An autumn bonfire exposè
Empathy revealed in an ocherous glow
Screams in flickers, smoke sting tears
The porous spirit of a blank faced man
Like automatic sponge, unmoved by will
Trapping the dirt of the world
Clogging the garden where flowers should grow
The memory of a thousand prisoners Caged in internal wildfire
Mourning of a warm summer wasted
Looping char, eternal choke
But like an oxygen starved inferno
Life can change in an instant...
Droplets of life fall from the sky
Kissing the light, teasing
On the other side of the flames
A scarlet haired phantom sings change with a glance
A gentle smile to ease the burns
Compelled to heal, she sees her patient
Rubies and emeralds glisten with promise
A future blooms in ashes
The heavens answer with a downpour
And comforting darkness expands its reach
Before the last bit of light is washed away
A hand is held
And the night isn't cold any more.

Stare yourself down
Just avoid the eyes, let's not make this personal
Soak in the amplified reflection
Feed on your favourite highlights
Toss away the bones for the starving to chew
Capture this moment, forever flawless
Give the poor a feast for the eyes
You shine so bright
They will follow you little star
Hang off a string and lead them
They'll claw at your skin but never embrace you
They'll chomp at your flesh and leave a rotting core
You choose lust over love...
Trade self worth for compliments
Well then swallow your soul and drown in their praise
It will never be enough.

My restrained tears push through
Like a frigid stream on a barren plateau
An icicle melting in spring
My eyes the dam, holding in despair
Cracks in my face display the mounting pressure
Of boiling steam
Leaking emotional residue
Wanting to burst into the cooling air
like a **** that breaks through concrete to reach the ever enticing Sun

We are birds whose wings have broken
The endless sky an air of torment we must breath to live
You found strength in the land that caught you in it's motherly arms
But I could never call this home
My soul wants to fly but my spirit is bound
By a love that is yours
And the well of my pain stirs
Waves crash in my throat
It hurts the most because I can't identify

Please, I beg you, avert your eyes
Don't watch as my armor fractures
The hardened pieces of my pride falling to my feet, grounding me
Holding me down
Forcing my exposure under the spotlight of your judgement
Compelling me to show you
That I'm just
I'm just...
...