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

You seem to have forgotten
about all the times we shared.
It seems it slipped your mind
that we're better as a pair.

You seem to not remember
all those beautiful restless days.
It seems your memory escapes you
and our love was just a phase.

Did you lose your memory?
Or was it purposely erased?
Is there a way I can restore it?
Or has our love been just a waste?

The end of the world was today.
It started with a simple delay—
A stop of motion
A miss of beat
A soft "hello"
swept off my feet.

The end of the world was today.
It shifted to a vulnerable display—
A life that's shattered
A ground that's cracked
A heart in pieces
the odds were stacked.

The end of the world was today.
It sparked from a word to say—
Red flashes of light
Sweet kisses and strife
Smiles and screams
At the end of life.

He was kind–
Just like you.
When you looked into his eyes
You just knew.
He always put others
Above himself.
Lots of things about him
Are just like yourself.
He was good–
I wouldn’t kid.
He would’ve died for his crew,
And he did.
You remind me of him;
You’re both kind-hearted men.
When I look in your eyes
It’s like he’s looking back into mine.
I’m reminded of him
Every time you say a word.
You sound just like him–
Every adjective and verb.
Yes, you remind me of him.
That’s the best compliment I could give.
Captain, you remind me of my Captain.

How can we breathe
in a society that
is constantly squeezing
our throats?

How can we walk
in a world that
is constantly chaining
our legs?

How can we be
in a place that
is constantly telling
us no?

"No," it says,
"That job isn't
enough for you to
survive."

"No," it says,
"Those clothes aren't
enough for you to
win him."

"No," it says,
"That thing isn't
enough for you to
impress."

"No," it says,
"You are not ever
enough to amount to
anything."

Well, I think it's time
we say "No" back.

God, I need your direction.
I have never in my life
been as confused as I am
right now this current second.

Lord, You know my heart.
You know my intentions are pure.
Why can't I hear you?
Why aren't you showing me?

Jesus, I want to do what's right.
Show me where to go.
Lead me in the way
your plan says I should.

Holy Spirit, be my guide.
This what I pray.
Take my very hand in yours
and lead me along the way.

Do I give up on love altogether
Or do I hope that It makes us both better?
Are we better together or better apart?
Does it really even matter after a broken heart?

Do I pretend none of it even happened
After all that I’ve taken for granted?
Like the food on my table and the roof over my head.
I’m not the one starving, and I’m not the one dead.

Do I act as if everything’s fine?
Though everyone can see through those lies.
I can try to fake a smile and seem alright
If it’ll help you be the one to sleep at night.

Do I move on and find another
Or stay alone, hoping things will get better?
Are we better together or better apart?
Does it really even matter after a broken heart?

You said I couldn't be successful.
You made me break down in tears.
You're supposed to be an influencer;
someone who will shape me for years.

Aren't you supposed to be my teacher?
Well, what are you teaching me?
I can never be worth anything.
I am not who I am supposed to be.

I have learned nothing from you
except for the all the lies you have told.
I can be worthy despite what you say.
You don't know what the future holds.

She is his sunshine when it's raining
She is the warmth when he is freezing
She is the tune that he is singing
She is the music he is dancing
She is the love that he is giving
She is the smile that he's wearing
She is the reason that he's living

but she's also why he's slowly dying.

"You'll be fine," They told me.
"It'll be okay," They said.
But did they hear the words they called me?
Did they hear the things they said?

Have they lived a life of torture?
Perhaps they've felt deranged?
Have they gone and hid in the corner
wanting desperately to change?

I miss it.
Now, don't you start
Acting vain.
It's not you
That I miss.
It's all the times
All the memories
All the moments
Just like this.

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 I'm crazy
and I know it's true.
But I know by waiting
I'm saving myself for you.

I remember sixth grade.
Everyone told me you couldn't fall
in love so young. So I distanced myself from you.

I remember seventh grade.
You begged me to come back,
but I told you all the words they told me were true.

I remember eighth grade.
I never saw you even once but couldn't
stop thinking about all the things we used to do.

I remember ninth grade.
I saw you every single day but,
by then, you were with someone brand new.

I remember tenth grade.
You were still with her happily
and I cried. It was all my fault, I knew.

I remember eleventh grade.
You were single and I had high hopes
that once again it'd be me and you.

I remember twelfth grade.
You had graduated the year before
so I saw exactly zero of you.

I remember yesterday.
I ran into you at the store and thought
'this is my chance' until I noticed a girl that was new.

I don’t know you.
You don't know me.
One talk isn't enough
to believe in destiny.

I don't know you.
You don't know me.
Your love isn’t a locked door
and I haven't been searching for a key.

I don't know you.
You don't know me.
Something about it doesn't sound right
Why can’t I let it be?

I don't know you.
You don't know me.
I’m not a bird in a cage,
Waiting for you to set it free.

I don’t know you.
You don’t know me.
Then why can’t I give it up?
I want to; it is my plea.

I don’t know you.
You don’t me.
I wish this desire I have for you
Would just go away and flee.

I want to know you
Do you want to know me?
Could it be just lust or...?
Perhaps it's love? Maybe? Hopefully.

Seems now I’m just another girl to you,
And in the end, that’s all I ever was.
You won’t be satisfied with one or two.
One girl for you will never be enough.

I spent too many hours daydreaming
Up scenarios that will never come true.
I was loving the idea of love
Far more than I could ever love you.  

I’m not hurt that you asked for her number
I’m not hurt that you didn’t say hello.
I hurt for the girl because It is no longer I
that has to put up with you, but her.