To Forgiveness

Weary travellor come!
Rest your burden here,
let down your weighty pack
within these walls.
Long you have wandered
an exile to this land.
I have heard many a whisper
that somewhere you had lost your way.

But not so, dear friend,
for the sadness in your eyes;
you have so long trekked
not because it was a destination you lacked
but a willing soul to take you in.
With every door locked
and drawbridge drawn against you,
all manner of sordid things clung
to your cloak, making less
an appealing visitor day by day,
so that even the good and kind
must take pause.

But here, one heart is laid open for you.
Its humble walls have seen too much,
too soiled by secrets to turn down
such a welcome face for his dirty cloak.
You must excuse its simplicity;
in design unadorned, nearly rude.
But it is warm and swept often,
and its floor hums a tune that hopes
you will stay for a while.

The shoebox

Snap.
Golden sunlight streams
down upturned faces
arms outstretched
two kids
throw open their hearts
and embrace
the staggering enormity
of one summer day.

Snap.
A crowd seated in the dim
eyes locked on the little
colored tassels bobbing
over seas of black
for the last time before
they take their ascent.

Snap.
A dove as white as snow
flitters through the doors
thrown open wide
bearing fragrant beauty
and two hearts light
with love
eyes and hopes revolve
around her whose rest
as her arm on the raven-
black figure caught
in her gaze.

They smile.

The tardy bell

Here I am, seventeen years
another semester to pour my heart
into these pages,
just one. Just one semester,
just one and a whole new school,
a new city, a new life.

Here I sit, nervous,
but at the same time
there's a little voice inside
my head that says,
no matter what changes,
I'll still be in class,
this time, next year,
closing my eyes to the world,
opening my heart to a notebook.

A look

I love you to the depth
of the black of your eyes and back
love you to the width
of the fields of grain sown in the brown
love you to the length
that stretches round the circle there
which has no start
and so never stops

Reminiscence

It was sweet
each draw was long and smooth
at once its thick laziness would
cascade like a waterfall
even as it rushed, you gulped
for more.

At once you would find yourself
growing tired of the taste
until another sip recalled
the memories of what first
made it sweet.

It was bitter
it stung your tongue and still
you drank for the savor
that was better than a cup of sweetness
to know you could drink the bitter
and prevail.

A waltz

I know a girl who loves her shadow
she follows its every line
no imperfection she sees
for it's dark as can be
and dances in three-quarter time.

I know a boy who chases a shadow
declaring that she will be mine
but having no voice
he's no other choice
but to dance in three-quarter time.

I heard that the shadow-girl met this fellow
and finding him of the same design
on his knees he delighted
to hear she decided
to dance with him in three-quarter time.

Now you'll find the shadow-girl alongside her fellow
their children growing strong and fine
for they know that young hearts
as planned from the start
guide their owners in three-quarter time.

Just kids

A little boy mumbles, a little girl blushes
Their worlds seem to crumble in the rhythmic hushes
Of the hearts they possess within each other's chests
What pleasant pastime to steal each other's breath

What fun it is, sweet melodies suspending
To hold hands and dance as the earth is ending
The bridge will fall, the grave bears us all
Love is all we have left on which to call

So sing our song when doubt is prevailing
wandering through life, the relentless fear of failing
But refusing to try will never teach you to fly
Those who wont leave the ground never can touch the sky

The love that two share will never end
As long as we both shall live, my friend
not made for this mold, we'll transcend this world
That's all that I need, to have, to hold.