Pachyderm

Pachyderm

The elephant just sits
inside our conversation
wanting to get out
He's been ignored too long
Feeling awkward, there's no doubt

Unspoken words hang in the air
right when I take a breath
I had a chance to tell you
but the moment met its death

I try on new behavior
like I'm shopping for a ring
Wishing, hoping, dreading
that the wedding bells might sing

With you I'd see forever
filling up with pain
choosing to say nothing
of stifled thoughts insane

Secrets can't be hidden well
They get revealed someday
And that elephant is getting old and tired
of games that people play

It’s painful in reality
but I accept what we are now
I know that I can change myself
but you, I can't somehow

Please accept condolences
for when you lost your voice
I'll wait to listen for what's real
As you turn and make your choice

[December 10th, 2007]

The Space Between

The Space Between

Each time we stop talking
the truth spills out
our silence says everything
the heart never doubts

I wish we'd stop lying
And just say what's real
that love that we're hiding
the pain we could heal

There's something missing
as years have gone by
I sense that you're dying
down deep inside

Then here comes us
between young and old
twitching with memories
from warmth to the cold

And you tell me you're great
I say that I'm fine
But really I am wondering
What will happen this time

Will we keep avoiding
what needs to be said
or continue forgetting
and deceive instead

As the silence grows deeper
I may never know
Perhaps you'll keep your distance
Maybe I'll let you go

In between all these words
is a message that's clear
truth always remembers
between love and fear

Next time I'll listen
to the space in between
subtly powerful meanings
just like my dream

[Inspired by a dream last night, followed by a conversation today, filled with empty words and important pauses]

[December 4, 2007]

Words

Words

Excess. Overindulgence. Oops, a bit extravagant.
Flowery language insults the senses. Over done.

Fragrant mists of steaming possibilities, wrapped tightly in a mockery despite consequences.

I want more of everything. Words thrill me to the point of exhaustion, creeping upon me like a stealthy earwig
Looking for a good meal on my tender thighs.

Ooh. Scandalous, these words.
Excessive, expressive, oppressive
To pressure myself into a creative melee.

Give me more.
A taste of the exclusive, like washing up on an empty beach
Expecting people to welcome me, invite me to their masked ball.

Please accept my flaws, but expect perfection.
I lost my mask. No more hiding beneath the shower of colorful verbiage.

Extremes. I go often to extremes.
Addicted to ink, I urgently compose what I can find
From the delicious assortment of phrases in my mind.

Just like a box of chocolate covered cherries
The results are the same.

Passionate displays of the mundane, ordinary world I show all of you.
Truly, I may eventually reveal the inner remains,
Of which are brilliant flames.

Rising and falling with every breath, I feel the sensation of a sneeze…
But it is quickly suppressed.
All fear subsides in time.

[Spring 2007]

Lucky

Lucky

Pink jasmine blooms waft, exhaling sweetness
White creases in the folds reminiscent of crinkled paper
After a poet attempts at inspiration to no avail
The artist decides those images are useless doodle
The petals transform angst into romance

Suddenly creation flows effortlessly
Just as the lover takes her hand and everything fits
The jasmine keeps growing despite doubt and fear
Letting the raindrops fall, drenching it in wet love
Never knowing when the next shower will come

A garden of selfless growth, as the lover plucks her tears
Bugs kill its leaves, munching away at the stems
Appreciating the mud and pruning, it smiles
Relief is evident in surrendering pain of future woes
Distant from the time that will be is the jasmine

Simply returning poetic mercy, fragrance oozing from petals
Like whipped cream on a hot fudge sundae
Just the beginning of indulgent desserts to come

[Spring 2007]

Done

Done

There you are again, invading my space
Taking over like an army of ants parading through my veins
Clogging my aorta, you are the plaque that suffocates my capacity to love
I thought I was done

But there you are, smiling coyly
And I change my mind again
You pervade all reason
I thought I was done

I crave you like a drink
a shimmering glass of wine
Just begging me to swallow your dishonesty
I drink in your attentive selfishness
I am not done yet

You take what I allow you to own
I constantly relinquish my soul
For just one more cracked glass of you
Addiction precludes all logic
Will I ever be done?

I indulge you, itching for all that I know
A cold, refreshing glass of ale
Just one more for the road, I say
Then I am back where I began
I am not done.

Temporary relief is expensive
My spirit is in debt
When I try to justify sabotage
Sensual pleasure is fleeting
And yet I still yearn for the illusion
Believing it is worth the price

Then I wake up to my world without you
With an empty soul, heart on the floor
Emotionally hungover, I move toward the truth.
I choose to leave.
I am finally…DONE.

[Originally written on January 16, 2005]

[Edited in 2007]

Peace Happens

Peace Happens

No more tragedies and all the lies
Forget the news that skews our lives
No more acts of violence and hateful words
We need freedom from the absurd

Leave the judgments at the door
Take criticism off my floor
Stop idolizing material wealth
When what’s important is our health

We have to change the way we speak
Transform everything we seek
Take some action for us all
Do something different to answer the call

Use that passion for the greater good
Help others become understood
It all start with planting seeds
Giving love is all we need

[April 29, 2007]

Loose Change

Loose Change

Break me open, like a cantaloupe
Spilling seeds for a garden of hope
Crack me like a fresh egg yolk
Gleaming with amber, glistening with nutritious clarity

Split my heart open, like Jesus
Giving love and compassion freely
Sit me down quietly, like Buddha
Allowing the world to flow through me

Lay me down sweetly, like Mother
Cradling me ‘til slumber comes
Rest with me like all of humanity
Embracing the silence of stillness

[May 8th, 2007]