OPEN MIC SESSION

Up-dated October 17, 2000

stories
Yasir Billoo

we tell our tales of miserable life
in the hope that someone will care
not realizing that we do this because
it's too much for a heart to bare
we want to share our pain with others
so that the pressure isn't too great
we're comforted by tales of misery
knowing, that's everyone's fate

~^~

Miami International
Emma-Jane Poulton

The old couple sits in the airport. 
Her skin leathery dark from years of sun
Frosty brittle bleached hair,
And old creased lipstick pink lips.
He with the absentminded stare and air
Meticulously combed distinguished gray hair
Going back north. 
Surrounded by milling rushing youth 
Hustling and hurrying in the 
Sterile recycled air. 
A small island of dignity,
Holding hands.

~^~

Two Men, One Moment
by David Koepke

Downed with a drumming thud on the canvas--
On his side, a hieroglyph
with the eye swiveling chameleon dexterous:
He sees his conqueror, winner and new
champion with knock-out arm still hooked.
Flashbulbs explode platinum glory
about his upturned broken rock face.

Two men, one moment. A shared isolation.
All around swirling golgotha crowd.
Cut Doctor and Round Girl
converse with flirty self absorption
in one corner, in another
a rogue cameraman splits the ropes--
climbing in and getting in near.
He has but seconds-- Tight shirted security
gorillas react with cattle prod immediacy...
Seconds only to choose "What best tells the
story here--". His own camera, with pauses,
rising to a blinkless frozen hourglass eye.

~^~

LITTLE LOST BOY
(Victims of Alzheimers)
Rita Gillanders

Little Lost Boy who are you?
Why are you wearing my lover's body?
Where is my man?

Are you hiding him behind the silent wall?
I catch a glimpse inside those big bewildered eyes.
Can you feel me stiffen with your clinging hug?
Cruel game. When did I become your mother?

Do YOU remember us? Remember love? 
Remember Me? Remember when?

Innocent Imposter. My heart aches for you.
My soul grieves for my mate.

Tell him I need him, little lost boy.
Where do I find the strength to watch him disappear? 
To say goodbye? 

DON'T GO! DON'T GO! Don't leave me!
Don't forget to brush your teeth.
The milk is in the refrigerator.
Please! Please remember!

God take this anger from me!
God let me love this little lost boy!

~^~

DISTANCE 
-purav verma.

what happiness 
or what sadness,
what fame
or what shame,
what pride 
do i need in life?

which love
or which betray,
which money 
or which poverty,
which honour
am i thinking of?
when i'm covering a distance
between life and death.

~^~

One Mistake.
Dedicated to all the people living with HIV and AIDS, for having the incredible courage to stand in the face of this terrible disease. 
Tara Rewt 

"Maybe they should all die and get it over with" is what I heard them say. How could they be that way? One mistake. One mistake is all he made. What is wrong with people today? Why can't they see? They're sure God is punishing him, but he knows that isn't so. He was raised to know God loves him and He would not want it this way. His immoral, sinful behavior, perverting divine and natural law was his flaw, that was all they saw. "whose law"?! I was ready to scream. "Do you think it can't happen to you"? "well, I've got some news, It can too"! They aren't about to let him presume to know what God wants, but it's more than ok for them. Oh, they are truly Gods-on-my-side telling him they know what God wants. I sincerely hope he haunts their hearts forever and they finally see, one mistake can change their lives, one mistake is all it takes. 

~^~

The Slumbering Clocks Of Our Fall
Ernie Culver

You, like a mansion of playing cards, immaculately constructed
Like an inverted tornado of dizzy bats, mirrored on stretched, blown glassed oceans, 
pillared on castle clouds, upon pillared clouds of castle wings,
higher than the ejaculation climax of Narcissuses egoism,
until you feel confused and miffed
and finally decided to collapse, like drunken laughter,
spiraling downwards in slow motion whirlpool rain,
descending like lead bellied ravens,
and break and splash yourself into thousands of tiny, mosaic fragments of porcelain, nursery rhymes...
that delicately hint stories of some puzzled youth, left unread..
BUT! you choose to gather yourself, like cold beads of coalescent mercury
forming a pool of memory, sliding down my smooth, edged wrists,
and ending up in the palm of my open hand...pulsating.. writhing..
perhaps awake...

~^~

ON READING SHAKESPEARE'S "MY MISTRESS EYES"
By Don Valley

My lady's eyes are nothing like the sun;
Sun's heat has ne'er melt my soul.
The sweet breath which carries the words from her lips
Fills me and makes me feel whole.

Starlight shakes from her hair when she moves;
Grace is defined by her walk.
Her voice is the music I dance to;
Her skin is as pure as fresh milk.

But my lady and I, perchance, met too late.
Though my first knot will soon go away,
She will pledge her troth to another
At some too-near, future day.

While my lady, Bill, can dazzle the stars,
And yours is lacking in charms,
You, dear Sir, are the fortunate one
For you have been held in her arms.

I may only look, and dream, and hope, and wait.

~^~

Abuse
Charles Washington Jr. 

You hit my mother, and then you hit my baby brother
It won't be long before you hit another.

Should I just sit there while tears run down my mother's eye's
Or should I go comfort her wailing cries?

I'm tired of making excuses of why whips are on my back
Should I continue lying to the teacher, or tell her love is something you lack.

You laugh at mother because blood is what she spits
Then you tell her you love her, and just had one of your nasty fits.

However, your time of fighting has come to an end
My mother's and brother's heart I shall always defend.

Your road has come to a stop, you used your last excuse
Now the law will teach you what it feels like to go through pain and abuse.

~^~

annie hide your face, but lift your heart up
my philosophy never worked, now its your turn
slide your hand over here, touch mine
and hold on for a long journey
into a life where you are the queen
our seeds will grow, dedication, and perspiration
to make this thing a true thing
one more chance, to be what it was meant to be
this time no turning back
nor stopping half way. will you be with me
for life and all eternity
open the gates and let my flowers see you.
you are to beautiful, to be true 
logan 

~^~

To my Darling Daughter,
From the first moment you existed, I loved you with all my heart.
 Jill Eastman 

You were the first…
The first little flutter I felt in my belly, the first to gaze into my eyes and see my very soul, the first to call me Mommy. It was you first that I worried about when you were sick, it was with you first that I paced the floor when you would not sleep; it was to you that I sang my first lullaby. You were the first to cuddle in my bed on a dark stormy night; you were the first I sent off to school on a big yellow bus with tears streaming from my eyes.

You my daughter are so very special in so many ways. You have a gentleness about you. You care for people. You feel their sadness, their joy, and their grief. That is something I hope you will keep in your heart forever. It is a wondrous gift from God. Treasure it and remain kind and gentle.

You were a wonderful gift I was given to nurture and treasure. Your life is just beginning and I look forward to watching you grow up. You and I have much to look forward to in the years to come.

There is a special bond between Mother and Daughter. You own a piece of my heart. Your smile lights up my world.
Always remember, whether I am with you on this earth, or as an angel in heaven…

I will love you forever with all of my heart!! Love, Mom

~^~

The Lonely Girl
Kaylynn Archer 

Right from the start, it was all a game
the lonely girl's heart will never be the same

He lit a flame not meant to burn, 
if only he'd loved her in return

He played with her mind, he played with her heart
he shattered her dreams and tore them apart

How could she believe all his lies
now she sits alone and cries

This poem of the lonely girl is really true you see
because that lonely girl was really me

~^~

IF YOU SHOULD GO AWAY

If you should leave with out a trace,
you will see a sadness upon my face,
if you should leave and make me cry,
then you will see my heart die,
if you should go reasons unknown,
then my love wont have a home,
if you should just disappear,
you wont hear a single cheer,
if you should say good bye to me,
still my heart will not be free,
if you should find a special lover,
i will still love you for there is no other,
that could ever take your place,
or place this smile upon my face,
if you should go away right now,
i will survive though i don't know how,
if you my love should go away,
part of you will always stay,
for you are always in my heart.
mindi

~^~

NUMINOUS LOVE
ahmad

Life is eye and love is tear,
Every one can love but can not bear;
Please don't laugh, praythee don't jeer,
He is not hatful ,he weeps for his dear;
He searched his beloved in world's every sphere,
In his love he had to face problems ;
But he didn't feel fear,
Even his goal spoke, 'oh my dear'
You searched me here and there;
But I was too near,
Come close to me 'cause all is clear;
He took his last breath and met his dear.

~^~

The Leaving Note
by Andrew M. Hunter

He read the note his wife had left,
decide to kill self,
he poured a glass of whiskey,
and drank toast to his health.
The drink diluted by the tears,
that flowed between the sips,
the glass put down, a gun picked up,
and placed between his lips.
He stood in front of mirror,
and as he took his life,
saw bullet leave the back of head,
and kill returning wife.

~^~

One More Wish...
Austin Friant

I saw an old lady yesterday.
It was about 5:30 pm.
An old hag, with ugly ragged clothes on.
She had very bad legs, so she walked with a limp.
The old lady had lots of bold spots, but the hair she did have was grey, she also had a very wrinkled face. She carried an old basket full of rose pedals. The old woman went and sat on a swing remembering herself as a child a child. She sat there for about an hour, now just looking at the moon, gazing into it's amazing light. She sat there just thinking about her whole life. She then picked up her basket full of rose pedals after another hour of remembering her life, and her time spent with her children, and grandchildren. She sat on the soft grass, then took all of the rose pedals out of the basket, and placed them into the palm of her hand. She stood up, and made a positive wish for the people of the world, and just then let all of the rose pedals float from her hand. She watched as they flew toward the moon. Just then it seemed to my mortal eyes the old lady was no longer, ugly, or dressed in ragged clothes. The old lady turned into a beautiful angel, and started lifting from the earth, until she reached a moonbeam. She just took the next place in the heavens, next to her desisted angel winged family.

~^~

MORNING 
Jude Adebosoye Ogunade 1999 Ivory Coast

Memories of Dreams, the daughter of dawn
Mirages of nightmares, soothing savoir
Time of reflection, requiem of sobriety
The very beginning of life's journeys

The fresh daughter of dawn, the dew maker
The innocence in daybreak, the cold virgin
The new beginning, the sweet start
The fresh genesis, the mending morn

The new advantage, the cutting edge
The early take, cousin to early lead
The very beginning of the very greats
The sweet songs of sonorous swallows

Morning! Maker of many main men
The new sun of the main harvest
The pregnant part of the new day
The fresh innocence in every life!
~^~

For My Friend -
Oni Rakhi Rewachand Wadhwani

It is difficult to express,
How happy I am,
To have you in my life.
When I think about you,
I feel happy and blissful,
I never forget that day,
When our friendship began,
It is strong impression,
In my memory.
I understand the depth of our relationship.
Dearest friend, only you are my greatest asset,
A source of inspiration.
I may forget this beautiful world,
But forget you, I never will.
In the end, I send you this message,
I am in love with you.

~^~

Once More
~Charlene

She recalls the day of her wedding
hoping it would all have a happy ending

She said, "I've loved you forever, as far back as I can see"
And thinking this is all so meant to be

Now as she sits here on this lonely night
all she wants is him to hold her tight

She cries and cries herself to sleep
knowing he can hear her weep

Only in her dreams can she see him once more
him being so far away makes her heart so sore

He didn't come home one late late night
his car ran off the road and out of sight

She doesn't know why someone took him away
without allowing her to say

"I love you," once more 

~^~

26 going on 126:
KNOWLEDGE
JUDAH

I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE A OLD MAN SHAKE HIS HEAD IN DIS-BELIEF/ STILL I THANK GOD FOR BRINGING ME THROUGH,I TS DEEP/I'M SUPPOSE TO BE A SHEEP/,BUT NO ONE WANTS TO LEAD ME/ I FEEL DESERTED./ ANYWAY I'M BLESSED WITH A TALENT/TO ROCK MICS INSTEAD OF BEING VIOLENT./I'M VALID, WITHOUT EXPIRATION/LIKE MY SEAT IN THE CHURCH/I'M ALWAYS THERE/ ON POINT SOMETIMES IT EVEN SCARES/ MY DENSE MENTAL CAPACITY/IS DEEPER THAN A DIAMOND MINING FACTORY AND I'M ONLY 26./TIME IS MOVING TO QUICK/TRYING TO KEEP UP/WITH JONES' GOT ME STUCK/WHAT THE #@$%/PLEASE EXCUSE THE CURSE/BUT THIS GOVERNMENT SYSTEM GOT ME FEELING THE WORST/I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THOUGH/MY PEOPLE ARE STRANDED WITH NO DOUGH/WHERE MUST I GO I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS UNGODLINESS NO MO'/SHE PO'/HE PO'/THEY PO'/ME PO'/I EVEN TRIED HUSTLING/THAT MADE ME EVEN MO'/CRAZY ALL NIGHT BURN OUTS KEEP MY EYES LAZY/MORNING VISION'S HAZY/TRYING TO KEEP FROM HAVING BABIES/OUT OF WED-LOCK/EVEN THOUGH I LOVED HER/MY FEELINGS SLAMMED/I DON'T WANT A BABY MOTHER/LIKE HER/ LIKE GOING FROM DIAMONDS TO ROCKS/THAT RICH BOY WORLD STOPS/ RIGHT HERE SEE/WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME?/SEE RUDENESS/THAT'S WHY MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ME/BUT THAT'S SONG SEE!!

~^~

"Still Life"
carlo s.
As the book says...
To the untrained eye,
The bottle of wine sits on the corner of the table.
The rusty candelabra, the half empty glasses clink
With the bowl of bananas on the center. 
It was just a glance, says the untrained eye. 
Or so that I cannot paint you anymore, like the
Oils on canvas, acrylic on wood, tempera on paper.
The eyes on the table, settle unhushed... 

Untrained? from the poetry's plate, we see
This desire to create: i.e. to build a world--
One World: a table on which the bottle of wine,
The rusty candelabra, the half-full glasses, the
Bowl of bananas,
Stay where they want to stay, lie down where they choose to
Behind, in front...Around...and so on...and so forth.
Or on a tray of prepositions, 
which keeps on,
which keeps on...

~^~

"I'm Fine, Thank You"
 Linda Mannke

There's nothing wrong with me, I'm as fit as I can be.
I've got arthritis in both my knees, and when I speak, it's with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin
But I'm pretty healthy for the shape I'm in.
Arch supports I wear on my feet, enabling me to walk down the street.
My memory fails me and my head's in a spin 
Still, I'm doin' okay for the shape I'm in.
I have trouble sleeping, night after night, but come morning, I'm all right.
Old age is golden, it's been said still, I wonder, getting into bed.
I've got my "ears" in a drawer, my teeth in a cup
My "eyes" on the table until I wake up. 
Lest I fall asleep, I say to myself,
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?
With each new day, I dust off my wits, pick up the paper and read the obits.
If my name's not listed, I know I'm not dead
So I have some breakfast, then go make my bed.
So I say to you, who are growing old, since we pass this way once, I'm told.
'Tis better to say, "I'm fine", with a grin
Than to let folks know about the shape you're in!

~^~

In Memory of a Piper
andrea santillo

I went to Milltown Malbay to visit you
But you were gone to Lourdes to die.
Perhaps they thought a miracle could cure
But death brought relief from the pain
Of cancer. I stayed only a short time,
Unable to convey my feelings when all
I met where shocked in silence.
My first and last visit to your town
Where in a storm Armada ships had
Been thrown upon the shore,
Spanish Point had been their grave.
I did not get to pay my final respects
But rather share my thoughts here
So that others may have known
You lived your life to the fullest.

~^~

Thank God for both of you
If ya'll weren't here 
I would lose my mind.

God knew what he was doing
When he made both of you.
Ya'll are behind me in whatever i do.

So every day i thank God
For making ya'll part of my life.
Even though sometimes i get mad at ya'll.
Rachelle Leblanc

~^~

Riddle of the Sphinx
by Scott Bardell (web site www.dargarpon.co.uk)

This place is a playground, if you are careful you can have a lot of fun here, 
there is no need to make mistakes.
This is our playground, all places are ours, 
every nook and every cranny is ours to explore.
At the edge of the playground, you can see the deep river.
The sea that runs through all things, dark and foreboding, it's depths unknown.
And there-in lies our fears and our hearts of darkness.
Someday go up to that edge and look over, and if you feel the time is right, jump in.
Through that dark sea is the door to your salvation
it is not here, this is a playground, a gaol of fun.
It is like the riddle of the Sphinx -
the strength of a bull, the courage of a lion and the intelligence of man.
With these three things you can reach the other side of the water.
And if you fail, at least your death will be fantastic!

~^~

F.A.D.D (Friends Against Drunk Driving)
by Lea Ann Edwards

The driver stopped and looked both ways
To make sure it was clear.
The blinking light warned four-way stop,
But none of them sensed fear.

The thought had never crossed their minds,
This drive could be their last.
They never had the slightest chance,
The truck was going too fast.

Two lives abruptly ended
In a cloud of sad despair.
Tears flowed down like water,
Sorrow lifted through the air.

The fault here lies in a teen-age kid,
Who was drunk, but still survived.
Two friends now gone I plead with you
Please don't drink and drive. 

~^~

Poem: "Lonely Tree" (poem to Pearl)
Anntelope

Lonely tree in a cement cage, looking in at me,
there will be no fruit for, this old poor, avocado tree.

You need to run across green fields, and let your roots grow deep,
and sometimes when your drippings flow, I wonder "do you weep?"

Alone outside, where cold winds, cut you like a knife,
but if you weren't there, dear tree I swear, I know I'd take my life.

Should I visualize my love, through all your leaves entwined?
Would you accept affection, projected from my mind?

Or should I touch you with my fingers, and my hands?
If I leaned upon your body, would you understand?

~^~

It doesn't take long
Thomas Kessler

As the White Bird leaves the new born sky
the world is watching
As the White Bird rests on the fresh grass
the world is watching
As the White Bird dies and flies to heaven
the world is watching
As the White Bird baths in our tears
the world is watching
As the White Bird comes back for remembrance 
the world has forgotten

~^~

The Expanse
 Lindzees

Looking across the distance
Seeing far into the night
A shooting star dances
and trickles out its light

The moment that it exploded
The impression on mine eyes
the heavens ever deeper
a being more than wise

The wonder of this starlet
Why its beauty would choose to cease
The Expanse of time eternal
An ethereal search for peace

No my moments are not measured
not noticed from afar
Oh Glorious one of Heaven
May I become your star

~^~

STAR
Dawg6809

I cannot be your friend,
On my knees I ask a question,
I feel your presence,
I see your eyes,
At night in the sky,
You're a star now.
Time takes all,
All but you,
You are always there,
At night in the sky
You're a star now.
If I could change your world,
Should I chance to try,
You'll always live,
At night in the sky,
You're a star now.
Because I feel, I write.
Because of you, I feel.
Because I write...for you.
You're a star now.

~^~

sister blind
werner kitzmueller

she does what she had to do
and she thought she wanted to
but she never cared if this was
what she needed.
be aware there are vampires
which know the light and
they don't appear in your perception
if you're looking
for the right place to hide
don't try to stifle your deception
everyone is you and you are everyone 
when do you want to be the person you belong ?

sister blind
sister blind

~^~

Blood of the brave
By "dice monkey"

Steel on steel, the way they feel

The war rages on and the men still fight
For their friends, their family, their civil right.

But only a few shall leave today
Only a few shout the last hooray 

Lo the fields are stained with the blood of the brave
And only for victory their lives they gave.

For they are what war has spawned
And with them they carry the uncanny bond.

Fight is what they do
And when a battle ends they bring a new.

They think it an easy thrill
To quickly get the final kill.

When it’s all over and the fog of war clears
There are only a few men left
Holding their wounds and fighting their fears.

As they have nothing left for them to greet
And they are only welcomed by the cold loneliness 
Of the empty street.

But after all that, the dogs of war
Will eventually come back for more.

These are the brave…… the warriors.

~^~

MY MOTHER
Terrence Nelson

My mother abandoned me for her drug abuse
She hated me for no reason, she's the one to accuse
I thought she was the world to me
She lied, cheated, and smoke can't you see

Life is hard without my mother
She sleeps around one after another
I have three sisters, and all different dads
Why me...getting into foster care is what I had

My life is getting better more and more
After I realize, the family I'm with now, I adore
I may not see her again, I don't care
She miss something on her own... life's not fair

~^~

CLOUDS
Joan Furlong

I lie down here on matted grass, and gaze up to the sky,
The fluffy billows of the clouds, that pause and drift on by.

At first they seem connected, familial in a way,
like children when they're very young, then pouff, they've blown away.

They're large, they're small, they're middle sized, they're every shape and form;
They drift, they roll, they climb and fall, like sheep who've just been shorn.

I think I see an elephant, and a lion's regal mane,
I think I'm in a jungle, no, that seems to be a train.

Mother Nature's done some novel twists, with all things here on earth,
But I've never seen a single thing, like her blue cloud studded surf.

~^~

The Qualities of Love
James Herrington 

There are many qualities of love
To many for me to list
Therefore i will only tell you 
The qualities of my love for you
I will be faithful to you
This means
My love for you is everlasting
I will never stop loving you
No matter what the circumstances
My love is also blind
I do not love you only for your beauty
I love you for who you are on the inside
Even if we have rough times
These qualities will remain true
Hoping one day you will love me
As much as I love you
Not because of what I look like
Or who my friends are
But for whom you see me as
On the inside

~^~

she let me
by Jon Sanders

she let me in her soul by merely looking at me
seems like i saw nothing before she first looked at me
she let me in her world by taking my weak hand
before i always crawled but with her I now stand
she let me in her room by opening the door
we talked for hours now I realize what life is for
she let me in her heart without a word to say
I let her in mine as well now our love is great
she let me touch her love touch her heart and touch her soul
no greater love before this to the world was ever known
she let me in on her secret her secret of much pain
I let her in on mine that I too would die someday
she let me take her hand so weak and stripped of life
I let my tears fall down when I saw her close her eyes
it would only be a month before the cancer took me too
it would only be a month before our love was renewed
God let me in His heaven and she let me smile again
by loving me forever forever us together 'til the end

~^~

I Am What Ever You Say I Am
Terrence Nelson

Who cares if I am a loner
My life is gone, memories are no longer
I don't care for you anymore
You lied to me, my heart burns to the core

Call me whatever, I don't care
You weren't there when I needed you... not fair
I cry in bed at night, screaming for you
Why did you do this to me... why you fool

You left me to suffer for 8 years
My birthday, new years, christmas... I let out all my tears
Don't call me your son, dad... who?
My father left me for... someone new

~^~

Single Glimpse
Joshua Smith

Lavished in the autumn,
Sulking in the superstitious breeze,
Halting to the silence,
Descending to my knees,
Spread like the ashes of the unconscious,
Anticipating the destruction of the newly coming sea,
A disciple of the splitting foundation,
Where i once used to misplace my vast intentions,
Drowning in the falsity of my farewell,
When i see the completion of your enigma,
you hold in your foolish luminous eyes,
My perpetual destination,

~^~

TINY TEDDIES
SOPHIE STELLOS

Tiny traces of 
Tiny Teddies. Crumbs 
From chocolate flavoured
Tiny Teddies;
Taken secretly from
The hidden kitchen drawer
Bought secretly from
The handy corner store.

~^~

"Where I'm From"
Denae Atwood

I'm from a family of five, 
the oldest of three, 
but the youngest of six, 
the granddaughter of four, 
and the niece of nine.

I'm from summer birthdays,
the gifts and the money,
the saying thank you's and
your welcomes,
did i mention the money?

I'm from the volleyball and the
basketball,
the winning and the losing,
the trophies and the cheering,
and the camera's all around.

I'm from the school buses,
and the playground,
to the finger painting and
the alphabet.

I am from god above,
to churches on sunday,
the praying and the hoping,
that someday,
I will be known,
known for who I am,
Not for what i do.

~^~

Solely
Bayo Coker 

Love, they say
Comes unbidden
True love, you can’t fake
With whom you’ve fallen

A decade and half, my count
Yet seems like yesterday
And I still can’t
Can’t stop falling over till date

Though young and innocent
We did appeared
But mature and intelligent
What a storm we weathered

The desire is peaked
For that walk down the Isle
With every moment making me unfit
Like I’ll fizzle out in a while

North, South, East and West
I’m the only, yet lonely
And you’re the one, the best
Till my arrow roosts with you solely

~^~

I SEE A CLOUD IN THE SKY...IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CLOUD...I SEE A RED CLOUD..
IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL RED CLOUD...I SEE A BLOOD RED CLOUD...I SEE A BIRD...
I SEE A BLACKBIRD FALLING INTO A RED CLOUD...I SEE A GIRL IN A TORN WHITE DRESS.
I SEE A GIRL IN A TORN WHITE DRESS RUNNING THRU THE GRASS...I SEE A GIRL CRYING..
I SEE A GIRL IN A TORN WHITE DRESS CRYING...I SEE A GIRL SITTING ON THE GRASS..
I SEE GREEN GRASS BEAUTIFUL GREEN GRASS...I SEE A DAMSEL FLY...
I SEE A BLUE DAMSEL FLY...I SEE A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DAMSEL FLY...
I SEE A WHITE CLOUD...I SEE A DEAD SPIDER...WHO IS THAT GIRL...SHE IS ANGRY..
WHO IS THAT GIRL IN THE TORN WHITE DRESS...MY ARM IS ASLEEP...DONT RUN FROM ME..
I SEE A SPIDER-THIS SPIDER IS NOT DEAD...I SEE A WHITE DRESS-THIS DRESS IS TORN.
I SEE AN AIR PLANE IN THE SKY-THIS AIR PLANE IS SO BEAUTIFUL...I WANT IT
I WANT THAT AIR PLANE...I SEE A RED BIRD-HE IS AS RED AS BLOOD...
HE IS AS RED AS A CHERRY...GIVE ME THAT BIRD...TELL ME SOMETHING...
TELL ME SOME THING THAT WILL MAKE ME SMILE...I SEE A TREE-IT IS AN OAK TREE..
I SEE A SPIDER-IT IS A DEAD SPIDER...IT IS A BLACK SPIDER..
I SEE A DEAD BLACK SPIDER...MY BIRTHDAY IS IN NOVEMBER...I DONT THINK YOU CARE..
WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY...I SEE A BIRTH DAY CAKE... TIME IS UP...
RICK SIHLER
~^~

Forever part of me...
 Chris Niedbala

Without you around I sometimes think,
I must have imagined you.
Maybe you were just a jet-stream whisper on a falling star.
A gorgeous streak across the smoky black sky;
an inevitable crash and burn
I can't help but feel the waste, for you and me.
But then again...Am I too demanding of my life's lessons?
Should I learn to be content...
just to have seen you in your glory
rather than to regret... 
why something so breathtaking 
dies in almost an instant 
and leaves a gaping hole that never fills up.
Or should I feel happy?
To have you...forever streaming in my mind
forever burning in my soul
forever shooting in my head
forever part of me....

~^~

RELEASE MY LAST BREATH:
Cymeron Franklin 

I watch my life crumble down
It shatters as it hits the ground
My hurt and frustration
Cries for release
I look around willing some1 to help me, but nobody sees
I hate what I have become
That I feel dependent on you
My sweet release is watching my hurt flow out of my body
The redness of it all amazes me
How much I yearn to be free
I know I shouldn't do this, but it really does help me
To have a way to be free
My thoughts consume me
My self-image is shattered
Nothing but a worthless whore
That is what Im thinking, as my limp body hits the hardwood floor
Please don't worry about me
My pain is finally gone
Yes, true my heart has stopped beating, and my body is ice cold
But believe it or not, since that fateful year, I have always been that way.
My release is here....
~^~

Morn Dance 
by Joseph Marcure

my thoughts sent out
and you read and here
I am again
things change
and so what:
people die.

~^~

Color Me You
Abbe Chism

If I could perfect, I think
That wish so far from myself,
As eminent as watching the color of
your breath, exhaled by your crimson lips.
The world I need so badly, I see in your
eyes . . . The vast East horizon, blinding me
with its glittering brightness.
My colorless heart cannot possibly take the vibrant light.
I glimpse at my gray skin, so pale next to yours.
My eyes are translucent, with invisible tears
casting on my nonexistent lips.
Your fingertips brush my soul, a face with the hues of an
angel, I hear somewhere, a harpsichord playing . . .
I study your movements while you dance your way to heaven.
I pray I could follow, my lifeless legs don't move.
Please keep me from fading,
Vanishing into thin air.
Not much I ask of, please help me come true.
Pick up your paint brush,
and color me you.

~^~

"Paradox to Contrary"
 Eric Lichtsteiner

Black as the dark of night,
Yet glowing with unearthly light,
Be that as it cannot,
Be that as it maybe,
For nothing quite as profound,
Can enter into mortal sound,
Hollow in trace we can see,
Not as difficult as we think,
Only mystery and missing link,
Empty minds will be to fail,
Where filled hearts will prevail,
Nonetheless can you not hide,
Gentle breeze will seek thee out.

~^~

Crave
Christina DeJesus

To taste of you......a flicker of flame
There are no margins to this flight.
You are the spark, you are the cinder,
I am the match that bursts to inferno.
To touch you......
......firestorms are rampant......
We speak a unilingual language of the minds discourse.
you unleash me. You set me loose. 
You let me feel you; addicted to this pleasure,
this mental gratification,
this pulsating passion that heats my breasts.
I lust for you, for your tender hands, for your sincere honest expression.
For your spiritual kiss. 
I close my eyes and conjure you up. Your soft skin, your bare throat, white and smooth. Your smiling eyes, your mouth and tongue.
How I long to caress each crevice.
To taste of you......my flicker of flame,
My burning torch, you are the meaning of crave. 

~^~

save our world
Emma

from its birth 
the whole of earth 
bits of paper bits of string
some people drop almost everything

they couldn't care less or more 
about dropping litter on the floor
if we could stop this case
the world would be a wonderful place. 
~^~

---SUN EXPLOSION---
Dhen Ksero

The late afternoon sun
Shines through my wide open curtain
Into my room
And turns the furniture white

Shadows stretch out on the floor
Then disappear

~^~

The chubby boy ate anything that anyone would bring to him
Be it a cow or an ant or even an elephant 
he would eat and eat till his belly grew big he was greedier that a pig
One day he ate a giant star which carried him to the planet mars
He said to the alien anything to eat
the alien replied only sugar beets 

You aliens have nothing good except that man called captain should 
he brings me sweets and sugary things 
and what i want or desire he brings
where is that fine good cook of mine
if you come now ill give you a dime 
sorry boy that man isn't here 
ill guess you'll have to bear the fear 
of eating sugar beets forever and now 
if you don't your belly will go pow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tamara biggs mills

~^~

Although it seem like they don't care
But many of them do
They hold in all their rage
Till it comes out all at once

This rage can be deadly 
To them or maybe even you
so if you don't want to be 
responsible for another's life
DON'T HURT SOMEONE ELSE 
Jennifer

~^~

"THE KITE"
CHRISTINA CARRON

Take my hand and lead the way
This world gets smaller everyday
The sky was dim
The grass was paled
I was starting to think
I had it nailed
The world was a dark and gloomy place
We all took shelter in a wooden case
But I see now
That I was wrong
Now that I've heard
A nicer song
You've shown me, a brighter world
Where grass is rich
And skies are pearled
And snow lies gently on the ground
This is where I will be found...
With your help
Thank You

~^~

ALL BECAUSE THE LADY LOVES…
 rosemary gallagher 

There are scientists who think that there exists a missing link, between Neanderthal and modern man.
Now, this theory in appliance, does not require science,
The challenge is, disprove it, if you can.

Now, although mans’ evolution is strong in resolution,
It just doesn’t send me chasing down my doctorate.
Though, there is a missing link, that has often made me think,
And that’s the one between us girls and chocolate.

It would seem we have compulsion for that carnauba-wax emulsion
That puts a lovely sheen on all our munchies.
What is it with the twixes? And what sees us get our fixes
Boring tongue-holes down the middle of our crunchies?

What makes us turn to sweeties, whenever we feel needy?
What is it about Hagen-dazs ice-cream?
What is this weird affliction, this chocolate-crazed addiction?
We turn to when we get the urge to scream?

Now, the theories are a-plenty, and some non-too complimentary
While some of them are even meant to vex.
When faced with one to choose from, I’m often found to muse on
The connection between chocolate and SEX!

Scientific reason, implores us to believe in
A hormone called ‘endorphin’ in our brain.
And while chocolate stimulates it, sex exacerbates it
For apparently the motive’s just the same.

So, there’s no further need to wonder, when the pressure you are under
Has you running for the chocolate box perplexed.
For when he’s poking at your bulges and ‘scoffing’ your indulgence
You can remind him it’s because HE’S undersexed!!!!

~^~

Wasting away stumbling with no one to look to
wonder trying to get lost in what's not mine
Sobering for the feel of something i cant feel
turn to me feel me but don't pull away
I miss this so much, though i never had it
let me show u the way but don't push me
let it go, you wont feel what i feel
Knock me down it wont be long now
feel you down it cant be long now
this cant be the way ,but i still take it away
The sun has set and this shadow still haunts me 
You set my mind on fire, this loves so closed
I cant forgive you 
I won't erase you
I'll sleep with you
You were the only thing to keep me alive
Were Closed.
Jarrod morgan 

~^~

last night on earth
james spillane

it just doesn’t matter
losing job never saving accounts
twisting
we will met up again
kicking the door
all the way in
or peeling out in the drive way
shucking open rainier
like crash, or the sun set on san jaun deck
if susan sarandon was ever my teacher I would climb up over ever rock
with my VW polo and hike up her skirt and grab a hold of what I understand
like I always do
histroy falling asleep on my doorstep
this is all I can think of
mountain top and ocean mean 
nothing to drink and ass and me
ask napolean
ask jefferson
ask the dust if you must
my teeth finally biting of chunks of glass and tin
Boy 
dreams
all over this plaaccce
with you in my palm
did you think you would be the cure cancer for something 
this is what we are
you’re my pastry
all over me
this is as good as it gets
tomorrow coffee
and movie
and work and bills

dream for me
dream for you

~^~

One Touch
By Nichole White

With just one touch of a hand,
You can make a smile, or crumble a heart, like sand.
3 words can brighten your day,
Or it could take the sunshine, far far away.
The look in your eyes, could build me up so high,
But yet, they might be telling me good-bye.
I don't know how to trust, and I don't want to try,
Because I've learned, it only makes me cry.
So keep all your touches, I want my heart,
To remain as is, without more pieces tore apart.
Don't let those 3 words bless my ears,
Because I don't want to live in darkness for years.
Close your eyes, and look not at me,
For I would like my eyes to be tear free.
My heart has been broke, by more than your hands,
And my ears have heard those words, and taken them with grains of sands.
So please, keep your distance, learn to walk away,
Because in my heart, is the only place you'll stay.

~^~

loving kim
by: j. cylc
for: k. mills
05/24/2000

i laid, savoring the feelings.
the joy. the warmth of love.
the removal of a shroud of doubt, of despair,
of questioning, and of the
chance of unrequited love.

i thought, of the joy of
possibility. the never-ending question
of "what if". the anticipation for a love equal
to that of lore, of legend, 
and of dreams never dreamt.

i long, knowing that it
can exist. the discovery 
of hope. just out of grasp, but slowly
drawing near. only needing
mirrored feelings to show itself.

i hunger, for i have
tasted of it. knowing the flavor,
yet not being sated. drawn closer, yet not
having completed the journey.
the quest. for love eternal.

~^~

Your Soothing Whisper
Darren

I want to hear your 
whisper and tell me you love me 
Stop time, sending peaceful 
chills down my spine 
the tingly feeling my toes receive 
and the oblivious heaven I'll be in 

But I'll have to wait another lifetime 
when the still, calm night under the clear midnight sky 
comes- 

we walk alone, hand in hand 

Your breathtaking kiss, and I'm 
at my knees, a waif I become, 
lost in your touch 
Your soothing whisper, 
words spoken lovely 
and the peaceful chill down my spine 

Steaming my windows, 
fogging my thoughts 
and your composed breath 
effortlessly takes me to 
another world, 
forgetting who I am 
in a moment forever 

But I'll have to wait another lifetime 
when the two stars we 
wonder about twinkle 
simultaneously 

we walk alone, hand in hand 

Anticipating your soothing 
whisper, living 
only for that moment 
awaiting the chilling, true 
words 

I long to hear. 

~^~

Wasted Words.

Wasted words
never heard 
stuck in a dead time game.
Lowered eyes in the rain.
hands clinched.
Screaming in vain.
Neck high in pain..
Then she calls my name.

Oh such violence, don't rely on us come together, in spite of forbidden forever.
Don't rely on us
Wanting affection, loosing reflection, given in to her claim.
Turn to you for strength, as you turn away that face.
Neck high in pain, just one more time to hear her say my name.

Oh when will my life return?
How mush longer must this fever burn?
My eyes burn.
Now to late i learn.
Just say my name.

Shea Anthony

~^~

THE PLASTIC HEART...
By Richard Alan Trobridge

The plastic heart beat is faint
dressed in the shadows of the corner
on the small table in the corner
she sits alone in the darkness
shedding not a single tear

Loneliness is the life of the forgotten
new immeasurable events arise
so the plastic heart beat fades
not even the corner of the eye is captured
dust settles slowly upon the fragile face

First one then another sits alone
yet together they are still forgotten
fading in the memory of busy growth
each beat fainter than the last
until the silence is screaming but unheard

The years have not been kind
the corner has become accustom to the shadow
the ignoring little foot steps
the angry big foot steps
the silencing of another plastic heart

Children become painfully dissuading
dancing on the heather of something new
once she was the best friend
now the years seem nothing but empty
her hopes of a memory are just fantasy

~^~

Invisible Being... 
july 29, 1999
Jennifer M. Cartagena

You changed to fit everyone,
and you try to make due,
you did as you should,
but they still don't pay attention to you.
They don't see your maturation,
they didn't see your change,
you toned down,
you stopped acting liek they thought you were strange.
your in the flesh,
but they think your clear,
they treat you like your far away,
rather than near.
So, they don't see what you've become,
they aren't looking at what they should be seeing,
this is how it will always be,
they will keep treating you like the...
Invisible Being

~^~

Waiting
Wendy Huber

Pinstripes of smoky laziness
And good enough intentions that seem to have lasted for that one particular moment,
Lacking credibility but the same, enjoyable.
Distinct in a marzipan kind of strangeness,
We sat and sat on the curb and waited for the other to start talking.
A current of soapy bubbles of friendly hopes that never really clean anything,
But sting your eyes and sting your you in your own tainted vision,
Or one might say,
jaded.
Belligerently contrived in a toe-tapping beat of losing your point,
But still the same as before your eyes watered and fell.

~^~

I'm in the status quo, where loneliness is objective
And stars can only be looked at for a few minutes
fears of lingering always neglect contentment
Commissions become partitioned by life, no one really
Lives today, on par with whatever you can imagine
Me to be, happiness is just no fun anymore
No complaints, hooked on life, ready to start the day
All the fun is in 401Ks and government bonds
No more pizzas and bonding with the kids
Just a long gray streak to the west
Probably ending at the horizon, forever life
Fuck the life, we're all too sober for that
I'm in a house, where loneliness is relative
To darkened staircases and ticking clocks
Always radiant throughout, No one's really
Living past 65, they can simply wake up
And survive what they will soon not remember
With sizable hats and welcome mats, possessions
Trophies fine china and dying plants
I'm on par today, cold numb and exhausted
From the days that began far too long ago
Feelings passed on to those who want them
To go away, everyone has a mouth to feed
Parched by alcohol, And starved by time
Time is much too long, forfeit is much too hard

This is not about my dad, not me
colin

~^~

Life is like riding the waves.
Small waves and big waves. 
We start slowly gliding toward our goal. Then comes humongous waves. It looks like they will even take our soul. Just hang on and stay balanced and whole. 
Then everything smoothes out to even float. To give us strength for the next boat. 
So it goes forever around.
No other way has ever been found.
ambrous

~^~

you've gone a million miles but how far did you get
My heart will still be there
by Sheila Cordova


thought a million thoughts til i'm all you did forget
done a lot of things do you have regrets
about the things you never did with me
when you had the chance
i think i'm almost lost lost inside my heart 
doesn't look like it did before it was torn apart
tell me how you reached when you were so far away
to hurt my heart so deeply the pain will always stay
tell me you regret your absence from my life
tell me that without me you almost died
you've gone a million miles would you take them all right back
because now you're here again here is where you're at
though you were gone for long this is where you belong
i hoped you wouldn't had taken so long 
but now that that time is gone
let me feel your hair let me hold you there
let me love you now that your journey has made you aware
that i'm always there that our hearts are rare
that even if you choose to go another million miles 
my heart will still be there

~^~

Graveyard Shift
T.Scott Smith 

Lines and shadows pass beneath,
darkness and silence, rob the senses
like a thief...

The moon and stars, provide the 
only light, with which we hunt the evil
throughout the silent night........

It lurks within the shadows, always a step
ahead, and chews on the week of spirit, untill
their souls are cold and dead...

We are the hunters of Lucifer, Gods
oath we did take, loss of our souls considered,
is a risk not considered too great
~^~

Tender Passion
Amy Cooper

Sparkling glint in your eye
Reaching into the depths of my soul
Electricity running through my veins

Hearts as open as clear blue sky
Your hand bleeding warmth into mine
Souls side by side for eternity

Realism holding futuristic truth
Love and trust beyond minds capacity
Two lost souls breaking apart to become one

Cherish every waking moment
Love as precious as rare jewels
Wanting nothing more in life than you

Sweetly sharing a bond of depression
Understanding like others haven't known
Beholding eye sees all potential love

Your flesh has a fiery touch
Feeling the need of your presence
I hold for you an eternal flame

Steady breathing-lapping waves in the ocean
Settling fog reveals only you
As simple, yet complex, as true love

~^~

NO IDEA
Merrie Merrie

Why? cause we think its impossible
We don't even question it
Is the covers pulled over my head that tight?
Trust that's carelessly tossed around or back and forth
Is it taken too lightly? or is it unexpected
A surprise that wakens the pain
Sad....
Why?
Because we have NO IDEA

~^~

My love for you is dripping,
melted wax
on my tender skin,
a pleasant burning--
my bliss and my misery coiled inside
the flame
drowning in the wax.
Margie Monin

~^~

once we had our own special world
a perfect paradise, a garden of Eden
the warm sun caressing our faces
our love making our world so bright
the calm ocean waves on the shore
sweet as a gentle whisper in my ear
we knew nothing but our love, our happiness
our complete and total bliss
you were my world and I was yours
I saw heaven in your deep soft eyes
i found everything I wanted in your heart and soul
the outside world didn't matter, only our love within
we could have stayed forever in our own special little world
the only world that ever mattered
before you went and fought and died for the real one
Angel

~^~

~The Last Time~
Andrea C. Herrick

Close my eyes, the last time I see
Hold my breath, the last time I breathe.
Whisper your name, the last time I say goodbye
Wipe the tears from my eyes, the last time I cry
Put your heart close to mine, the last time it breaks
Look into my eyes, the last time you see my face.
Hold onto my hand, the last time you hold me still
You can no longer hold my spirit, in the body it fills.
Hold me close in my pain, the last time I feel
Put your lips to mine, the last kiss you’ll steal.
Hold me in your arms, the last time I’m chained
Feel me slipping away, away from the pain.

~^~

You know what time it is
 brian

time is a trip?
a journey that usually
brings you to your roots.

sometimes these chances
are missed

time is playing tricks
don't let the hand of time hide

the real truth that is inside

dreaming in an awaken state
thoughtless memories

your experience
or times experiment

chasing the truth?
your life awaits you.
~^~

Predicted My Fall~
 khat vesal

How often your words would break through my heart
making me think we could never be apart
and how often have I stood here so alone
only to find out that I have no real home
please find a part of me to forgive
for in you I find my reasons to live
don’t be afraid of what you cant see
for whatever you’ve lost, you can find in me
don’t ask question, just hold me so tight
and forever Ill be yours and treat you right
as darkness falls across your face,
I realize that life is an empty place
you left me so cold, alone and betrayed
don’t tell me more lies, just keep running away

~^~

Sing thine heart or die in silence
For the pain will surely do me so
I bare not live this never knowing
In ever wonder of his distant heart 
Oh fear speaking , so over powering 
Surely driving me to my madness
I dread if it comes forth from me
Nay, worse he claims me horrid
How swiftly I’ll pail to mortified 
If these theories indeed be true 
Though, if he love me , I can not see
Solely blinded by fears held close 
Unbeknownst alone inside me
Do I speak them or do they die 
Can I go on having not even tried

To ponder this is insanity
 shannon

~^~

Breaking Paranoia
 Tiffany Hillen 

anxiety invading 
staring at the face
the judgmental face
weeping tears
of a bloody stream
sunshine behind sable clouds
notions aren’t clear
mind is a fit of rage
yanking clumps of hair 
ripping the skin off the face
dripping wax; burning the flesh
look at a wall 
see the light ahead
no hope of yesterday

today the wall crumbles down
light filters the air
blanketing warmth and pleasure
filling with thoughts 
not the same now
finally at peace
happy

~^~

Learn, Touch, Live, Feel
Sargent 10/2000


Winding road, real defeat
Storms and heat
Cold winds, black nights
Wrecks, delays
Detours, long days
Deep canyons, incredible heights

Decades gone bye
Many young hearts die
Decisions made wrong
Bad times and fear
Desolate tears
Does anyone here belong

Fire from green eyes
Hearts race, heavy sighs
It's just over the ledge
Melt bodies into one
No sleep till rising sun
Ten toes grip the edge

Lost and broke dreams
Never what it seems
Grind love into dust
Smoldering flame
Childish games
Only threads of trust

Old foes now friends
Their word, the end
Life's on the line
The battle hot rages
Battered bloody stages
Peace is hard to find

Lovers gentle touch
Desired so much
Heart returns to heal
Old age not so bad
Echoes, a world gone mad
Learn, touch, live, feel

~^~

THESE STRANGE TRINITIES
PLAYING IN THE RUBBLE
ASTROLOGICAL CHESS WAR
ATOP PERFECT TIME
ANTIQUE GUESS WORK
ULTIMATE PROBES
RUN SCHIZO IN U. F. O.
BRAIN CARTOONS
ABSTRACTION PRETEND
IN SEASONAL SORROW
DANIEL GAULD 

~^~

Beyond this steaming moment
Consciousness soft and warm
Mind and desire suspended
Always gently transformed
Delicious sounds extended firmly
Thoughts of continuous chortle
A moment purring in time
Cannot be stilled by past loves
MistressG

~^~

Life in Retrospect
Bryan Herring

With each step i've taken, I fall into a new oblivion.
With each time I begin to believe in a new world, the lessons of the old slap my face like a bitter cold.
And one day we will all realize that the lessons the hard instructor of life has to teach, really aren't worth learning. 
And slowly we begin to understand how much we really dont know, yet how intelligent we actually are by staying ignorant. 
Never trying leads not only to never succeeding, but also to never failing. 
If one is destined to fail, then by doing so hasn't he truly succeeded. 
So deduct reason from this cold cruel world, there is no love, nor hate. 
No success, nor failure. 
No joy, nor sorrow. 
Here in this life there is nothing. 
Nothing but tomorrow. 

~^~

EMPTY WORds
Jarrod Morgan

I so often hear spoken
I fell myself crying
,but i see myself asleep
The world turns on the pin of hate
Balanced on Religion and Social Space
The promise unkept these words so often broken
untrue,
lies,
deceit
Why leave this hate for so many to breed
Sin is my only friend that covers me when i bleed
Your empty words are what i hear in most desperate times of need
Convert my madness into sadness, but only happiness 
I can not have this.
I still dream of death though its not far away
I can still feel death
is the taste pleasure or pain
But ease my mind, and fill your hole, for your empty words are what i hold

~^~

cheating

a lusty line in lower case
lacking virtue being base
slowly, and surely winds up in
the ever present original sin

thus burns on the passionate fire
fueled by twigs of pure desire
crawling through the blue above
trampling soundly all who love

why must man in all his weakness
shun the good and forget the meekness
he was conceived in
long before capricious thought

JOSEPH M. YENDREK
from: WORDS THAT CRUCIFY 
for sale at: AMAZON.COM 

~^~

Passion Fuel
Andrew Thibodeau 

Interconnection of eyes,
Night burning,
Passion Fuel.
Happy Queen of reason,
Understanding life's method,
Personal flavors of disclosure,
we relate,
unrestrained,
All pushing down,
a rail of desire,
no emotions tame.

~^~

You tell me that we live to die,
So what's the point of life? 
No matter how long I love you,
Your kisses can't heal my strife.
Something's gotta be better than this.
But, nothing rings a bell.
Everything about you is deceitful.
But come closer, I love your smell.
I don't want to be like them.
At least that's what I said.
There's no escape from your hatred.
Your voice is inside of my head.
You're not any better than me,
Just because you do things that I won't.
You ask if I know my self-worth.
Well, since I met you, I don't.
My heart breaks when you're not around.
My eyes cry, my soul dies when you are.
Just get outta my sight.
But, baby, don't stray too far.
I won't come back again.
At least not till tomorrow.
Wipe away my tears.
You help me ease my sorrow. 

Liska Pac

~^~

"Reminded of you"
Cynthia Y. Little

As I was riding home last night,
I looked to the sky
And thought of you
When the moon caught my eye.
Just like the month before,
It was full and low in the sky,
A bright orange and bigger than life,
The memories of before making me cry.
It was only a few weeks past
That you and I were so close,
And of the things I miss,
I miss your voice the most.
You mean so much to my life,
So much more than you will ever know,
And even though I tried to hide it,
It was hard to let you go.
I know you have to live your life,
To find out who you are
And even though you are a phone call away,
Your voice always seems so far.
As long as I live,
You will be in my heart,
And no matter the distance,
In spirit... we'll never be apart.
Whatever may come,
Whatever we may someday be,
Whatever may happen between us,
You will always be a part of me. 

~^~

You of All People
Amanda Tommy

When we were still just friends,
and I was put through all that pain, 
You said you understood how I felt,
and said you felt the same.

When we started going out,
you sympathized the past,
you swore you weren't like other guys,
but your promise didn't last.

I thought you were my best friend,
and you'd brighten up my days,
I trusted you with all my heart,
but you broke it anyways

~^~

I am a nice little guy
I wonder what it’s like to fly
I hear the birds sing
I see their beautiful wings
I want to fly
I am a nice little guy

I pretend I am cool
I feel dumb in school
I touch the pencil
I worry if it works on a stencil
I cry cause I’m not cool
I pretend I am cool

I understand that I rock
I say don’t tie the boat up unless you're at the dock
I dream that I could fly
I try not to die
I hope my locker will lock
I understand that I rock

Justin Wilsey

~^~

The emotions that I feel
Are becoming hard to conceal
The way I feel inside
I must not let that slide:
I should come out and express
The things I can not confess
To open to others' thought
To give it one last shot:
To hope that someone understands
My inner most self demands
The thing that I hope for most
To reveal my inner ghosts:
To reveal myself of this inner pain
To finally achieve a conscious sane
To free myself of these mental shackles
Til my problems solved, their embers crackle:
How much I would like, I can not confess
To finally rid myself of this mental distress
But as I write and as you read
My demons drink, while they feed

Gabriel Gekas

~^~

we were friends,
we were pals,
we were in love,
but what happens now?

do you still love me like
you did at the start?
cause i hate you so much,
feel free to kiss my ass!

i hate you so much
i wish you were dead 
and then i would have saved myself
from all the tears i shed!! 
kristy

~^~

If
Ariffin Sc

Moments, if unshared
would break like mirror and shatter like glass 
Remembrance, if forgotten
should dissolve in eyes and mind at last
Faces, if unseen 
would tend to the washing of all that is shared
Hearts, untouched 
denounce the very thing of what love is made
Stars, if unpraised
would simply lose our heavenly gaze
Words, if not uttered
should invite sadness to your embrace
Love, if not placed
should leave love itself to the hands of fate
Mistakes, if misplaced
would lure your conscience to the mouth of hate

~^~

Aged Child
Eastward

Eyes sunken,
void of childish promise,
like a cancelled check.

Thing arms,
cling to self,
the only trust.

Slender fingers
rub blackened bruises,
Yesterday's target.

Seven years,
inerasable,
eternity

~^~

Soon
adam

Darkness encapsulates a soul alone in a room
The smoke is born; the other particles shun his silent presence
Persistence with no heart inside it sits behind him grinning
A future made of absence is the mobile on the ceiling
Dangling
Entangling
A fascinating delight
This kind of dream consummates screams that echo through the night
Who the hell wants to be normal if it's just an average?
But then who wants to be an outlier removed from the equation?
Who the hell wants to be king- usurpation creeping down the hall?
But then who the f*** will use the hammer to break down his own walls?

~^~

MY HEART 
Mohammad Badri 

I remained unsure! 
of mystery behind 
the last drink you offered me, 
in the middle of night. 
Under the gleaming moon, 
you caught my heart by surprise, 
along with my mind, 
that was the melancholy of my heart. 
You acted more sophisticated, 
than Juliet in Romeo era. 
Were you hunting 
hearts just for pleasure? 
Or, was your innocence 
making all the charisma? 
But, you persist hosting my heart, 
and keeping it as your infinite home. 
Why do you intend to reside 
in such ruined sanctuary, 
which has been the center of disasters 
in many occasions? 
~^~

Be afraid... not of what awaits you, but that which you await.
For if, in pleasant dreams you enhance the preciousness of life, 
Then what becomes of nightmares that speak true?
Afterthoughts are often important aspects of life that we do not want to face.
Such are these thoughts that speak in sleep,
With the unsuspected coating of a world so undiscovered
That they find it seemingly effortless to mislead you, believing they are false.
In my mind is where I hide them, the phantoms of the truth.
For I know now what I am seeking, is also seeking me.
And be it, if it finds me, I know that I should shudder
For something I desire is not what I deserve.
Within corners of my mind, I see cheer lingering.
Yet on the way to grasp it, I am kept away.
But there is yet one voice calling,
And I think that I should follow,
Yet my courage is packaged in a web of uneasiness,
In an unexplored adventure of nightmare vs. dream.

Janelle DiGiammerino

~^~

LOVE DREAMING
Gabe D. Jernigan

Let me wake up from this dream
What if it's real, What a scene
Dreaming of love that is unseen
Don't let me out of this great dream

Loving without a flaw, let me in
No one really cares who it is
Dreaming of love that has no end
Dreaming of love that is unsent

~^~

Wicked subterranean beast
Pursue in your wickedness my kindness
You desire but will never obtain
My insanity in your reality of freakish
Tendrils grasping at nothing will never reach me
I am stronger than your will to beseech me
Obtain me in your collection of lost souls
Never see my face again in your mirror
Of yesterday and maybe what might have been
Yours to accomplish and conquer forever
I will always exist beyond your grasp
Storming through the ceiling of your universe
Sara Duke

~^~

WHEN I CANT SLEEP
BY OSWEGO BILL

I KNOW YOU GET ANGRY
WITH ME WHEN I NEVER GO TO BED
IT'S HARD TO SLEEP ANYMORE
I DON'T KNOW WHY 
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
IT'S JUST SLEEP DOESN'T SEEM
TO COME EASY TO ME
MAYBE IT'S THE DARK
OR MAYBE IT'S JUST ME
I REALLY DON'T KNOW
ITS SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WORLD QUITS SPINNING 
BUT ONLY DURING THE DARK HOURS
THE NIGHT CLOSES IN AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS THINK 
WHICH IN TURNS SCARES ME
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GOOD THAT LURKS IN THE DARK
AND YOU CAN FEEL IT
BUT WHEN YOUR MIND IS WEAK 
YOU FEEL YOURSELF STARTING TO LOSE CONTROL
OF THE VERY EXISTENCE THAT YOU ONCE PRIDED YOURSELF IN
STRESS WAS SOMETHING YOU LAUGHED AT AND NOW YOU 
FEEL YOURSELF GIVING INTO IT
LIKE A DARK FIGURE HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD
AS YOUR LAYING IN BED WAITING FOR SLEEP TO COME
ONLY TO REALIZE COME MORNING TIME 
THAT SLEEP HAS AVOIDED YOU ONCE AGAIN AND 
LEFT ONLY PAIN IN ITS PLACE
PAIN THAT EATS AT YOU DAY AFTER DAY
UNTIL YOUR THOUGHTS GET DARKER AND DARKER
AND YOU START PRAYING FOR THE DARKNESS
YOU HAVE TO FACE EACH NIGHT 
WOULD COME AND FINISH YOU
BUT I GUESS UNTIL THAT DAY
OR UNTIL SLEEP COMES TO ME 
AS A FRIEND BEAR WITH ME
BUT IN THE MEANTIME
PLEASE DON'T GET ANGRY WITH ME
JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T SLEEP

~^~

"Pain"
-Brian J. Brown

Edging towards victory
our arguments never cease
knowing how bad the hurt can be
feeling, but not to believe

harsh words are spoken
a blaze of anger lit
using your heart as a token
a target for my evil wit

as the tears stream down your face
and a blur of words, unpassioned from mine
this whole argument a waste of our unloving time
because in the end, hearing you cry
my heart listens to the beginning
and I can't help but wonder why
there's so much pain in winning

~^~

*~To My Love~*
To my love Lance I'll love you forever
~Lauren~    aka    *~KaLi~*

When we're together its hard to explain how I feel
Be faithful to you?
I swear that I will
There is no right way to say how much I love you
Be faithful to me?
I hope you'll do more than try to
If I had the chance with you
I would say I do
I dont know what it is but your different than others 
You're not the type of guy who smothers
Felt this way before?
I have never
Baby I wanna be with you forever!!
~^~

Crazy
Stephanie Dolce

Go ahead and break me as my heart is already in pieces, 
And splattered all over the floor.
Go ahead and tell me another one of your lies.
It really wouldn't be a surprise.
Tell me my love, was it all for naught?
Cause I can see your face and the expressions it makes,
So I feel as though we were not in the right time, right place,
But the memory of us will never be erased.

You're all I want, I'm what you need.
Why must I beg and plead?
You say its all too crazy.
Now that is bittersweet.
Is it crazy? Is it a crime? That you are always on my mind.
You know that we click, I'm full as a tick, 
Man, its making me sick.
I'll tell you what is crazy-
That I am crazy for only you.

~^~

YELLOW
-Jessica Stephenson

You can't see through me
Even though you sit on trial before this
But thanks anyways for the flattering gesture
Of taking my responses before I offer...
I fear you plot this
The longer I stay, the more connected we are
Though silent, you're burned with words
That are dying to be set free...
You can't justify my motives
Or defile my inspiration
Besides, you are merely a sunrise!
...You have no power over me...

~^~

I am bored, lack of motivation prevents me from being otherwise.
Maybe it's the valium maybe its diabetes or maybe I have chosen the wrong path. 
Wherever I go there I am, no reaction to offer, no anger, no excitement. As though I have come to a dead end. I am just there. My needs are meaningless my wants are out of reach. Everything about me is fake.
Maybe I am hateful maybe I just don't care or maybe its just meant to not be.
Sometimes I sit for hours, just sit. There is music but not always usually my mind is blank.
Maybe I am lazy maybe it's the marijuana maybe its lack of companionship 
While less than half of my foreseeable life has passed I have had plenty time to start. Start what?
Maybe life starts at 30 maybe life was 16 or maybe life is a waste of time.
There is more, of that I can be sure. Patience is not a human trait its not as if I have the will to wait. Time does not bring change there must be a cause in order to obtain effect.
Maybe I am dead maybe I am dirty or maybe I just don't care.
I don't love, I can't find happiness I am paralyzed in my existence. Although I am lost it seems I have found my preference.
Maybe its all a lie maybe I am confused or maybe I can't prioritize 
I am bored with this….
 Thomas Slosson

~^~

Who Is He? /Ancient of Days
Jason R.

The Ancient of Days is the One who is, was and who will ever be
Given all authority on Heaven and upon the earth
It is He that was born a supernatural birth
Fulfilling all righteousness is He, the Word made man
Coming to dwell among His creation
From Heaven to save Israel and the Gentile nations
Could this be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ
Isaiah said his name would be called Immanuel
God walking with us like so the prophets would foretell
Who is He, with the authority to drive out demons, heal the sick, and forgive sins
Only those with open eyes and a pure heart would know from where Jesus came
More than a miracle worker was the Nazarene who knows your name
With one mission did He come, to seek and save the lost
From Heaven, to earth and with our sins to Calvary
Freedom was restored as He hung cursed on the tree
The greatest victory that was won, is the one over death
Eternal life now to be received
By all those by Faith in Jesus have believed.

~^~

Angel
Lucy Dominguez

Pure and innocent,
Warm and tender, 
Shining star,
That guides me.
Heart of gold,
Purely enchanting.

~^~

YOU
Ashley Phillips

You are the one watching over me.
You guide me through my life and troubles.
You keep me safe, from all the bad.
You are the person who once existed in my eyes.
You now only exist in my heart.
I still love you, like when you were near.
But, now you are no where near me.
But we shall met again.
Maybe sooner than I think
But, you only know that.

~^~

My Closest Friend
Harry I. Hester, Jr. 

Carry me with you, wherever life life leads,
call on my wisdom when you are in need.

Keep me warm and close to you, never show a doubt,
for in me lies the secret, to what life is about.

To know me is to love me, for that I am sure,
when trouble and worries taunt you, I can help endure.

Although its been claimed by others, but none have withstood the test,
there's not another in this world, that has what I posses.

Hold me to, what's been said, hold me forever liable,
for I am the closest friend you have, I'm your Holy Bible.

~^~

~Gone~
Jennifer Haas

I'm trying to find a way through life,
But I do not feel any strife,
I am lost in everybody's hate,
I am gone and it's too late,

The world shows no pity on the weak,
It's as if they are being knocked off a peak,
Their souls are never heard,
They stand there like a little bird,

As I watch the innocent cry,
I keep on asking myself why,
I feel guilty that I can't help them out,
It's so bad, I just want to shout,

I know I am trapped just as they,
But then what can I say?
I know what is right,
But I have seemed to have lost my fight.

~^~

"Poetry"
jason Chehal

Poetry comes from the Heart
And is fueled by inspiration
My inspiration for this poem is Love
And therefore my heart is full of love
My Love is God
And therefore I conclude
That Poetry is from God

~^~

I have sung my song
to the glowing diamond stars;
they tell me cold tales.
Bill Mahan