A stranger
Looks back at her
thin and wasted
dark circles, sunken cheeks
tear tracks glistening, chest heaving
trying hard to hold everything in.

Strange,
I can clearly remember
her smile, laughter
cheerful eyes,pretty face.

Remarkable,
how despicable time is.

The contrast
so stark
the stranger breaks down
couldn't hold it back anymore

A crash, a clang
a moment's hesitation
a deep cut
a bloodied wrist
a momentary peace, release.

The cruel shards
silently watched and reflected
her life slowly ebbing away.

What is love she pondered,
Arms crossed, hair asunder
Love is you I whispered
A warm hug after the biggest blunder.

What is trust she wondered
Head down, tears plundered
Trust is this I whispered
As I wiped tears with fingers tender.

What is us she wondered,
Wild heart, fears abound
Kissing her I whispered,
It's the perfect melody, that makes no sound...

For all life long
I chased just one song
The lyrics that haunted me at night
The tune to everything happy and bright.

But as the days wore into years,
And I smiled countless smiles
And fought back flowing tears,
One thing stood back out all the while.

Many a time I thought I'd found my song
Some of it was right, but mostly was wrong,
So I kept on looking with my ear on the ground,
Always alert, never missing a sound.

But one day I gave up, the quest seemed too hard,
I sat down under a shade, pretended to be a bard,
Took all the pieces that I had had so far,
Put them to a beat, played my guitar.

And while it still felt like a bit was missing
It sounded so intimate, like two lovers kissing,
That's when I happened to chance upon you,
What new tune did you bring, I hadn't a clue.

But I grabbed your hand and off we went
A whole new world, new colors, new scent.
And then I sang my song, yet imperfect and incomplete,
And all it took to make it whole was the rhythm of your heartbeat.

We fight for every inch
We fight for every smile
And when all have been slain
Is when the last mask falls.

Sometimes it's a sweet victory
Sometimes it's a bitter defeat
In the end, they're all history
When the last mask falls.

Maybe a glimpse of love
Maybe a look at the devil,
Undone are the Gods above,
When that last mask falls.

Maybe she emerges a fighter,
Maybe she looks for hope,
I just hope I can hold her tighter,
When her last mask falls.

I dug myself deep
Into 'I'm fine's and sorries,
Now my piercing screams
Don't reach your ears.

Or do you, do you hear it?
And choose to ignore?
Do you think they are just prickly thorns
On my path to get to the rose?

Are my wounds superficial then,
The pain not worthy enough
For one warm hug? For one moment of empathy?
For one 'I know you are tired love, rest'?

Maybe they are a mere blip
In your grand scheme of things
Maybe you hope all the cuts
Would grow me a thicker skin
Make me someone who you wish I was

Maybe you dream of the day
The day I finally breathe in its sweet fragrance,
I'll look into your eyes with infinite happiness,
And you can finally lay your weary limbs to sleep.

And maybe, maybe I'll finally get that token of appreciation?

For that's all I seek,
That one smile of pride,
That one gesture of kindness,
And can I hope a word of love?

So I'll trudge this dreary path, for you,
Staunch my pain with all my might,
Muffle my screams in mirthless laughs
Hide my tears underneath empty smiles.

I'm afraid though, when I do get to touch its soft petals,
Instead of thicker skin, I'd have bled my last ounce,
Maybe filling your cup would drain mine,
Maybe I wanted the simple Jasmines?

No, don't worry, I'll wave my hands around,
Dispel the cloud of doubts,
Cause I'm just one immature child,
A coward afraid of wounds making excuses, right?

For now, please don't
Don't turn off the light,
My shadow's the only one left
To hold onto me tight.