81T5 0F L1F3 W1TH1N MY 8R41N,
M3M0R135 TH4T 1 MU5T M41NT41N,

PR1V4T3 TH0U6HT5 N0 0N3 5H0ULD 533,
DR34M5 0F WH0 Y0U W4NT T0 B3,

TRU5T M3 F0R 1 4M Y0UR FR13ND,
Y0UR S3CR3T L1F3 1 W1LL D3F3ND.

By 1am I dread them,
As the world around me dreams,
The worries of the day consuming all of me it seems.

By 2am I sense them,
And the peace of sleep is lost,
What little respite given me is now too high a cost.

By 3am I hear them,
All the voices of the past,
Each whisper in the darkness of a life that could not last.

By 4am I feel them,
My dark mind their bitter cage,
They roar and scream within me as my panic fuels their rage.

By 5am I see them,
Every shadow that I’ve cast,
Now closing ranks around me though I hold my ground steadfast.

By 6am I face them,
As the world around me wakes,
Weakened but prepared to live no matter what it takes.

When she was young her heart was whole,
its strength and depth at her control,
to share it with those all around,
or save it for one to be found.

Then as a child her heart was split,
the pieces pulled with no remit,
mishapen, warped, beyond repair,
surrounded with self-centered 'care'.

This girl grew up a shy recluse,
her soul a slave to dark abuse,
ignored by most, a friend to few,
in need of love, but one so true,

no trust or friendship in her life,
save for the cold kiss of her knife,
she drifts through life devoid of light,
a wraith, a shadow in the night,

her memories hint of happy times,
though life reminds her of its crimes,
no love without a price to pay,
no knight to take her far away,

when she was young her heart was pure,
her mind was set, her stance was sure,
no thoughts of hate lived in her mind,
no fear of love left far behind,

this child now grown, alone and scared,
a life from which she'll not be spared,
her dreams of love forgotten now,
as darkness takes its final bow.

When she was young her dreams were bright,
but time has slowly dimmed their light,

her final thought was cold and dark,
she saw no light, she felt no spark,

yet drifting into death's long rest,
she felt a warmth within her chest,

she dreamt of light, of happiness,
a glimpse of hope, an angel's kiss,

a dream she'd long thought lost to her,
a dream forgotten in life's blur,

she lies awake now, dazed but calm,
no sense of hate, no thoughts of harm,

a second shot, a fresh new start,
another chance to share her heart,

she leaves the ward, a world to see,
at last to meet her destiny.

Glimpse the light of ancient lore,
read the signs to find the door,

free your mind from the profane,
seek the truth in the arcane,

know the light from the abyss,
keep your brother from re-miss,

walk the path that others seek,
see and hear but never speak.

Never be me,
No- cannot be true,
I’d always persisted in making it through.

Never be me,
No- nothing like this,
I’d always assumed it would be a near miss.

Never be me,
No- something is wrong,
I’d always insisted that I was more strong.

Never be me,
No- just a mistake,
I’d always had faith that my will would not break.

Never be me,
No- beyond belief,
I’d always resisted the fear and the grief.

Never be me,
No- let me rewind,
I’d always imagined I’d be left behind.

Years are racing in a daze,
Each step takes us further in,
Months are blurring in the haze,
Each breath draws another in,

Days are growing shorter still,
Each star dimming in the night,
Hours fading in the spill,
Each soul moving to the light,

Minutes wasted like a crime,
Each life that we hold so dear,
Seconds ticking down the time,
Each heart knows the end is near.

She grows so tired of this time,
too much to understand,
the smile fading day by day,
no chance for all she'd planned.

She tires of this broken dream,
its promise unfulfilled,
the time slows further day by day,
no path to be revealed.

She grows more tired of this world,
this constant downward *****,
the light glows dimmer day by day,
no dawn to bring her hope.

She tires of the pain within,
these endless gnawing fears,
the hurt grows stronger day by day,
no strength to hide the tears.

She grows so tired of this life,
this smile so hard to fake,
the reasons dwindle day by day,
no saviour's hand to take.

She tires of all that she's seen,
and all that's been and gone,
the future jading day by day,
no will to carry on.

The nights go on eternally,
The days seem far too short,
The sunrise far too late to halt,
The demons that I court.

I hear their voices in the dark,
Their silent call to arms,
They whisper softly in my ear,
And play upon my qualms.

The love I hold within my heart,
Is all that keeps me sane,
The truth that this in time will fade,
Yet more for them to gain.

These fears I thought long conquered,
Played out for me each night,
Reveal a past I cannot change,
A future far from sight.

I turn my gaze towards the void,
And stare into the deep abyss,
To meet the blackened eyes within,
The invite of damnation's kiss.

I speak into great beyond,
And share the thoughts in my control,
To voice the words I've never said,
The secrets of a tortured soul.

I step back from the edge of fate,
And give thanks for the love I feel,
To walk the ever winding road.
The path to where my heart can heal.

When you can glimpse eternity,
You'll view each step so earnestly,
You'll walk your path less urgently,
Your journey through mortality,

When you can grasp your destiny,
You'll see your life in clarity,
You'll look back at your history,
Your story of obscurity,

When you can reach true ecstasy,
You'll find all truth from fallacy,
You'll give in to insanity,
Your escape from humanity.

Shadow hide the hunter,
for his fangs are surely wet,
keep him in your corner,
as his plans are drawn and set.

Shadow guide the hunter,
for he lives to bring you life,
keep him safe in darkness,
as his soul is in his knife.

Shadow save the hunter,
for his run will end in time,
keep him in your long embrace,
and death will be sublime.

Shadow take the hunter,
for his life on earth is done,
keep him with you ever more,
and make your dark hearts one.

Snow and ice upon the ground,
Festive songs the only sound,
Signs of magic all around,
Christmas waiting to be found.

Stars are twinkling in the sky,
Laughter helps us all to fly,
Each one’s spirit soaring high,
Christmas lives for you and I.

Decorations shining bright,
Presents piled up out of sight,
Everything is good and right,
Christmas comes to us this night.

Real music is emotion,
Raw feelings from within,
A glimpse into a dark soul,
Exposed with every spin.

Each song is a reflection,
Of secret thoughts and dreams,
A story with true meaning,
Between the words and screams.

Deep lyrics are addictive,
A drug we must consume,
They cling to every dark note,
That calls us to our doom.

Each melody is sacred,
Despite what chart it tops,
And we will sing the chorus,
Until the music stops.

Stare into the dark abyss,
to steal the ancient serpent's kiss,
avoid the light that angels throw,
into the world of man below,
reap the spoils of dark delight,
secure in hell and out of sight.

In all that we have been through,
And with all that's come to be,
Your heart has always been true,
As you've walked this road with me.

The journey may have been long,
And we've many miles to go,
Your soul has ever been strong,
As we've learned all we now know.

Through all the pain we've endured,
And each dark day that we share,
Your kiss has kept me assured,
As you've shown how much you care.

Though life has brought us laughter,
And more than our share of tears,
Our love shines ever brighter,
As we go on through the years.

Play me a tune and sing me a song,
Help me to learn so I can sing along,

Tell me a story that I can believe,
Something to comfort each time that you leave,

Show me the magic in all that we do,
Keep my heart safe and forever with you,

Take me out into the world that you know,
hold me and love me so that I can grow.

The sound of silence in my ears,
A lonely crowd to hide my fears,
A bitter-sweet song in my throat,
A symphony of just one note.

The darkness bright within my mind,
An open secret none can find,
An endless dream cut short by sleep,
An ancient story none can keep.

The death that lives inside of me,
A chain that sets my spirit free,
A distant place so close at hand,
A paradise deep in the sand.

I’ll never break a record,
Nor lay claim to first prize,
But still I try to wow the crowd,
And not be who they despise.

I’ll never be a hero,
Nor lead the winning team,
But still I fight for all I have,
And dare at least to dream.

I’ll never own an island,
Nor claim an ancient throne,
But still I feel a richer man,
And treasure love I’ve known.

I’ll never cure a malady,
Nor stop the world’s decay,
But still I know I’ve done some good,
And helped in my own way.

I’ll never be a movie star,
Nor run for City Mayor,
But still I strive to be someone,
And silence each naysayer.

I’ll never climb Mount Everest,
Nor fight in some great war,
But still I hope to make my mark,
And live forever more.

When I think of you my love,
My heart, it soars so high above,
And makes me feel all warm inside,
So wonderful, I almost cried,

When I think of you, my dear,
My mind, It does become unclear,
Then all I can think of is you,
And nothing else on Earth will do,

When I think of you, my sweet,
All other thoughts, they do retreat,
Which leaves my mind with one thought only,
‘Without you, my life is lonely’,

When I think of you, my heart,
I pray we never grow apart,
For you are all my heart desires,
‘Tis you for whom my heart aspires.

I speak the word of prophets
in my own profanity,

I find the book of answers
to lack all consistency,

I know the way of virtue
in its true simplicity,

I wear the cloak of beauty
to mask my depravity,

I hold the key to knowledge
of a great antiquity,

I walk the line of madness
at the edge of sanity,

I stare into the void
of our species' destiny,

I hear the ticking clock
of my own humanity.

The law is there to guide us,
To cover every sign,
To serve and to protect us,
To keep us all in line.

The law is not a question,
It stands in black and white,
It cannot be rejected,
It always shall be right.

The law alas is fallible,
So often proven blind,
So hard against the downtrod,
So weak on the refined.

The law may be amended,
It can be changed in time,
It could be more supportive,
It should prevent real crime.

The law is what we've made it,
A source of pain and woe,
A daily chore to live with,
A blight on all we know.

The law is not omnipotent,
We have no one to blame,
We all must share the burden,
We all must bear the shame.

Sacred rites of time unknown,
echoes of the past in stone,

Remnants of most sacred tribes,
published works of ancient scribes,

Excerpts from the lives of kings,
noble crowns with falcon wings,

Tomes of ancient science lost,
secret skills new gods have cost.

Cleared of truth and history,
By my insecurity,
Left here with no heart to show,
Zoomed out from all that I know,

Drained of hope and energy,
By their animosity,
Left here with no path to see,
Groomed for what I cannot be,

Scared of life and destiny,
By my own humanity,
Left here with no love to give,
Doomed to die before I live.

Farewell to you, my loving friend,
For all good times must have an end,
To bridge the gaps, all wounds to mend,
To you these words I truthfully send,

You've always been so kind and smart,
I've loved you from the very start,
Please keep me with you in your heart,
Remember me as I depart,

And as I take this next big leap,
Through all the hardships that I reap,
Your friendship is what I will keep,
To light my way through darkness deep.

Our time on this earth,
but a blink from our birth,
as the clock ticks away from conception.

The present is burned,
and the past not returned,
as our dreams are all lost to reflection.

The progression of days,
never falters nor stays,
as we march toward truth from deception.

At the end of our time,
as our bodies decline,
we accept our eternal damnation.

whispered thoughts in jaded minds,
hidden acts through shaded blinds,
secret touches cloaked in dreams,
world outside forgot it seems,

muffled cries kept under wraps,
metal chains on leather straps,
gagged and bound a writhing wreck,
hands entwined on pulsing neck,

fingers claw through satin hair,
teeth bite deep on skin so fair,
blood and sweat combine in flow,
motion steady; hard yet slow,

beaded sweat on oiled thighs,
skin on skin as passions rise,
power play as hearts beat fast,
primal lust released at last,

passion flows to dizzying height,
slave submits to pleasured might,
another ****** of brutal power,
forces slave again to cower,

quivering with lust and fear,
pleasure bringing ****** near,
hearts together, thighs entwined,
eternally their souls combined.

We are your hopes,
your dreams reborn,
the ones created in your form,

We are the young,
so soon from birth,
the ones who will reshape the earth,

We are the men,
and women grown,
the ones who will make this our home,

We are the old,
with young to raise,
the ones who keep the ancient ways,

We are the lost,
our duties served,
in restful sleep we've long deserved.

across these lands of varied minds,
live creatures born of different kinds,
each of which is taught the way,
to live and love, to work and play,
this knowledge is, without a doubt,
impossible to live without,
knowledge, given by another,
mother, sister, father, brother,
no creature can learn this alone,
the only way is to be shown,
and so we all must co-exist,
and never must we try resist,
for every creature, man and beast,
must try to live as one, at least,
if we fail, we all shall be,
no longer part of land or sea,
but if we try, and we succeed,
we all will live, for this great deed,
for peace is not a foreign dream,
nor as impossible as it would seem,
if we can all just make it work,
no longer will an evil lurk,
no longer would we live in fear,
no longer would we shed a tear,
peace is not up in the skies,
it's here if we open our eyes,
see not the world you're told to see,
but see instead what it could be,
a place where we can all be free,
man & beast in harmony,
and so I leave you with a choice,
to put unto your inner voice,
live in peace, or die at war,
we all decide the final score,
I do believe this is the way,
we all must live from day to day,
if we all wish to survive,
cast aside your doubts and strive,
to bring together all the earth,
regardless of belief or birth,
the choice is yours, and yours alone,
at stake, your life and all you own.

I am more than my skin tone,
More than my place of birth,
I am more than my culture,
My species on this Earth.

I am more than my gender,
More than you may have heard,
I am more than a pronoun,
My *** is just a word.

I am more than a number,
More than a head to count,
I am more than a trophy,
My flesh not yours to mount.

I am a different person,
More than I was before,
I am my true reflection,
My secret life no more.

I am a phoenix rising,
More than the heart you spurned,
I am alive and learning,
My past self dead and burned.

I am a new beginning,
More than I was back then,
I am a different ending,
A chance to live again.

There's a gap in my thoughts,
A piece I can't find,
A loneliness eating away at my mind.

There's a void in my arms,
A space I can't fill,
An empty embrace that's making me ill.

There's a hole in my heart,
An ache that won't heal,
A sorrow inside that I can't help but feel.

There's a scar in my soul,
A cut far too deep,
This nightmare too real to be kept to my sleep.

The rising sun pervades my fear,
The danger growing ever near,
The loss of all I hold most dear,
This future that is so unclear.

The midday sun decays my hope,
The strength that once could help me cope,
The will with which I scaled each *****,
That final strand of fraying rope.

The setting sun consumes my sight,
The cold embrace of primal fright,
The dim remorse of carnal blight,
This dark descent into the night.

The rising moon now lights my way,
The warm invite to come and play,
The words no mortal man can say,
That final glimpse of my last day.

The midnight moon invades my dreams,
The book of life ripped at the seams,
The shadows of those distant screams,
This door to hell that ever gleams.

The setting moon soon closes in,
The end of all I once called kin,
The paper remnants of my skin,
That bid farewell to mortal sin.

Soldiers on the battlefield feel the end is near,
Openly they welcome it to show they have no fear,

Workers in a mining town know the risk is high,
Still they go back to their work without a tear to cry,

Homeless on the streets at night have little left to toast,
Yet each would say that luck and life are what they value most.

People running to and fro living out each day,
Very few know what they have until it goes away.

thoughts of hate; my head i fill,
as talons scrape my window sill,
the memories rack my bones again,
as demons make my bed their den,

each night i feel them take control,
as each one strips away my soul,
and leaves me here a broken shell,
my haven lost en route to hell,

these demons are my guilty sin,
that eats away the life within,
my sanity; the locks that hold,
my heart already growing cold,

the light of dawn dispels my fear,
as demons now retreat and clear,
my empty bed again my own,
a dream perhaps? the truth unknown.

Crimson cloud devoid of light,
Drifting shadow in the night,
Sacred soldier of the right,
Heart and blade prepared to fight.

Carmine ripples in the flight,
Darkness fueled by noble plight,
Saved the grief of pain or fright,
One less remnant of this blight.

Scarlet rain on fields of white,
Painted canvas glowing bright,
Ascending through this ancient rite,
No more a simple acolyte.

Another life long in the past,
A distant memory,
An infant in a master’s craft,
A future prodigy?

Another time soon in the past,
A different path to see,
An instant that could never last,
A future not to be?

Another look back at the past,
A debunked fallacy,
An inside track that went too fast,
A mind too young set free?

Another dream now in the past,
A dorment fantasy,
An inkling of a new spell cast,
A newfound destiny?

Another chance not in the past,
A distinct place to be,
An instinct from a day thought passed,
A calling none could see?

Hands that follow every move,
face that mimics every groove,
soulful eyes in heartless shell,
silent lips my secrets tell,

Creature cast in skin and bone,
statue made of moving stone,
empty hulk of evil seed,
jaded mass of wicked deed,

Standing just within my grasp,
hidden walls prevent my clasp,
frozen shadows now unfurled,
trapped within this hazy world.

Start afresh, return to source,
and follow not the weathered course,

leave your troubles at the door,
to free your mind so you can soar,

take in all that you can see,
and be that which you hope to be,

keep your temper in its place,
create a life and win the race.

A shadow drawn across the sky;
in darkness clothed I know not why;
Lamenting this eternal night;
escape is lost, no hope in sight;

Ever trapped, entombed in shade;
never freed, my memories fade;
Forever more to walk alone;
eternal darkness now my home;

Reminded of a time long gone;
no sign of light as once it shone;
Along this path I travel still;
no joy or love my heart to fill;

Denied that which could never be;
except in dream and fantasy;
Secluded here without you near;
I drift away and shed a tear.

Alabaster island in a sea of hate and doom,
Silver streak of lightning in the dark and dreary gloom,
Crimson rivers flowing to the cold and lonely ground,
Drifting fog of silence slowly creeping all around.

Empty voices whisper in the shadows of the night,
Tunnels in the distance ending in unbroken light,
Hopes and fears receding into shapes before unseen,
Shifting thoughts of solace that at one time seemed unclean.

Rocky tracks sketched out across the alabaster shore,
Stormy seas have calmed now and lay silent ever more,
Shadows laid to rest within the warm forgiving ground,
Dreams take shape in sunlight as true peace at last is found.

We fight on with persistence,
No matter what the cost,
Our minds give no resistance,
No matter what is lost.

We strive for independence,
No matter who the foe,
Our souls seek no repentance,
No matter what they know.

We stand against the carnage,
No matter what we see,
Our hearts escaping *******,
No matter what the fee.

How can i turn back the clock?
Reverse the endless tick and tock,
go back to that most precious start,
before this dark world broke my heart.

How can I take back the time?
The roll of days in quick decline,
go back to where i once was safe,
before this life destroyed my faith.

How can i regain the years?
Forget the pain and all the tears,
go back to where the lines were crossed
before my soul was truly lost.

We smile to show a feeling,
We smile to be content,
We smile with no believing,
We smile to hide dissent.

We work to make a living,
We work to have a life,
We work with no exempting,
We work to hide our strife.

We sleep to start the healing,
We sleep to end the day,
We sleep with no forgiving,
We sleep to hide dismay.

We dream to search for meaning,
We dream to find an end,
We dream with no deceiving,
We dream to help us mend.

We wake to set a new course,
We wake to a fresh start,
We wake with no more remorse,
We wake to a cleansed heart.

The ripples on a still blue lake,
inspire my heart, this poem to make,
a shadow cast upon the ground,
the feeling when you're not around,

the deep cut of a hunter's knife,
the depth you've sunk into my life,
the stars and moon, high up above,
all overpowered by your love,

I long to look upon your face,
the day we meet, and we embrace,
and make each second last an hour,
only true-love has this power,

You mean more to me than life,
each day without you is a strife,
I pray each day that we will chat,
alas I’ve not been granted that,

But soon, I hope, we will unite,
and talk all through the long dark night,
and do that which I long to do,
to tell you how much I love you.

Out of the void and into your life,
Out on our own and into the strife,
Out in the world in search of a home,
Out on our own but never alone,

Out with the old and in with the new,
Out of our depth but making it through,
Out in the light away from the dark,
Out of the void and making a mark,

Out of our home- descending to hell,
Out of our zone- our comforting shell,
Out in the dark away from the light,
Out of control and into the fight,

Out of the team that made it this far,
Out on our own with many a scar,
Out of the flames- no love left to burn,
Out for the count- no hope of return.

courtesan and slave to greed;
hallowed host to wicked deed;
ripping hearts from souls in need;
implanting each with evil seed;

stolen hope and dreams combine;
tortured souls by cold design;
marked by this immortal sign;
angelic life in quick decline;

sedated shells of emptiness;
secluded in deceptive bliss;
insulting glimpse of happiness;
neglected all but by its kiss.

The days grow ever shorter,
The nights forever long,
The shadows of the past return to sing their tortured song.

The past never forgotten,
The future bare and bleak,
The dream of love died suddenly in one ill-fated week.

The years a lonesome battle,
The pain too much to bear,
The road has brought him to a place that no one else can share.

The further he has travelled,
The more he’s felt the loss,
The guilt a cold reminder each time he sees a cross.

The time now fast approaching,
The journey near its end,
The damage far beyond the realms of hope or faith to mend.

The panic slowly fading,
The cut is warm and deep,
The voices calling out to him to close his eyes and sleep.

The final pages turning,
The ending almost sweet,
The darkness brings him peace at last upon that silent street.

walls do not imprison me;
nor chains restrict my whole;
guards do not watch over me;
nor kings command my soul;

laws do not direct my fate;
nor chance affect my goal;
time does not my life sedate;
nor routine take its toll;

love shows not it’s all to me;
nor hope present its light;
joy lends not its warmth to me;
nor freedom end this fight.

His fangs have slowly dulled with age,
His wings have long been cut,
Yet still he feels the ancient rage,
From when the gates were shut.

He thinks back on the happy times,
Still dreams of better days,
The cool breeze of those lofty climbs,
Before this bitter haze.

His mind awash with memories,
The pain beyond compare,
His face a mask of pleasantries,
The truth so few could bear.

He prays each night to start anew,
Still hopes for something more,
To end the torment he’s been through,
So that his soul can soar.

Shadows walk with me again,
Calling out my name,
Darkness watches me again,
Playing out this game,

Fangs grow wet and sharp again,
Vision blurring out,
Hunger pangs grow strong again,
Mind filling with doubt,

Taking in that scent again,
Puts me in a daze,
Finding that sweet taste again,
Sets my heart ablaze,

Fighting with myself again,
Though my will is strong,
Losing this safe hold again,
Hiding for too long.