The Beautiful Struggle
binds, bars, and breaksbecome
bows, bridges, and bandages
making me think
i can handle this
pain is placed neatly on shelves
of a safe with no combination
in the back of the basement
close the door for
forever plus more
we take the stairs to
an escalator or two
then the elevator up a few
floors above heaven
what a view
air so crisp
it’s like it’s brand new
and now we are falling, in lieu
of a love everlasting and true
let us continue
will you
shall we
transcend in the mental
and physical sense
Buddhists call it nirvana
this love religion gives up past for lent
lease to buy, not rent
arrows stick and bleed roses
shot from a bow that’s bent
pulled back with the strength of respect
held by the hands of care
aimed by hope and belief
this is what Shakespeare meant
creating moments of good daily
trying to square up with the bad
fuck that
i’m an odds man
i say 100 to 1 we can
outnumber, outduel, out love
olive branches and dove
be at peace
lead by example for my nieces
protect from harm my nephew
lessons for him, I have a slew
maybe you do too
we’re gonna rise
with our upward looking eyes
if dreams can be thought
then they are real
it takes work to give them feel
so you can grasp
that’s the deal
fair exchange
for priorities arranged
of those to whom
much is given
much is expected
from us
this will be respected
sometimes it’s a struggle, beautiful
you make the struggle beautiful
The Town of Us
Over my heart your love rests like a badge, a proud officer serving and protecting the town of Us
Incorporated in the year of eight and two thousand, we build for a future uncertain
The uneven girders jab and jut high into the sky, the physical manifestation of our emotional blueprints
It is unknown the depths to which we will grow, furthermore, what it will take to survive
This singular fact as certain as light is to the day
I shall never tire
This is Autumn and You Will Fall
The trees assume a melancholic stance, staring to the ground at their lost leaves like the new kid in school between class bells.
Darkness falls early and slow, the sleepy eyes of a baby that I can’t help but wonder who the mother is.
This is Autumn and no matter the hold you have on your emotional bearings, it’s tough enough to tilt you on that equilibrium.
This is Autumn and you will Fall.
In the whirlwind of list checking off
You suddenly find yourself more concerned with how you feel
Check boxes turn to moments
A smile and a comment that melted your heart
Made your insides shake and warm
A grade school chemistry experiment
I swallowed the baking soda volcano
The teacher gave me a detention
What did she know
This shit isn’t on the periodic table
In our late night conversations
She breaks me down and rebuilds me
Using her beautiful insides as a blueprint
She leaves footsteps in the wet cement
So she remembers… so they know
I stand so tall
I am her masterpiece
Just a canvas before, for playful ones
A master’s touch with unknown strokes
She knows what she’s doing
Sit and watch as I take shape
I’ll never fall
Eye up all the angles
Sometimes they don’t meet at right
Some would say perfect and true
I’m gonna be something, just watch
A forever thing to love
For her I fall
