How do I speak up for myself
when every man I meet
pulls out my teeth?

What do I say to the skeletons in the closet?
Their bones know no warmth, their bodies are long gone.
The only conversations I have with them are their ankles and fingers sighing forward against the door, only moved by the wind.

You speak to me,
want to bring me up tough,
but I'm a gentle, soft winged bird.
These songs aren't sung about war,
I only breathe about love and loving.

(I wish I could take myself to where the sun is always shining and skin is never blue, where the Earth is always quiet.)

Love the wife of Loyalty stands with her husband's arms wrapped around her and her arms wrapped around him in an warming embrace.  Loyalty looked into the eyes of Love and said
"My beautiful, beautiful, wife you filled my
heart with joy by becoming my wife.  My world revolves around you.  I will always be there for you.  I will stand by your side and help you chase after your dreams.  I will protect you from all threats."
Love gave Loyalty a squeeze and said
"I too will stand by your side and help you chase your dreams.  I will be there for you in your time of need or when ever you just want me by your side."
Love and Loyalty looked into each other's eyes and began to kiss.

Written by Keith Edward Baucum

If I can get away with it
It's safe to say I tried
Handjobs over
Handbags
Hand over fist, the first fight
I fought, I thought
I'm in the right, no wrongs
Swinging fists
At God -
I lost. Two black eyes and a dented
aluminum can. A concussion
A broken heart
And the Humiliation out of televisions.
Hallelujah hallucinations -
The kids only did what they saw.
Hallelujah hallucinations -
The parents let them live through their thoughts.
Hallelujah hallucinations -
I'm not saying I didn't deserve it
Past Present Future
Fractals of opposing decisions void
of logic, fingertips wet anticipation
over a keyboard. Throat foaming
purple capsules and
a full tank of yellow gasoline a bottle
of Xenka warm under summer seats
(warped plastic adds flavor)
Like a dog panting, I broke the forth wall
simply for the sake of freedom.

The snow shivered in the heat
Tears fell from crystalline eyes
so white . . .
. . . the mountain gathered them up
and let them roll down his back to
the river . . .
. . . the river said ,"I'm overpool but I will make room for one more . . . or thousands  . . .
The crystalline tears mingled with the red mud and became blood brothers . . . and they flowed to the mighty sea . . .
. . .  "Welcome to my domain my little one's . I knew your forefathers and mothers from long ago . Here you will do my bidding as long as you stay . Here my windy friends will make froth out of you . And my big brother Sun will bake you and my sister Moon will entice you with dreams that can never be . All are here to test you , burn you , pull you apart , toss you around until you are ready to follow in your parents footprints . . .
. . . so the Sun scorched and the wind blew hurricanes in the east and typhoons in the west and the moon by night gave false hope in the way of impossible dreams and the ancient Sea watched all without saying a word . . . .
. . . then came the day the Sea was satisfied and said ,"Leap up my little ones , your day has come , ride the clouds to your new home . Some to the north , some go to the south , the rest go east and west . Take your precious gift to the land who is dying for your taste ." And one by one the tears lept into the clouds and ladened it's burdens and the winds cartied them away to the Plains and Forest and Valleys and to the Mountain Top . There the tears fell and froze and collected on the north face of the
mountain and the mountan was was glad .
"Welcome home my lost little one's . I'm so happy I could cry ." . . .  and he did .

I will see a different sky
Noon or night
I'm always searching for horizons
Always seeking

A blue that I don't know
Cloud of different shapes
I'm westward facing seeing sunsets
Always reaching

All that I gave is all I am
I gave it all
Everything
But the winds around me
The air is changing
Fading into light

Whither when I close my eyes
If I sleep or dream
Its yesterday
Tomorrow's suns are rising

I will see a different sky
Flowing from a fleeting feeling
Only my soul
Becoming real

All that I live is all that I give
My rivers and my mountains
Blood and scars
Be the skin around me changing
A name an endless smile
And a memory

I will see a different sky