ONE WHO SETS MY SPIRITS FREE
IF ONLY I COULD SLEEP FOREVER AND MAKE THE DREAM REALITY.

~*~

I have some secrets that I can't keep,
My heart is strong but my knees are weak,
To help me through, I need your help,
Cuz'...
I can't do it by myself.

Mariah Bakke

~*~

Sisters
tracy cooper

WHEN I WAS LITTLE I GUESS ONE COULD SAY THAT I LOVED MY SISTER IN A 
SPECIAL WAY. AS TIME WENT ON AND WE BOTH GREW UP I REALIZED THAT I 
DIDN'T LOVE MY SISTER THE WAY I USED TO. SHE IS THE KIND OF PERSON 
THAT I NEVER WANTED TO BE. I KNOW HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT ME AND SHE 
WILL NEVER KNOW HOW I TRULY FEEL ABOUT HER. EVEN THOUGH SHE IS MY 
SISTER AND SHE TREATS ME THE WAY THAT SHE DOES SHE WILL ALWAYS BE MY 
SISTER NO MATTER WHAT SHE CALLS ME. BE IT NICE OR DEROGATORY SHE WILL 
ALWAYS BE MY SISTER AND I AM THE ONE WITH A HEART AND FEELINGS. I 
ADMIT THAT WE DO FIGHT AND WE WILL NEVER GET ALONG MUCH TO OUR 
MOTHERS CHAGRIN. I CAN SAY THAT ONLY ONE OF US KNOWS THAT WE AGREE 
TO DISAGREE AND THAT WOULD BE ME.

~*~

Abnormal
Anka Fontaine

Normal
Does it exist?
I mean a real true normal
It’s impossible
Isn’t it?
If there was a normal
Only one person could be it
It’s common knowledge
Everyone is different
Everyone is unique
So what do you think?
Is there a normal?
And if there was
Who would be normal?
Who would be that one single person?
Personally, in my own humble opinion
That person would definitely be ME.

~*~

Expression
~Leslie Kermick

Truth likes to hide itself,
Deep down behind emotions,
Which are not revealed,
But suppressed,
Causing tension to build,
Making tempers rise—
Coursing through veins,
Pounding in the head,
Talking doesn’t help,
Yelling makes it worse.

A moment alone,
Sitting and thinking,
Pondering the ways,
Thinking of a solution,
Relieving the stress,
The body needs to relax—
Sleep is calling,
Tension keeps eyes open,
Concern racing through time.

Screams and tears,
The beating heart,
Rage is there,
Lips are no longer sealed,
The feelings set free—
Crouching down,
Staring into the depths,
Wanting to see,
Revealing the soul.

~*~

"Dancing In the Rain"
Valerie Messineo


Raindrops pitter-patter
And on the sidewalk they do splatter
As I dance you hear my laughter
While I'm dancing in the rain.

I feel like a little child
I can't help that I go wild
When the raindrops, ever mild
Fall from the crying skies again.

You say that I'm a sprite
That I spin with all my might
A binding spell to hold you tight
When I'm dancing in the rain.

What you'll find out, my dear
As I hold you oh-so-near
What I whisper in your ear
'Dancing takes away your pain.'

So dance with me you must
In my arms place all your trust
Let your worries turn to dust
And come dancing in the rain.

~*~

just another i miss you poem
~By Angela C Ubaldo

I miss you
My hands are cold
My face is hot
My feet tingle
My ass hurts
My stomach churns
My eyes swell
My lips are chapped
My knees itch
My hands hurt holding this pen
I should be holding you
I miss you
~*~

Crimson Tears
gracieh

Dripping coursing down my face
How I wish to leave this place
Very soon the pain will start
Writhing throbbing inside my heart
Like a dagger driven in
Until I feel I must give in
Shining blade cutting through
Into the body I thought I knew
Scarlet running down my arm
Why must I always do myself harm
In the black of night, I hear songs of larks
As I lay shaking in the dark
No one to hold me through the night
No one to say it will be alright
No one here to calm my fears
As I cry these crimson tears

~*~

are you ok?
kristol kbond

i found out today that I'm not ok
i cry a lot i can't help it but that's ok
i'll say you can stay but really
i want to leave and go far away
i want a place to breathe 
i need time to breathe
when all i thought was you 
inside and out it seems
to bring me happiness was too much 
to ask of you but i'm so sorry
to disturb you in all your frustration 
i will play the role of grass and trees
background to your lead
but i'm really not ok today
i cry a lot i can't help it but that's ok
i'll say you can stay but really
i want to leave and go far away
will you leave with me today?

~*~

Without Reality
 Alycia Well

Pictures
Memories in my mind
adventures
everything playing in rewind
Structures
In my dreams and in my thoughts
Buildings
going nowhere with my shoes in knots.
Noises
Unfamiliar people, with unfamiliar voices,
Choices
Desirable, and still yet undeniable.
Places
Unknown and uncomfortable.
Messages
Meaningful, and wonderful!
Without reality! 

~*~

I Love You
~Trisha Banwell

You're mine baby
mine to keep
i will love u forever
where my heart is deep
keep giving me chances 
to be the perfect mom
I'll treat you good
and tell you where ur from.
lets put the past behind us
and think about today.
I will never give you up.
You are here to stay.
I adopted you with love
and will never let you go.
I love u so much
everybody knows. let me tell u something.
something kind and true.
incase u forgot.
i will always love u.

~*~

Goodnight My Love
Monique Stubbs-Holliday

and as the sunlight dims
and as the moonlight releases its glow
and as you rest from the days wows
and body relaxes, thoughts will flow
and sweet dreams will overcome you and no one but you will know
as sleep falls deep upon your soul
restful thoughts begin to unfold
perhaps a few will relate to me
oh peaceful soul, that goes to sleep
goodnight my love, sleep tight you will
dream deep tonight because tomorrow still
holds unpredictable seconds, minutes & hours
tomorrow may bring sunshine or showers
and then the moon shall disappear
and then the sunlight brings it's glare
arise my love to another date
knowing you are never alone, at your side is your soulmate

~*~

CALM
Laura Pedersen

you calm me, sweet serenity
pouring comfort on my soul
you take control.
And there is darkness,
hanging over my conscious,
there are faces turned away.
They are walking in the other direction
but you took the courage to stay.
I'm tired of hiding,
I'm tired of pretending i am not here.
I'm tired of hiding.
I am tired of pretending that your not here.
Your touch eases me
sweet serenity.
Crashing in to my soul,
you take control.
~*~

If you betray sin?
 B. Prince 

If you betray sin, does your life begin, anew?
Are you sure, 
If even you aren't pure, 
That god will let you live, 
To give, 
A new feeling to life, 
And not that of strife.
Purity comes with a hope and dream 
That we all requiem, 
And for all of us to know 
Is to show 
Kindness and contempt for one another 
And not to bother 
With simple things as envy and greed 
That would be your sinful deed
If you need to part take 
On your hearts sake, 
Then I pray for you a better day 
But perhaps that is my way, and not that of you.

~*~

How do I keep from loving you?
kerri vidal

Please sit down and look my way 
There is something I'd like to say
What started out as friendship has somehow grown much stronger
And I don't think I have the strength to hide it any longer
I long to hold you to be by your side
These feelings are getting harder and harder to hide
How can i keep them from showing through 
How can I keep hiding them from you
The way I feel when you are near 
Fills my heart with a since of fear
So afraid of loving you I turn my thoughts to the lord above he don't respond what do I do
How do I keep from loving you?
~*~

OH, TO HE
 chrisream

Oh, blessed he
Who came to me
In my hour of despair
Oh, Praise thee 
Who saved me
From my worst nightmare

Oh, thank he
Who blessed me
With the gift of a son
Oh, applaud thee
Who shined upon me
The light of the sun

Oh, give credit to he
Who gave me
The beauty of the night
Oh, give respect to thee
Who let me
Marry my wife

Oh, appreciate he
Who blessed me 
With the gift of life
Oh, honor thee
When he says to me
Ye shall die

~*~

WHAT TO LIVE FOR
 ~Carolyn~

hours of practice
pain, torture
the repetition a drill
over and over and over
until its perfect
with energy

days of anticipation
its coming
show off your skill
what you've worked so hard for
amaze the crowd
with talent

minutes before the show
nervous, giddy
hair, makeup and costume
finished, final
get your equipment
set everything up, good luck
with excitement

breathe in the music
it becomes your heartbeat,
feel the blood run through
take the crowds energy
make it your own
throw yourself into dance
everything you've got

this is what i live for
what i love to do
for four minutes
the world is nothing
there is nothing
but you, and your dance
and the crowd
and the passion
~*~

"My Only Love"
 "Krista Anderson"

You are my first and only love
sent from high above
For you I would walk a thousand miles
my love, I would even swim the nile
I wish I could proclaim my love from the highest mountain top
my love for you will never stop
being away from you tears me apart
but there will always be a place for you in my loving heart

~*~

"The Wall"
Andrew Conway

What have we done? 
Was it worth fighting for? 
These thoughts come to mind when thinking of war
I stand here in awe looking at a result of past mistakes;
A monumental reminder of the choices we make. 
My eyes fill up and overflow with tears
As families bemoan their loved ones' stolen years.
I reach out gently and touch its granite face, 
I feel the walls emotions, the memories none can erase. 
Each name the wall bears is equal to the rest, 
It does not discriminate--each soldier gave his best.

~*~

I hate
thompson m.


I hate not being able to express myself, i always feel like something is telling me if you do this you will look like a idiot
I hate it when people are not straight about the way they feel, instead they would rather let you run through a endless maze of shit.
I hate waking up every morning thinking that each day of my life is slipping away with only heartache and pain to show.
I hate the fact that let other people dictate my feelings and allow them to do internal damage to my spirit.
I hate the fact there isn't really love just lust and sex.
I hate the fact while i'm writing this i feel my chess tightening up.
I Love the feeling that I put all my feelings in to 1 person but only have it turn into "I hate."

~*~

oh god
what am i doing?
maybe this isn't what i wanted...
am i really happy?
i don't think so
but i don't want to complain.
moving too fast
not thinking enough
my soul's being stolen away
 jeannine 

~*~

Done Wrong
Molly Mix

You don't want to know how poorly I sleep
Or how many times a day I eat
Though not hungry at all;
How long I stare at empty walls
With an empty head
And twirl my fingers through my hair;
How I wonder
And how I wait
Without any hope at all
That the right thing 
Will suddenly occur to you
And you will just as suddenly appear
To put things back in order.
I have only a promise I don't believe
That you will come.
Not to stay,
Mind you,
Only to see
Before vanishing to parts unknown
At least to me.

~*~

HER WAIT
Bobbie Ross

Come see where she lays. She has said her farewells. Her golden hair lay spread out over her pillow of white. The beauty still in her cheeks, kiss her cold lips and revive her. She lays in wait for her love to join her.

~*~

farewell
Petra Fischbäck

words unspoken 
of minutes bare
silence unbroken
between here and there

all smiles are swept
we have come too far
whoever has wept
knows where we now are

two souls in like tune
yet no bridge to join them
and no hope of soon
being cherished again

could you only see
this is not about owning
but about feelings free
no more asking, just being

~*~

A Troubled Life
Joey Phillips Flameman

No one loves me for who I am
It really seems like everyone is trying to beat me down
Why does every person I love have to be blind 
I am going to kick this life because it isn’t worth a dime

This is not a threat 
This is not some lie
All I ask is for someone to love me 
Instead all I get is you trying to crush me 

Why can’t I find true love
All I really need is someone to give me hugs 
But instead it feels like I am being hung
Wish I could fly away to the light like a dove

When the pain becomes to much I start to cry
And I ask why must loved ones die?
When they start to say so long 
Makes my heart feel like it is gone

Maybe when I say have to run
All the pain will be done
Don’t take this as a loss
Just think of it like I’m with the boss

~*~

my heart
feels as if impaled on 
sharp bamboo
in deserts sun
tortured 
martyr
black blood drips onto
the sand
quenching the thirst
for evil, hatred, death
starvation
tia bennett

~*~

Time if you please..
Kris Shea

Unsung smile in the wake of a tree
That's fallen into sand.
The time keeper that is my pillow
Is calling up the tide.

Come wash away my ugly sin
my wound is opening.
Salt and seaweed medication
Take this offering.

Back against a concrete wall
Lead pockets isolation.
Black eye shadow know it alls
The answer to my frustration.

A surplus shape in the bright sunlight
I'm yellow in the shade.
No sense in losing the biggest fight
Post black eye smoke enslave.

~*~

What if?
Amber Bentley

The past has been
simply
my own emotions
so why do you lead me on?
why do you kiss me?
why do you pretend?

Do you pretend?

This love, this honest love
is breaking through my will
I want to stop,
but what if one day you notice?
What if one day 
you let me love you?

What if one day
let yourself love me?

~*~

Tossed
Levon Hammond

In the worst of ways I spent my days, 
Only seeing newer ways to see through the haze of our love. 
Desperately groping for confidence, going insane, 
Wishing and hoping still nothing I've gained. 

Lost in the ever forbidding fortress of my head, 
Consistently finding, soon would be coming, the feeling I rarely had
dread. 
This feeling of which rarely was dread, that feeling enough is enough, 
Continued to patrol and soon I would plunge into the non-existent
unconditional love. 

Kicking and screaming I soon would go into a deeply emotional world, 
Where grief and stress and mental unrest were soon to be unfurrled. 
Where wishes and dreams were exactly that, 
Wishes and dreams as a matter of fact. 

Wishes are wants and wants do not matter as matter is something
consumed, 
By the everyday person who wants more than love to be more than
merely presumed. 
So as I take merry strides head on into life I feel more than down on the
ground, 
And my head is just throbbing, very sharp pains and now my head is
starting to pound. 

If love is found as soon as it's lost then why do we feel so much pain, 
If love is there and wants only to be heard, begging to be regained. 
I will tell me why if I ask me that as soon as the answer is located, 
But my normal life is something, a blur, almost if I were sedated. 

So I'll leave you with this, a constant reminder, a summary of what you
have heard, 
Absurdity gives me all I have felt, and I'm feeling rather unnerved. 
At the simple fact, if you can imagine that, that something so strong
could be lost, 
Simplicity; love, at the spur of the moment, out the window is tossed. 

~*~

You hurt me so deeply, yet are not aware of it.
For I hold a special place in my heart for you,
Waiting for you to come and take your place there.
Waiting for you to acknowledge that you feel the same.
But you do not come to me.
Your silence breaks my heart.
Too afraid to reveal my true feelings,
Too afraid to let you know.
For my heart is too vulnerable
For me to open it up alone.
The door is welded shut 
From the pain of the past . . .
I need you to come to me
To let me know how you feel,
And take your place within the vast reaches
of my heart.
For I will never hurt you
And will always cherish you.
But you do not know this,
Because I am not brave enough to tell you.
So I sit with your silence breaking my heart. 

Sandra Leppin "Minerva"

~*~

I'm finished doing favors
So-called friends I find braver
With my unconditional generosity

When you think they'll care too
Their illustrations read "Fuck You"
But they wouldn't say it when they talk to me

They say don't expect mutuality
And you won't resent the brutality
of their manipulation, abuse & deceit

I say recognize the brutality
Fuck the mutuality
And carry on with Self-Pride & Mental Peace
Mark Schellerer

~*~

A Lonely Heart
 Luanne 

There is darkness all around, like a blanket it surrounds me
I feel pain and anger, they encompass my heart and my soul
Where yesterday there was light, today only shadows

I feel only sorrow and emptiness, although I am not alone
I am lonely
A short break from the darkness is brought by the night
for through dreams I can once share the magic that was you
then the early morning rays of sun bring once again the darkness
and the memory of emptiness

I want to scream into the light "bring the night", so I may once again share in the beauty of you "dad".
~*~

Through all the years I hide my fears from love and what it does,
I hide the thought that I was cared for the man I thought he was,
He told me our love was forever and last through troubled times,
But now he tells me something else. was it lies...or a moment passion behind the blinds?
I'm like a rock in the ocean...a submission to the beating waves that thrust through my heart,
how can I face the fact that he has made us grow apart?
I fall to my knees and feel the warmth of tears on my face.
My heart is broken shattered to pieces, he's my leather I'm his lace.
I must go on this much is true,
Give me a minute to cry and be blue.
For life will go on, as hard as it seems,
I'll find the sunshine it's glorious beams,
just not right now... I need a minute.
For right now I'll wallow in it...the pain my heart ripped in two,
give me a minute I need to be blue.
jewellc

~*~

YOU' RE JUST A REGULAR GUY
Heather Johnson

You got eyes like me
You got lungs that breathe
You get a hurt ankle, bruise on the knee
I couldn't try to say hi
But your just a regular guy

You got a pug nose
Big forehead and cheeks red as a rose
Drinking water listening to the Counting Crows
Tho I couldn't say hi
But your just a regular guy

Didn't notice it then
But now I see
Your just a regular person
Just like me.

~*~

me
jodie oliver

I look at the horizon and what do i see,
an endless blue sky in front of me
i look behind me and what do i see,
a shady secret that follows me
i look down at the water and what do i see
a reflection, pure and simple
nothing but me

~*~

light is dim
dusk is falling in the gallows
even now i think 
of the girl in the shadows.
i haven't met her but 
i can feel her through her voice 
the melodious rhyme like of the flowing stream
what to an infant love seems
this is what it has done for me
a voice, the voice, of my girl in the shadows.
i know a time will come 
the veil of the night will be gone
and she will return 
and with her will return dawn
and i will see her
forever and ever and ever.
harpreet

~*~

Valentine's Day? Who Cares!
Valerie Parker

Flowers and candy and gifts wrapped in paper
Kissing and all that mushy stuff
Hearts are beating, couples embracing
I do think that I've had quite enough
All those people lonely and unamuzed
About Valentine's Day
Stand up and say: Who cares!?!
Who really cares about Valentine's Day
When a million people are alone
Valentine's Day is just a cruel joke
When you have no one to call your own
Public displays of affection
(Don't you think they're kind of overdoing it?)
Valentine's Day sucks!
You can't kiss your lover
When a lover isn't there
Valentine's Day is a crock
They should make it: "Valentine's Day? Who Cares?"