Shadows are the part of us
that refuse to grow.
We need to integrate them back
neatly in stow.
........

I see him in my dreams.
He's not an old god on a throne.
He's an eye in my mind's eye.
I see him as he sees me and
His creation vast and alone
wanting to understand what's
behind the great curtain of OZ.
He died and we're his dreams.

I remember the day we drove all over
looking for our perfect graves. We were
18 and determined to never say goodbye.
We settled for under a strong Oak in
fertile ground where our souls grow.
We swore to die together in one grave.

Free! I won't have to walk the dogs.
I won't have to put the garbage out.
I won't worry if I can sleep or not.
Am I a drunk? Doesn't matter now.
The guilt that hangs heavy like moss
from the branches of my soul is gone.

In anything? Me or you or us?
Kids or Uncle Reggie's cancer?
War's brutal destruction?
Love's gentle healing?
A kind word to strangers?
A smile on the train and
laughter among the pain?
Dreams? Forever after?

I was born a turtle. Kids put me on
the road and watched me squashed.
I was born a parrot and captured and
broke into an odd pet in your cage.
I was born a duck and cruelly drowned
for your convenience. My father was
at war and lost his kindness and I
was squashed, caged and drowned