Fair, fair maiden ~
 apart from the herd you keep
Tho’ I’ve not heard your voice
 Still Thy love sings deep.

Fair, fair maiden ~
 apart from the herd you keep
I stand upon the edge of beauty
 But tremble on the steep.

A long long
 Cursed road winds upward
Lord forgive me!
 I dare not leap.

Fair fair maiden ~
 apart from the herd you keep
I know not
 if you know my name
But I do know yours
What a beautiful name!
Oh
Your precious
love & care are all I aim.

Fair, fair maiden ~
 apart from the herd you keep!
Tho’ I’ve not heard your voice
 Still Thy love sings deep.

Is that thin gravy
Or black coffee
That half empties my cup?
It's been there awhile
It's looking a bit rough
Don't give it a sniff
Grasp the handle
Take it up
Drain it down
I'll know soon enough.

Beneath the boughs where twilight spills its gold,
The whispering winds through blooming meadows glide.
A river sings where silent secrets fold,
And daisies nod with grace the hills can't hide.

The sky, a canvas brushed in fading flame,
Reflects in pools where dragonflies alight.
The lark ascends and calls the sun by name,
While shadows dance beneath the birch’s light.

In Nature’s hush, the soul is softly stirred—
A truth more pure than ever man has heard.

I wish you weren’t kind to me
You laid down in the garden
Right by the apple tree where our cat used to sleep
Your eyes were alight with a sort of bliss
Your body trembling with hunger

You told me that something was there
Ambrosia seeping into the soil
“Please, just a few more minutes”
“I can find it, I swear”

The rain poured onto you
Soaking your already muddy socks
I told you to come inside
I told you that there was nothing there
“I can see it,” you insisted
“You just need to look”

It was getting dark
I pulled and tugged on your ragged clothes
But still, you were kind to me

I wish you would yell
Scream, kick or cry
But you’re so gentle with me
You apologize and tell me I’m a good brother

I can’t do this
I can’t let you go
Please, give me a reason to push you away
But you just hand me your saccharine smile
And syrup-soaked regret
Even as your eyes have become hollow

I remember my first time meeting you. You had long red hair and kind eyes, the kind I could get lost in. And, God, I couldn’t stop smiling. You said your name was Mary. Soft freckled face and withered hands. I was so curious, filled with naive wonder. You told me you loved oranges, and I think I started to love them almost as much as I love you. But then things started to change. Burning passion was now a fake plastic sorta love. Y’know I thought I could be different. I thought If i just limited myself and controlled it I’d be okay. Now look at me. It’s starting to hit me that I never really had any control. No. It wasn’t until I was scraping blood off my fingernails that I realized I couldn’t stop, but by then it was too late. I started doing things I never thought myself capable of, vile, monstrous acts. I fell farther… and farther… And then I was all alone, just a pile of shaky limbs and crooked joints. I’ve done a lot of bad things. I am, by no means, a good person. But, Mary, my dear, I promise I’m not a monster.

i lost a friend today.
not to death.
almost to death.
i called the police as they attempted.
they have stopped talking to me.
they are angry

i lost a friend today
i wish i had done better.
they almost left.
without a word.
i wish they hadnt told me.

i lost a friend today.