Let me tell you a story, of the time I made her smile
I hope you've some time, because, this might take a while.

It all started on a whim and a dare
that I could make it to her
to her, for her, there!

So as a working adult, so responsible am I,
I got my leave approved, with a twinkle in my eye!
Perhaps that's not the right word, but it sure could have been
especially now I've a chance, to score another win.

So days flew by and with what little money to be had
I bought for her gifts and things, and boy my heart was glad!
I said to myself Now she isn't one for fancy things, nothing to pricey especially a ring!
Now before you holler at me, and pitch a fit or drone,
keep in mind, dear friend, that this one I had barely known!

So a few days before the day that she was to graduate from the University of her home,
I set off on the road to a new adventure, my heart so glad to be free to roam.
But along the way I began having doubts, as all strangers do,
what if she doesn't like these gifts?
Even worse, what if she felt uncomfortable, next to a person she barely knew?

See we met overseas, teaching together as it were,
the days were long, but there was still an adventure out there, but now but a blur.
So we've little time to tell each others, our deepest fears and our passions of wants,
but we made time for each other in our smiles and our jaunts.

So back to the road, and it was already too late to turn back now
through the many hours of driving, the sun had truly beaten my brow.
And as came closer to town where she stay
It dawned upon me, I've yet to come with a plan to approach this play.

So being the improviser that I am, bought some (overpriced) flowers
and delivered it to her house that day.
Unfortunately, it was, cold, raining, and miserable all the more,
what else that was slightly embarrassing was that she did not answer her door.

Of course, I never told her I would be coming down at all,
I simply decided to go to her town, without so much as a call!
So I laid the bouquet of assorted colored flowers down
on a pillow soft and plush on the front porch to the door, and proceeded back to town.

FAST FORWARDING

The next day had come, I am slightly concerned if I smell of my night in my car
but waste no time getting properly dressed for the occasion,
I of course triple check myself, because, this was her graduation!

FAST FORWARDING
The ceremony had commenced! And I spot her from the far side of the stadium!
My, what a sight she was, if only the others could have seen her then...

She finally stands in line, as the many predecessors has done before
and soon enough, she's walking across the stage floor!

Her family and friends, scream and cry their delight!
And I give a long awaited bellow of satisfaction, much to the crowd's unpleasant fright.
Congratulations are then tossed around, like the caps which were far flung
and off I was in a dash, from the bottom rung.

I could not find her initially,
but never fear, and not to worry.
God and his sense of timing and humor,
led me right back to her.

I drove back to her house, thinking I'll lay the gift and disappear
but it would not be so, as I pull up and with her back turned
I see her.

I pull up, like it was just another day
and like the dork I am, here is what I say
"Hey little lady, going some where?"

The look on her face was priceless. Beyond all compare!
Moments like those are what I live for, just to be there.

She turned around astounded! Confused but happy all the same
and then I heard it, the one thing that made it worth it
when she cried out my name.

I parked the car, but not fast enough and burst through my door to meet her once more, on the parking lot floor.
A moment seared forever, the back burners of my mind
of moment to be remembered, because we don't leave friends behind.

So the day went on, and we celebrated together on her victory
and it was all worth it, just to see her happy.

These are the moments I live for.

Chipped, clipped
A spider web of endless cracks in between
a faded memory, never again to be seen.

I long to see the sun
and feel the warmth of it's rays
I wish to feel whole
for the rest of my days.

You weren't there
it's not the same
no one would know.

But what if I was,
what if it was,
what if I did know?

You see it's not the same without you any more.
Friend, brother, pillar of strength which I sought.
Why did it end like this? Why did you go this way?
Why didn't you ask for help? Why didn't we see the signs?
How could we have missed something like this,
that now instead of signs,
now we're left missing you.

I'm sorry.
But you weren't supposed to go like this,
not like this.

Friends, countrymen, let anyone who has an ear hear,
let anyone who has heart feel,
let me tell you.

Suicide. IS. NOT. and NEVER WILL BE. An acceptable solution.
There is help out there.
There are answers to your questions. Just as there was for me.

Please.
I tire of adding the names to the ever growing list.
I tire of checking the calendar to see more of the dead than the living left to celebrate.
Every year I wonder.
How many of us few.
Us merry few.
Will there be many of us left,
before we are old and gray?
How many will be left to laugh and smile
while we wither away.

Today we suffer a loss, incomparable to any other,
for today we have loss more than a friend
we have lost a brother.

Tonight we mourn, we take the time to bury our dead
among the countless others that surround
but we mourn as one, as family,
so draw near, and gather 'round.

Tonight we lift our candles, and voices high,
we lift up our thoughts and prayers
to our dearly departed
into the sky.
May heaven hear us,
if they haven't before
to let our fallen brother,
through Heaven's Door.

May he be lifted up, and ascended on high,
to somewhere where evil can not reach,
to where even he can not hear our cry.

So mourn tonight,
by candle light.
For tomorrow we march
"Once more unto the breach".

Hold your head up high,
and march bravely forth brothers and sisters all.
For we march and carry on,
and remember the fight, is for all those who had to fall.

That we may live the life,
a future safe and clear
for the ones that we love,
and those we once held dear.

So we march,
we march
we march on evermore
amidst the dead and dying,
we march ever onward
onward unto war.

Alone I lay, but lonely I refuse to stay,
for what would become of me
if I were to stay this way?

Heaven forbid it so
from letting me be,
from drowning
in this melancholy sea.

Let my friends gather 'round,
and 'round the circle we go,
all the better that we speak,
that the better of us
we may come to know.

Let us break the mold
as strangers from a distant land,
and let us hold one another as family,
hand in hand.

None of us are perfect,
far from it be the thought!
But behold this friendship,
this wonder, this beauty, that we have caught.

Cast the iron upon us now,
for we carry the burdens of each other,
as much as we can allow.
We lift each other in the arms of the other,
we wipe dry the faces, and away the tears,
we stand tall and firm, proud and defiant,
we stand together.

Break the mold, and cast the iron,
let them whisper, murmur, scream and shout,
let us stand together once more my friend,
against our fear, against the doubt.

Pain and suffering,
Of them both I am well aware.
It is the the bread and butter of this life,
Formed in misery, surrounded by strife.

I drank the cup, in hopes of redemption
But found none there.
Instead now I live in the life of atonement
For the burdens I am to bear.

Blood flows as time flies
I carry my sins heavily, for all the pain
All the lies.
When I was younger I wished to understand,
I now am older,
And wearily travel through the land.

What have I done,
I shout in the wind,
Why am I not forgiven
For all of my sins?

Perhaps I shall,
Take on too,
The burdens of yours,yours and mine too.

That cup from where I had my first sip,
I shall keep it with me now,
That none other may feel the stingless whip.

This is my burden, my price to pay.
Leave and leave me be, continue friend,
And be on your way.