The winds are increasing,
Black clouds are forming,
Thunder crashes,
And the rain starts pouring.

Surrounded by darkness,
Can't find your way out,
It seems never-ending,
And your hope dwindles down.

But you're stronger than your problems,
You're brighter than your storms,
You're higher than your downfall,
And you're better than your harm.

It's okay, it's alright,
No matter what you do,
Don't give up your fight.

The winds are increasing,
Black clouds are forming,
Thunder crashes,
And again, it's storming.

But it's okay, it's alright,
No matter what you do,
Don't give up your fight.

You're stronger, brighter, higher, better.
No matter what you do, don't you give up - ever.

It seems that I'm
The revolving door
Standing between you
And your favorite store

It's not me you came to see
And yet here I am
Spinning 'round and 'round all day
Each time, at your every command

But you never stay
You're just passing through
You look right through me
At the treasure, loved by you

But I'm a person
I am not a door
Here for your convenience
While you find what you look for

Spinning and spinning
Has led me nowhere
I'm done being your door
I'll be treasure elsewhere

I'm not sure when,
But at some point,
Life turned into a race.
As others fight,
to beat the rest,
I keep a slow and steady pace.

Everyone's screaming,
So others can know,
What place they are in.
I stride in silence,
As others pass by,
And watch them take the win.

Those ever in first,
Only see themselves,
And how they appear.
Their actions are,
Guided by,
The crowds roaring cheers.

Last place allows me,
To step back,
And see more than myself.
By losing the race,
I win more,
Than a trophy on my shelf.

You are always in a rush,
So much to do, no time to waste,
You won't slow down and relax,
You're living in the left hand lane.

You finished off your to-do list,
You only hear the clock's ticking,
So you make another one,
No time to see what you are missing.

Living in the left hand lane,
You miss the calmness of the sea,
You don't know when the flowers bloom,
No time to feel the gentle breeze.

Living in the left hand lane,
Can't see clouds float across the sky,
You miss the beauty of fall leaves,
And the power of looking in peoples eyes.

Living in the left hand lane,
And asking how time's flying by.
Did you forget it's up to you?
Just slow down and move to the right.

I'm a little tree
With roots deep down
Not much on the surface
Mostly hidden underground

I'm not the most beautiful
And my fruits aren't the best
But my roots are much deeper
Than you ever would have guessed

A trees real strength
Is hidden in its roots
You can't survive a storm
Just by bearing the most fruit

I seem weak but I'm strong
I look plain but I'm deep
You can't tell who I am
Just by looking at me

Don't have many leaves
Can't provide much shade
But when the storms try to take me
I won't be afraid

Do you ever feel like
life is a storm?
And you never stop seeing
those black clouds form?

The wind is blowing
you all around,
you can't find peace
or solid ground.

But you don't have to
get swept away
by the storms that
try to take you today.

Calmness surrounded
by chaos exists.
The eye of the storm
is where this peace lives.

You can't stop the storm,
so why even try?
But you can always find peace
if you stay in the eye.

So let the storm surround you,
let it try to steal your peace.
But in the eye standing strong and still
you cannot be reached.

Sidewalks packed with people,
looking toward the ground,
it's either negativitity,
or heads weighing fifty pounds.

Maybe they look down so rain,
will not get in their eyes,
or maybe they're upset the sky,
isn't always as colorful as sunrise.

It's easy to miss what isn't seen,
but they'll probably find whatever they lose,
they're missing almost all the beauty,
but at least they have nice shoes.

Instead of always looking down,
why don't they take a look around?
They'd find interest in beautiful things,
instead of perfectly tied shoe strings.

I've searched for, discovered,
And I'm ready to be,
Shamelessly
Unapologetically
Magically
Me

Take me as I am,
Or dont take me at all.
No bending, no breaking,
It's time to stand tall.

I talk too much,
I'm gaining weight,
I bite my nails,
I'm always late.

I wear too much makeup,
No hourglass shape,
Don't have a tan,
and I procrastinate.

I have no money,
To my name,
Some say to change,
But I'll stay the same.

Although I turn things,
Upside down,
At least I smile,
More than frown.

Breathe in, breathe out,
it's natures way;
the tide-
it comes and goes.
Though you cannot
predict the time,
the wind-
it always blows.
While you may try
to force a bloom,
the spring
wakens the rose.
No matter what
is hurt or lost,
the time
constantly flows.

Nature's next move
is something that
we know
nothing about.
We control all things
in this life;
nature
goes on without.

I was hoping
To get a few words in
But it's okay, I'll keep them.
It is what it is,
And it was what it was,
But I guess we can keep pretending.  

We'll keep living our lives,
We'll keep locking our eyes,
Too different and yet the same.
The reality's clear,
There's nothing happening here,
So why am I still wearing these chains?

I was hoping
To get a few words in
But it's okay, I'll keep them.
I won't rock the boat,
I'll try to let go of hope,
I'll find some water to make this flame dim.

I was hoping you'd always be mine,
But on second thought, nevermind.
I was hoping it would be you and I,
But on second thought, nevermind.

I was hoping
To get a few words in
But it's okay, I'll keep them.

I may not be noticed,
seen or searched for.
I am overlooked
but no less valuable.
People walk all over the ground
without realizing
diamonds are right under their feet.

I don't value I treasure.
I either tiptoe or run.
No need for me to measure,
My thoughts aren't feathers, they're tons.

My worries, they aren't waves,
They're frightening hurricanes,
I don't hurt for hours,
I always hurt for days.

I do not try to bandage,
I only aim to heal.
I don't admire lightly,
I see endless appeal.

Moderation's not my friend,
Maybe I'm all or none,
But at least there is no question,
I don't like, I love.

Gemini, Scorpio, Libra, Aries
Jet black, brunette, bleach blonde, redhead
Introvert, extrovert, whisper, yell
Hide and seek, show and tell

Scientist, janitor, actor, cashier
Celebrating first or ninety-fifth year
Sixty hours, forty, ten
Luscious, average, thick or thin

Disposable income or income disposed
Hair covered up or shoulders exposed
Skin of all colors, some dark and light
Haven't we created such a versatile life?

It seems we've replaced different with bad
Condemning differences we're lucky to have
How boring if we had one season, one flower
How boring, a rainbow with only one color

One day you'll be together,
one day you'll feel alone,
one day you'll step outside your door
and smile on your own.

One day you'll fall in love,
one day you'll fall in hate,
one day you'll step outside your door
and go on your next date.

One day your world will turn,
one day it stops and then,
one day you'll step outside your door
and see it spin again.

Another day, another to-do list
Two pages long, fists start to clench
Endless effort, you do your best
And at the end of the day, some are left unchecked.

You say: “I must do better tomorrow,                      
I should have gotten more done,
I really tried my hardest,
But I only finished some.”

A day full of work, but the tension remains
Your clenched fists aren’t relieved

Saying “only, but, should” and “must”
Only minimize what was achieved.

Perfection is ideal, but not attainable

And that is okay.

Do what you can, but take care of yourself.
Tomorrow’s a new day.

So ready for love, is it ready for me?
I keep my eyes open, but all I can see ,
are people walking around in pairs,
opening doors and pulling out chairs.

I see the way he looks in her eyes,
both feel like they're soaring through the skies,
my reaction is an envious stare,
as he opens her door and pulls out her chair.

I patiently wait until I can find ,
the person still unknown in my mind ,
who is looking for more than a hidden affair;
who will open my door and pull out my chair.

I feel lost in this paired up world,
everyone has their fingers curled ,
around another person's hand,
as if it were perfectly planned,
to leave me standing on my own,
left to pull out my chair alone.

So ready for love, is it ready for me?
is there a secret that I can't see?
While all may seem wrong I won't fall in despair;
I will open my door and pull out my chair.

How much can you pile
on a paper plate
before it bends and bends
and finally breaks?

But the question is
what is to blame?
Is the plate too weak
or holding too much weight?

Glass and plastic can break too
if they're carrying bricks.
So before you choose your helping
find your strength and then pick.

My tears fall down,
and slowly move south,
and mix with the words,
flowing out of my mouth.

They fly through the clouds,
and with the bees,
they float over the grass,
and through the trees.

And end up at the feet,
of a young girl,
who is currently holding,
the weight of the world.

They go to her heart,
and that's where they stay,
until she has learned,
and passed them away.

I don't fit in
And I don't stand out
I just blend in
And get lost in the crowds

I'm just another person
On just another street
I don't know anybody
And nobody knows me

But things worth exploring
Aren't always explored
And things worth adoring
Aren't always adored

I'm just another face
Just another girl
But if you don't explore the oyster
You'll never find the pearl

Since when is good enough,
Good enough?
Minimum, easiest,
Thoughtless and rushed.

We're giving pennies
Wanting dollars in return
We expect the gold medal
Without effort, it's not earned

Giving enough
to get by, and no more
Yet expecting the best
From the rest of the world

Too focused on taking
To ever give
But a one-sided life
Is no way to live

Good enough is not good enough
Half effort won't yield a full life.
If you feel like you deserve all the best
You've got to give what you'd like.

Rain ruined your plans
but brought a flower to life.
The sun made you sweat
but it's giving you light.

Trees shed in your yard
but provide you with shade.
Birds ***** your car
but sing songs every day.

Good comes with bad
just as bad comes with good.
The idea of misfortune
is misunderstood.

You're missing the good things
that happen each day.
You consider them bad
But see them the wrong way.

Your perspective is
the only bad thing here.
So just flip your mind around
and change what you see and hear.

Inside once was your heart,
it's been replaced with a pie chart,
it shows the groups and has their size,
it helps you choose your next disguise.

Changing and becoming cold,
so you can fit into the mold,
you hold your nose up in the air,
as you pretend that you don't care.

You're not completely true,
you're not one hundred percent you,
because you're now less of yourself,
and more like everybody else.

If you need a lover,
count on me no longer.
I've got to let you go,
I've got to become stronger.

Please don't call me baby,
please don't call me dear.
there's no more going back,
my path is finally clear.

Please forget the memories,
please forget the flame.
but if you need a friend,
please don't forget my name.

I'd like to be somebody else,
just for a single day.
It's not that I don't like myself,
and not so I can play.

I want to be somebody known,
and somebody with power.
Not so I can rule the world,
or hopelessly devour.

I'm not interested in money,
or spreading a false word.
I want to put a mind behind
a voice that's really heard.

We seem to believe
That someone's problems
Are dark drops in clear water
Can't see through, too solid

We can’t separate
The drops from the water
The dark from the clear
The people from their problems

Like they’re one in the same
And all they’ll ever be
We’ve let problems become
Someones identity

But a rose is not a thorn
And a cactus, not a needle

They are people with problems

and not problem people.

Don't chase, value, love or need
Mass produced replacable things
We seek with hopes they'll make us whole
They'll fill your house but not your soul

Don't skip the ocean to buy souvenirs
Or that's all you'll have in 20 years
Memories, people, experiences, time
You can buy more decor but clocks can't rewind

There are so many things a heart is made of,
A job, a family, a city, a love.
And even if they flow like rivers and streams,
It’s okay to chase your changing dreams.

One day you climb the professional ladder,
And find that no one’s following after.
Or you begin to crave new scenery
Once you look around and don’t like what you see.

When find your heart crying out for more,
Please, never ignore.
If your life isn’t feeling like home sweet home,
It’s okay to roam.

Each day is like a Rubik's Cube
Complex, confused, without a plan
I try to align it perfectly
But it seems I never can.

All day I'm trying hard to solve
the exhausting, tiresome and endless fight
Trying to figure out the perfect way
to have the same colors on every side.

No matter my efforts, I'm always left with
One orange in the yellow, two blues in the red,
three greens in the white,
forty thoughts in my head.

I could cheat and switch the stickers
I could call and ask a friend
I'm not good at solving problems
But at least I can pretend

But when push turns into shove
I can't solve it by aimlessly shifting
I can't learn it by aimlessly watching
And I can't live by aimlessly drifting

So no longer will I sit back and watch
other people figure out my life for me
I'll take my time and color my sides
Because no one can live life for me.

Sitting in the audience
And watching life pass you by
Like a film on a screen
You're in scene after scene
Yet somehow, you're not the spotlight

Better at drifting than chasing
Tending to settle, not strive
Better at leaving than trying
Empty, yet unconcerned why

If you only take what you’re given,
You’ll have some smiles I’m sure,
But peace, pride and fulfillment
Won’t come if you don’t make them yours

Walking, drifting, watching, seeing
Are you living or only being?
Want, look, find, chase
Run from the audience and jump on stage

I know those as soft as cotton,
Always lessening the blow,
Each layer adds protection,
Pain can only sink so low.

I know those who are like sponges,
They're always bouncing back,
Endlessly resilient,
Attack after attack.

I know those as strong as steel,
They don't bend, don't break, don't move,
They act as their on armor,
You will never see them lose.

And I know those who are like glass,
Deeply scratched but shining bright,
Never giving up, putting up a fight,
In pain but reflecting light.

We lessen the blow
And we bounce back,
We are our own armor.
We shine through our scratches
Protect ourselves,
We're our own safe harbor.

We are born into the world,
and we think that it is good,
that no one would ever hurt us,
and wouldn't even if they could.

The world is full of smiles,
people long to see our face,
there's no heartbreak, tears or failure,
only hope and endless grace.

But then we see more clearly,
and some things begin to change.
Our fairytale world crumbles,
and our blue skies turn dark gray.

The smiles have all been replaced
with hatred, fights and pride.
Fingers are crossed in promises,
leaving faith and trust behind.

Hope melts away so quickly,
and our false foundation sinks.
We see things as they truly are,
or at least that's what we think.

But then we see more clearly,
past the pretend fairytale,
and the made-up horror film,
and we finally see what's real.

Nothing is all good or bad,
but if one little tiny flame,
can light a room of darkness,
then light wins, and hope remains.

Together we shine like a star,
here I am and here you are.

Disregarding friend or foe,
here I am and there you go.

Fake a laugh, buy words to say,
there you are and here I'll stay.

Hide your flaws so they can't see,
there you'll stay and here I'll be.

You fit the mold, I'm like a stone,
Shining brightly on my own.

Everyone speaks
A million miles an hour
Each word
Growing more empowered

They think saying more,
Competing, interrupting
Proves that they know more
And won't be thought of as nothing

Well I'm the bird
That tries to tweet
When thunder crashes
And lightning streaks

Won't take the time
To hear my thoughts
So all I do
Is smile and nod

But that's okay,
No worries here,
Won't seek validation
From a strangers ear

Your hot air fills the room
While you seek your applause
I know my worth, applaud myself
So I just smile and nod

Things once were right on track and so sincere,
escaped our path, we ended up right here,
should I let go or should I hold you near?
What happened to our perfect love, my dear?

We used to be connected at the heart,
and every single move we made was smart,
our conversations were a piece of art,
but now we're only drifting far apart.

I miss feeling like I was in the air,
floating around without a single care,
I fell down but you seem so unaware,
not here to hold my hand or stroke my hair.

I gave you all I had to give and more,
it's time for me to spread my wings and soar.

People always ask me
Why I'm always so happy
Well my answer is
That someone's gotta be

Who else can I count on
When I need motivation
Or cheered up or calmed down
Or to ease my frustration?

People always ask me
Why I care so much
Well my answer is
No one else cares enough

Who else can I count on
To care about my day
Or to absorb my feelings
Or hear what I have to say?

Other's aren't concerned
And they don't need to be
No one can do it better
So I'll care about me.

You're all you need
And you are enough
You're all you're promised
And you're all you've got

People come and go
So stop depending
And take time to create
Your own happy ending.

She said:

“I really wish things were different
I’m so tired of living like this
Too many things wrong in the world
All of them in the way of my bliss.

If only things were better
If only things were fair
Then I could find my happiness
And finally lose my despair.

Won’t someone take charge?
Won’t someone help me out?
You’d think someone would be willing
But someone keeps letting me down.

I said:

“Go stand in front of a mirror,
Look closely at what you see,
I’d like to introduce you to
The someone you’ve been waiting to meet.

Someone who can do all that you asked
And then a little more
Change is something that you do,
Not something you wait for.”

Your path has been covered
With broken glass,
And they're wondering why
You've been running so fast.

You're calloused but strong,
You're tough but in pain,
You're unstoppable,
But your glass is blood stained.

Your whole life has been danger,
You can handle anything,
But even the strongest,
Need a safe place to stay.

So come walk with me,
And we'll find a new path,
I will bandage your wounds,
And lead you to soft grass.

Let me be your safety,
We can turn your shattered past,
Into a stained glass window,
Lighting up our new path.

You think you're steel,
I know,
But you're as clear as my window,
And just as fragile,
Just as thin,
But it's okay
To let me see in.

There's no danger here,
No hammers here,
No rocks or stones,
No shatters here.

So wear your armor
For the rest of the world,
But with me you're free
To leave it at the door.

Thoughts race inside
My unstoppable mind
As I lie, still as ever
In this bed of mine

Not moving, won't stop,
Can't grab them or drop
them on the floor under my feet
where they belong, I can't compete

I'd love to think of rivers
Or calming peaceful streams
Oh what I'd give to think of flowers
Or the buzzing sound of bees

Inside is a hurricane
Outside is a drizzle
I can't control my hurried mind
But at least it's working well

Oh I shouldn't complain,
Yes my thoughts run all day
Each one deeper than the last
And although I'm led astray
My thoughts tell me more
Than your words ever could
Because I've had a hundred
More thoughts than I should

Oh the thoughts race inside
My unstoppable mind
As I lie, still as ever
In this bed of mine

Extra! Extra!
This just in:
Hatefulness
Is the new trend.

Forget tolerance
Empathy and being kind,
Why burden ourselves
With an open mind?

So we keep our minds closed,
But we open our mouths,
Speaking of things
We know nothing about.

We're shouting hot air
With no substance to fill it.
We spread hate but preach love
Then point out hypocrites.

We blame everyone else
And claim innocence although
We're building walls
With the stones we throw.

We're so advanced
But so behind,
We've got 20/20
But we act like we're blind.

You don't have to be a tornado
To change the world wherever you go.

You don't have to be a thunderstorm
To be heard in this noisy world.  

You don't have to be a lightning bolt
To light the world and make it glow.  

Power doesn't have to be extreme,
And being gentle isn't being weak.
The Grand Canyon wasn't formed
By an explosion, but by a stream.

Have you ever
noticed when you
look at the trees
in the winter
they're all brown
once they've lost all their leaves?

Except one,
the Sycamore.
It stands proud and white,
It shines bright
like a star
on the darkest of nights.

But the Sycamore isn't
white on its own.
Like the rest, it is brown,
Then it sheds
its rough bark
and is the brightest around.

So when you're lost
and you're wondering
just how you should be,
shed your bark
and shine bright
like a Sycamore tree.

We wake up and plan
to smile at strangers,
and hold the door open,
and say no to anger.

But then there's traffic,
and road rage and red lights,
and cut-offs and cuss-outs,
daydreaming of fights.

Our destination is reached,
and our hands are in fists,
we stomp down the halls,
and crash by accident.

Coffee spills, papers scatter,
faces red, eye contact made,
thoughts are racing, anger raising,
a small flame ignites great hate.

We watch the scene
play in our head,
like directing a movie
and take one is red.

It's yelling and screaming,
insulting and punching,
automatic desire,
but solving nothing.

Aren't we lucky
we aren't bound by our thoughts?
We might be tempted,
but slaves we are not.

Aren't we lucky
if take one leads to
mistakes or trouble
we can choose a take two?

You said the right things
You flattered and charmed
Convinced and promised
Until I was disarmed

Your words were golden
They sparkled and shined
They shined so brightly
I must have gone blind

I invested myself
In the words you sold
But all that glitters
Is not gold

I've always heard
That talk is cheap
Well my words are diamonds
And yours are free

You don't mean what you say
You don't do what you mean
Your words are free
But they're costing me

Well I hope you’re good
at jumping fences
and running quickly
and lowering defenses

And I hope you’re good
at catching what’s running
and I hope you don’t think
that ice is numbing

I’ll turn and I’ll run
I’ll look away
I’m uncatchable
But I want you to stay

I’ll be drawn to you
You’ll be drawn to me
And just before we collide
I’ll run for safety

Well I hope that you
Don’t mind the chase
Because I can’t slow down
Until I know it’s safe

So I'll run my fastest
I'll build my fences
I'll slow down when you show me
It's safe - from a distance

You'd melt me to a puddle,
And stomp through me in boots,
Then politely clean me up,
No wonder I was confused.

A small collection of water,
Weak and backless with no voice,
Stomped through, walked on,
I forgot I had a choice.

Once a passive puddle,
But now I am the rain,
Do you know what rain erases?
The flame.

No more power over me,
I'll choose when I fall,
And by fall I mean pour,
And by pour I mean stand tall.

If Earth had a first time visitor
In the middle of our winter,
When the trees are bare and the hills are brown,
They might feel pity when they look around,
They won’t see life or hope or cheer,
They might see emptiness and despair.
If they left that day they’d have made up their mind,
Earth, it has no shine.

But we know better since we live here,
And we see the transformation each year.
We know that winter is temporary,
Not forever, the end, or scary.

So if you meet someone during their winter,
Don’t see them as bare, hopeless or a quitter,
See them with hope and know that soon,
They will find their bloom.

Let me be like the mountain
Who stands without shame
Who makes up the skyline
And soars above rain

Not questioning its shape
Its valleys or heights
Its curves or its angles
How it looks at first sight

Changing with the seasons
And changing with time
Not looking over its shoulder
To the next one in line

No critiquing, comparing
No single wish
Let me be like the mountain
Who simply is

You quickly approach
A puddle of mud
Small enough to step over
But you thought it'd be fun
To splish and splash
And make a mess
But it's dirtied your face
And ruined your dress

You stomp out of the puddle
It has ruined your day
You look back in anger
And head on your way

But what is to blame here,
The action or trouble?
The mud or the splashes?
The person or puddle?

Don't walk into mud
Then complain of the mess
If you want to stay clean
Just watch where you step

Not all, but many outcomes
Are up to us
So be careful that your actions
Will lead to what you want