When did I get so cynical?
Was it when promises were broken?
Did it happen once you left?
When you left my wounds open?
Was it when you left me bereft?

Was it when I saw what people did?
Did it happen after noticing your vie?
When you made that dishonest bid?
Was it when all you did was belie?

Was it when plans were changed?
Did it happen when I was manipulated?
When you made me feel so estranged?
Was it when I was left debilitated?

When did I get so cynical?
Was it when I left promises broken?
Did it happen once I left?
When I saw your wounds open?
Was it when my wake left you bereft?

Was it when I saw what I did?
Did it happen after noticing my vie?
When I made those dishonest bids?
Was it when all I did was belie?

Was it when I made plans change?
Did it happen once I manipulated?
When I made people feel estranged?
Was it when I made you debilitated?
When did I get so cynical?

In an endless dance the waves strain themselves.
They exhaust and fall giving everything they have to the beach.
Just to touch her soft shoreline.
Just to kiss her neck so gently.
Then to be dragged away,
Only to repeat the endless dance of
Giving,
Falling,
Crashing,
Loving.

Dear Poetry,

This isn't a love letter, but read it anyways.
How’ve you been?
Who've you been with?
Haven’t seen you for a few days.
And I really do hope that you've been doing good,
But I just thought I’d write you this because some things need to be understood.

I’m so caught up in your madness like magnets.
And I’m not happy with how things have been going lately between me and you.
You've been growing pretty distant and I refuse to lose you too.
So many fakes and liars have come and gone in and out of my life this year,
And I hate to have this fear, but I feel that you won’t be staying here.

Do you remember when we met? Since that first sleepless night you had my back,
But as of lately you’re just the reason I've been dressing in all black.
I’m committed to you, but you don’t seem that loyal to me.
So many kids recently have started rhyming.
And I’m not saying that I’m jealous, because truthfully I’m not.
It’s just that seeing you with all these other kids has got my stomach in a knot.
I’m not saying I don’t trust you, because really I do.
I’m kind of just torn because I've stayed so **** loyal to you.
But it’s whatever, go ahead and go where you will,
Those other kids won’t stop me from writing how I feel.
I wonder though, if I leave here will you even miss me?
I don’t think that you would, but I’ll trust you with my insecurities.

And I'm aware
That life, it isn't fair.
I've got nothing in return for the nights I've stayed up writing with you here.
And honestly, writing has confirmed all my fears.
It’s crazy how so much can change in just one year.
But for now, I think that’s all I have to say.
I’m not happy with where we are,
And I’m just hoping that you’ll stay.

Sincerely,

Kennedy Taylor.

Dear Poetry,

I never thought you’d be the one to cause me this much stress.
When we first started off I could have sworn you were the best.
You would help me ease my mind, and allow me to get away,
But now I’m staying up at night wondering if you're here to stay.
So I’m running off no sleep, panicked, wondering what to do,
And to be completely honest, I've been thinking of leaving you.

When it was all beginning, your beauty, it had me trapped,
And once we started talking, the conversation had me attached.
Now I’m addicted to you like *******, without you I can’t work my own brain.
When you’re with me it’s got me so sane, but once you leave I start going insane.
This back and forth has got me torn and I really don’t know what to do.
On one hand you've always been there, on the other, the problem is always you.

So what more do you want?
My options are near their end.
Do you want me to just keep writing?
Do you want me to just pretend?

We can pretend like we're in love.
We can pretend like the feelings are real.
But what if I really want to love you?
What if I really want to feel?

I heard you could change my life,
And to be honest you really did.
But now I’m wondering if it was for the better,
Or if I’m better of without this.

Understand me when I say that this letter isn't asking for our end.
I just want to make sure we’re on the same page, written with the same pen.
I wouldn't be here without you, and I think I might owe you my life,
But please just write me back if you feel that this relationship is right.

Sincerely,

Kennedy Taylor.

We all grow.
Your closest friends seem to be leaving.
Yes we were kids I know,
We could be what we were pretending.
Like astronauts, presidents,
super heroes, firemen.
Those were simple days
When we were kids just playing games.

But now...

Gold chains glow.
For some reason I’m still dreaming.
All the kids I know
Are needing something to believe in.
Money, drugs, ***, poverty,
Liquor stores, and partying.
If this isn’t the real world is this all just still a game?

And now...

Time moves slow.
It seems like I was only dreaming.
We’re not the kids I know.
It’s really hard to keep believing in
Truth, love, and honesty.
So drop the chains, let’s sail these seas.
We could write stories about what we have failed to be.

It was electric.
A thousand things he never thought he'd feel again
racing down his spine.
Like a symphony of static, composed by this single moment.
Whole orchestras breathing in his mind.