Yesterday,
while we were sitting by the lake,
the waves pounded the shore with soft tremours,
your twinkling laugh filled the air,
then I heard something more.
A poem,
I heard it so distinctly,
it flowed through my mind as I mulled over
the sheer rhythmn of it.
Soon,
I found myself singing it.
You looked at me as if I were
insane.
Harmonizing all by myself,
giggling like
the happiest fool on earth.
You drew me to my feet and walked me home.
With a smile,
I brandished my paper and pencil to capture the melody.
Whilst sitting down
I realized
that I couldn't remember
a
single
word
of it.

Free from a pill,
Some are slaves to depression.
Free from the law,
Remaining slaves to our own transgression.
Free from the bell,
Merely slaves to bleak reality.
Free is never free,
If we are chained to our *mortality.

A basin filling to the brim
Weathered by wind
A crack that has yet to rescind
Strong gusts, breaking its whim.

Last night, remembering monsoon season.

Shaking, pouring out a stream
Uncontrollably heaving heavy droplets
Looking for sunshine to redeem
Wedging icy gates between outlets.

Do not
Shred yourself into pieces
To make others feel whole.
You can't**
Empty your entire being
To make others be full.

Learning through osmosis,
that's what you desire from me.
Pages and slurs of facts,
saturating the air with verbose greed.

Musing behind dark lids,
so much every night.
Sleep- now reserved for the reckless,
enough night terrors in daylight.

Battered by sharp whistle,
together we must tread.
Eternally catching up,
to the expectations in your head.

Sharp sounds from the tongue,
Adroit hand,
Pushing you away.
May illness empoison love
And inspire you to stay.

The mind of a child is a sponge,
Soaking up what others expunge.
Some fester with brackish water.
Swollen with poisonous matter.
Others, saturated with bleach,
Expelling contradictions their elders teach.

Youth wrung out, once over again,
Scrubbing away the grime and pain.
Now faint- the writings on the wall.
Rounding out their squared edges and standing tall.

You wonder why young children look in the mirror
In disgust with themselves.
Why they go looking for love
In places they know it won't be found.
You can't comprehend why they,
With so much ahead of them, bury themselves
In an avalanche of notifications
Intangible, glowing distractions.

A sick, insuperable obssession
With the thought that
Connections to trajedy somehow transform them
Into more beautiful creatures.

Our generation is enthralled
With negative space.
Gaps in time;
Valleys eroding inward until
There is just
Nothing
Left
To give.
Happiness is out there for all
Who lift their heads from the blankness..

Let's bring ourselves back into a pure,
Simple life.
*It's worth living.

Despaired eyes bleed waters of the sea,
Lapping at the memories of you,
Of me.

Our rippling laughter lifting up in a swell.
Tides under the dock rising as we fell.

Where we went, adventure followed.
Our bright eyes, never hollowed.

Times when I was gone, sank under your skin.
Our midnight conversations filled me in.

"You're such a ditz"*
My friends say
When I stop what I'm saying
To admire the last rosy kiss
Of the sunset
As it waves a lonesome goodbye
To its lovers.

"She lacks focus"
My parents say to eachother
In undertones I've heard coming so often
From the front seat.
I roll my eyes
At their attempt at secrecy
And turn my gaze back to the golden farms
Running beside our tires.

"You're very thoughtful,
Never stop appreciating the beauty of the earth"
My great grandmother says
Patting my hand with an understanding
I don't see often
Because she
Is one of the few.

A heat so intense,
it melted my heart.
When we touched, it was sweltering.
The sun from within set you apart.
You freed me from my flouresent prison.
Your eyes casting golden ray.
Melting under your touch.
I'm entranced by everything you say.