I told my friends I hated music,
that it was a waste of time.
And it wasn't till I liked a girl,
she made her music mine.

When things ended; I was moping,
So it hurt to hear her songs.
Yet I craved them since was coping,
and my drive was very long.

Sixteen hours I heard Mumford
and he reassured to me.
Love won't dismay nor will enslave,
But will always set you free.

Truth will always win
though the arrogant seem tall.
The man who says there is no cliff
will be the first to fall.

You're first a miner and collector,
then a thinker and rejector.

Show the beauty with the words,
Not the beauty of the words.

Put the truth on golden platter,
speak with power, it does matter.

You caught me...

I don't really like poetry,
I just like complaining.

Every year comes less defining.

Deeper roots and with less pining.

Past decisions, cobblestone.

Better think before you sow.

Secretly we dated.
I was a ship being moored
And she was the wild sea
that didn’t follow the Lord.

I led her into faith,
she made my God her rudder.
Then reported to me,
God wants her with another.

A: This tastes like crap.

B: You've eaten crap?

A: ...

A: Tasted.

It's that moment
when the pieces
of the puzzle
all combine.

And you see a
glorious picture
that you doubted
that you'd find.

And then after
when the pieces
are inspected
each with care.

You see purpose
and see meaning
each too valuable
to spare.

The demons begged to stay in town,
the Lord gave them permission.
But not in him, into the pigs,
commanded the physician.

Herdsmen begged the Lord to leave,
afraid of what they’ve witnessed.
And so returning to his boat,
he left them with their sickness.

Ex demon man did also beg
he asked, could he come with him.
But since the Lord was now to leave,
he left him with a mission.

Half a decade later,
and it surfaces at last.

That coupled with the losing,
Was a partner just as crass.

I must not throw into the sea
what washes up to shore.

That fear that I won't feel again,
the way I felt before.

Planned departer, back-up martyr,
More required, less inspired,
Sparse support 'till last resort,
Strong aversion, faint exertion.

In the waiting 'til you're cornered,
you have foundered at the start.
Since not searching for the needy
shows you lack the hero's heart.

Bound and led the quiet man,
delivered up to me.
"Put him to death, the blasphemer",
was the people's plea.

My wife sent word to wash my hands,
she suffered in a dream.
I tried with water before the mob,
it didn't make me clean.

I put a sign above the cross,
the one I made him bring.
I killed a greater man than I,
he truly was the king.

If I die today,
Speak nothing more than truth,
I didn't die a hero,
I didn't miss my youth.

My legacy in fire,
Burn away the chaff,
not the greatest man you knew,
But missed the makers wrath.

So say "he's a broken light
that craved to mend himself.
He trusted in the Lord who saves,
considered Him true wealth."

What once was fire in your eyes,
is smoldering,
about to die.

What once was fire in your veins,
is spilling out,
it slowly wanes.

Lost in a fog,
Drained of your blood,
Spine feeling soft,
Face in the mud.

Now fan the embers in your eyes,
consume what's left,
by fire baptize.

There's fear in you that you can't see.
It's why you're numb with apathy.
It's why you never want to try.
It's why you're working 9 to die,

It's why you put yourself in line.
It's why you lie and say you're fine.
It's why you stand when you should dance.
It's why you're waiting for your "chance".

I have eaten all your brothers;
you're the only one that's left.
The last soldier for the slaughter.
Your last moments before death.

I'm a man made in God's image,
You're a nut born in a field.
And the trick to your undoing
is the ***** inside your shield.

So my hand descends from heaven
and it lifts you to the sky.
Then I pull but you hold steady,
you stand firm although I pry.

You have won oh mighty peanut.
'Gainst this beast survival's bleak.
Not from strength did you prevail
But by having nothing weak.

I'll only say it once
and I'll say it really fast.

Why's it matter?
You'll be tested.

Have you used this?
Yes, I teach it.

"It's okay, you're forgiven."
I wipe her tears while she cries,

And smile, feelings hidden.
I struggle to look in her eyes.

I took as much of her pain as I could.
Then balled up in the shower alone
to tremble and sob and groan.

I'm tired.
My half hour nap
lasts half a day.
Now i'm more tired.

To max out gross pleasure, from what I can glean.
Is to do what you want, go learn from Epstein.
But net the destruction and you’ll find instead
That your life’s net pleasure may end in the red.

The highest net pleasure is loving yourself.
So focus on you, take care of your health.
But mothers who pour out themselves for their young.
Despite self neglect, will have their names sung.  

The highest net pleasure is loving your kind,
Your family, your friends, all humans alive.
Although you are close, there's still room to err,
if man is your god, then God’s not your share.

The highest net pleasure then is to love God.
He’ll have you love others and you’ll have his nod.
Now pain will have purpose though may still be grim.
He made you for pleasure, but pleasure in him.

A retired man returns to work:
he's tired of his freedom.
Watched every show,
Read many books,
The lone-king of his kingdom.

A life of striving, working, waiting,
finally completed.
Now finds it empty,
finds it wasted,
hope has been depleated.

He woke at last before his death,
and let out one last sigh.
Reflections hurt,
Regrets aplenty,
Long past time to die.

Bruised and ******,
arms restrained
this criminal correctly blamed
for trying to release another.

Who not a friend
nor a brother
but thought it wrong
to just let suffer.
So together
in a cage
held conviction,
suppressed rage,

And whispered words
in hopes to capture
a nudging deep within the captor.
Unconvinced
but dismayed,
their guardian then proclaimed,
"when dogs are slaves,
you've no regrets,
yet misbehave
when men are
pets?"

My shortcut took months longer.

Though not steeper
Much more winding,
And not deeper
Yet more pining.

Take a shot,
And scar your liver.
But the easy way's
Upriver

You feel the rhythm of the music,
as it bounces through the floor.
You hear laughter and excitement,
the suspense of what's in store.

Then you walk up to a lady,
and you ask her for a dance.
Don't be nervous most are friendly,
this won't be your only chance.

If you're a leader with a purpose,
and your follower has grace.
You combine into one being
with a smile for each face.

Then trust will turn to tension,
and this tension is a whip.
That cracks loud like the trumpet,
every time momentum flips.

The adrenaline of falling,
the connection of a hug.
Either focus like an artist,
or it takes you like a drug.

Every hour feels like minutes,
you forget the world outside.
There's just motion and the moment,
it's a rollercoaster ride.

When the sun goes up that morning,
and you rise up out of bed.
You keep dreaming of that freedom,
It won't get out of your head.

Take the middle way,
But not always.

I learned lessons in the darkness
  that I couldn't in the light.

First
   that you don't have to shiver
    in the frosty winter bite.

Then
   that shadows are deceiving
    so your faith becomes your sight.

Last
   that flames will shine through boldly,
    you must wait with all your might.

Watch the distant light,
faint flickers
in the night.

Four years are too far,
cold contrite,
dark as tar.

Look up from the ground,
see the star
come around.

Feel the breeze blow cool,
freedom found
though a fool.

Lost in desert sand.
Time's a tool
in God's hand.

A lie? You see through it,
and you know the reason why.

An act? Isn't working,
and you won't let it distract.

Pain? Not just sadness
but you feel like you were slain.

Hiking makes a man near sighted,
running makes him blind.

Stop and gaze at the horizon,
see with open mind.

What is sometimes hard to take,
hard to ask,
hard to make?

What can sometimes search with breadth,
Or can aim,
Or have depth?

What can sometimes move a pen,
move a nation,
Move it's men?

What can sometimes show you care,
or be loaded,
Or unfair?

What can sometimes take your sleep,
make you happy,
make you weep?

You follower. Fool follower!

Witch trials have began,
Hang the noose on Gallows Hill
And execute the land.

You follower. Wise follower!

With scales in your hand,
Weigh the truth and walk the path
Some missions must be manned.

It's been seven years
And too many tears.
I pray that we are still friends.

It's hard to word right
To be true yet be light.
Can't tell what I'm trying to mend.

Embarrassed to say
I hate it's this way
that your hurt is my hurt too.

If only I could,
I swear that I would
feel all of your pain for you.

Move the magnet from your compass
when you want to know the way.
Slay the snake inside your stomach,
it hunts truth, its only prey.

Throw a stone at self-deception
though the mirrors in your hall.
Can you feel it, breathing slowly?
None but pride before the fall.