I'd like to tell you a story
It begins in 1492
When dear old Christopher Columbus
Sailed the ocean blue

He landed on what he thought
To be the country of India
He stumbled upon a group of people
Who appeared to be indigenous

Because these native people
Happened to be where he thought he was
He called them all "Indians"
&& somehow that name stuck

They welcomed his group with open arms
Even offered them their feast
Unaware that deep inside
They were but wolves, dressed as sheep

Columbus && his crew
Soon ravaged the land
They took what they saw
Then they took full command

Of the people they found
On the land where they landed
They felt they should rule
So they stepped in, heavy handed

They murdered the people
Who had taken them in
Set fire to their villages
While the victims watched with their kin

Flash forward to the future
It's now 2016
It's been over 500 years
Since the overtaking by the regime

Future settlers decided
To let the survivors live on
They designated them small areas
Of what had not yet been robbed

These Native Americans,
Generally keep to themselves
They get by living off their land
But now they need your help

The Sioux of Standing Rock
Are being horribly mistreated
The state of North Dakota
Is poisoning them without reason

A pipeline has been built
That runs through this Native territory
When Bismarck residents didn't want it
It was rerouted, how discriminatory

People from all over the country
Are seeming to agree
They are making the commute
To protest peacefully

In defense of an oppressed people
Who only want to live
But the government is stepping in
Even blowing off some limbs

"Let them die, they're not like us"
the message the administration is sending
It seems that after all this time
The battle is never-ending

What exactly does it take
For people to see eye-to-eye?
In the end we're all just human  
We kiss, we laugh, we cry

So if you have a heart at all
If you know that this is wrong
Please join the Sioux in their mission
By coming together, we can be strong

Call me old fashioned
But I dream of a love that's true
One where my better half means
the things that they say && do

Where photos of other women
On social media, among other places
Mean nothing to them compared
To the look we share between our faces

Where they're not constantly on the look out
For someone better to come along
Because they know deep down that being
With anyone else would just feel wrong

Maybe they'd know that I was the one
Right from the very start
Or maybe it would take time for them
to open up their heart

I'd go to the ends of the earth
To make sure they never felt alone
&& I hope that they'd do the same for me
That they'd let our love set the tone

So call me old fashioned
But I can't play these new aged games
My heart wasn't built to wander around
Once it finds a home, it wants to stay

In a world so filled with apathy
Someone has to feel
I'm sorry that you're one of the chosen

Plagued by the weight of the world
It can be hard to deal  
The task of those who live with their eyes open

Your thoughts are your thoughts
Your emotions are just
Nothing could make that less valid

Those who don't understand
May think they have the upper hand
But their lives are the ones that are pallid

As you walked away from me at the airport, my heart fell to the floor. You looked into my eyes as you said goodbye, && it felt like a real && final goodbye. This wasn't an "I'll see you soon," or even again.

I wanted to ask you to stay. I imagined you turning around, running back through the line at the gate. You'd tell me that "you just couldn't leave me." I'd pull you in && everything around us would fade away.

&& when I finally lose my mind, as all great thinkers do; when the world finally grants me peace, no longer having to be plagued by my own existentialism, by all that consumes me; I hope that this is the moment I can live in, replaying forever in my mind; you running back into my arms.

I stayed up all night to watch the sunrise
Such an odd feeling, looking at something that so many other people might be looking at too
All staring up together, && yet feeling so alone
Makes you realize that there's so much more to life, than just the things that directly affect you
I think oftentimes people forget that they're not the center of the universe
Or even the solar system
The sun has rightfully earned that title
&& who are we to think we can compete with that?
A blazing ball of fire
One that never falters, never goes out
It just shines on
I think we could all take a lesson from the sun
&& just be

Time to go get some bones ripped out of my jaw
Normally I would be terrified
I hate medical procedures
Anesthesia
Normally I would think to myself,
"What if I don't wake up"?
But today, today that fear doesn't plague me
I'm indifferent towards the thought
Towards life
If anything, at least I'll finally get some rest
I wonder if that will be enough to soothe my body or my soul
If anything, at least it will stop my mind from racing
I haven't slept in days
Haven't eaten either, truth be told
At least now I'll be able to go a week without talking, && no one will think anything of it
Talking, such a tedious task when your chest is sunken in
Sometimes I wonder how people do it
Just go about their days
Typing away at their keyboards
Meeting deadlines
Making small talk
Must be nice to just exist
Without feeling weighed down by the weight of the world

Give me a chance
To make this all right
I just can't walk away
I'll continue to fight

For you, for us
For what we once had
We can make it back to that place
If you'll just take my hand

I went off the deep end
Unsure how to swim in new depths
But I promise I can learn
We can still salvage what's left

We can build it back up
I know it may take time
But I'm willing to do whatever it takes
Please don't let this die