Dear the boy who works at the grocery store:

Want to know a secret?
You are the reason I eat so much yogurt.
You always tell me
"Man, you must really love yogurt
because you're always constantly
coming in here to buy more."
Well, the truth is
I eat so much yogurt so that I have to
buy more as an excuse to come
in and see you.

They say love is hard
and I used to believe it
until I loved you.

The gun shots are heard
one two three four
at first until people realize
what is happening
and start to run
while toppling over themselves
as they try to find a safe spot
but the gun shots keep coming
five six seven eight shots
and the space is
too wide
too open
too empty
only full of bodies running
or bodies already down
nine ten eleven twelve shots
the music from the stage stops
and the festival is turned upside down
and vision blurs
senses dissipate
except for one
the sense of hearing
thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen shots
ring
buzzing
blaring
in the ears
of those watering the grass with their blood
and those still trying to find a way
to avoid being shot
seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty shots
accompanied by screams
loud screeching screams
that will haunt the survivors in their dreams
and in their time awake
but yet still the overwhelming
amount of screams cannot overpower
the sound of bullets
cutting through the air
and piercing into flesh
twenty-one twenty-two twenty-three twenty-four shots
there is nowhere to go
there is nowhere to run
just massive amounts of people
all huddled in one large chaotic group
enjoying music one minute
and knocking people over
to get as far away
from the shooter the next
through the tripping
and the running
and the panting
and the screaming
are the arrival of two colors
red and blue red and blue red and blue
and sirens sirens sirens
twenty-five twenty-six twenty-seven twenty-eight shots
and then none

I WISH I COULD WRITE A POEM, SO PROFOUND SO CLEVER,

THAT KNOWING SAGES, WOULD QUOTE IT FOR AGES,

AND MY NAME WOULD LIVE ON FOREVER.

AN AWKWARD FIRST KISS, UNDER THE PORCH LIGHT,
THE COMEBACK KISS, REMEMBERED ALL NIGHT.

One young woman, One young man.
She comes down towards him, on her fathers hand.

Two smiles, Two hearts, Two lives to blend.
So happy, So sure, So ready to begin.

He stands tall, The hopeful Young Knight.
She dazzles all, The Princess in White.

Priest in cassock, arms in the air,
Welcomes everyone, to the joyous affair.

A candle is lit, vows are read,
Everyone straining to hear what is said.

Picking hands, they exchange gold rings,
As the ***** plays, and the singer sings.

Together they kneel as prayers are said,
The procession of faithful, for wine and bread.

Then the Priest ask, "For blessings through life"
For this newest of Husbands,and his young Wife.

All the planning, and bustle leading to this,
So quickly over, Sealed with a kiss.

Then they walk to their future, hand held in hand,
One young Woman, One young Man.

Though I'm gone, I couldn't stay.
You can bring me back any day,
Meet me in your mind, and
we can play.

Another day
      has slipped away,
and in that time,
      the choice was mine.
To make the world, more bright.
      doing what, I know is right.
Did I cause, someone to smile,
      did I go that extra mile.
Was I quick to lend a hand,
       was I forgiving of my fellow man.
If I failed yesterday,
       may I succeed, if I get "another day."