Pillar of strength
Standing free and alone
Never asking for support
But always there for others
When things got tough
When it helped to have something to lean on

Pillar of strength
Having endured many years of this routine
Never designed to go without repair
Or to even hold too heavy of a burden
The foundation was crumbling
Soon, everything would come crashing down

Pillar of strength
Needing to be repaired
Was cordoned off to keep the people away
They protested!
"How will we stand on our own?!"
"There is no way!!"

Pillar of strength
Tired of being misused and abused
Spoke loudly and clear
"I was never meant to stand for you or bear your burden alone."
"I was meant to give you some help and a break on your way home."

Pillars of strength grow weak
When they're overused and become meek
Bearing burdens is tiresome and dull
So check the pillar every now and then
To make sure it won't fall

I knew from the start
That nothing was going to be easy with you
I understood the risk I was taking by giving you my heart

I didn't expect much
But I did want you to be honest with me
And not play games with me
Be there for me
I wanted it to be a two-way street...at least
It was for a while and everything was great
So what we had I know was real

I realize inside that it's really neither one of our faults
Placing blame doesn't really matter anyways
I just know that I still love you and want you to be happy
You pushed me away for long enough that I have to try to move on
I've got my heart to look out for as well

That doesn't mean that my feelings have changed
Or that I don't love you anymore
I don't think that will ever be the case
Each day, you are the first
And are the last thought
That crosses my mind

I've shared your pain for a while now
I've let you take it out on me
And I've tried to be there for you
I have been there

You have to fix yourself or you will just break others

It's never easy but it could have been with you
I still love you and always will
If ever there is a day that exists
Where what I gave you is missed
Maybe we can try it out again
Your desire I cannot resist

The path of destruction
Left in your wake
Torn between love and being alone
Never settled, never atoned
The cycle will continue to go on and on
You smile but internally you frown
Your addiction has turned to attention
You take for granted affection
A real love fell into your lap
But in your broken form
You deemed yourself unworthy and undeserving
Your sadness and emptiness continues to spread
On your path of destruction
There is no end

Maybe one day things will get better for you
And I hope they will
I hope you find something real
I hope you find a way to heal

The people that make themselves the most available
Will find themselves being the first to be taken for granted
Make them fight and win your time
Because life is short and time is valuable
If your time isn't valuable to them
Say goodbye and shut the door
There is someone else who will savor every moment

Tomorrow will come
And the day will be yours
A new day to begin again

With yesterday behind you
The future is wide open and young
It is yours to explore

Your day will come
With open arms to welcome and embrace your soul

The future is your kingdom
And your heart is your throne

Your day will come
You will finally find your way back home

When is the game over?
When the man dies?
When the first born is a girl?
At the end of the first meal without salt?
When the woman dies?
At sunset?
At the late time of night when the spirit ebbs?
When his one good joke is repeated too often?
When his son is killed by friendly fire?
When the potatoes are blighted?
At the end of high school football stardom?
When rejected by a prom date?
When destituted by frivolous litigation
Destituted by insufficient health insurance?

When caught cheating?
At cards?
In adultery?
In a resume?
By the IRS

When caught?
In a sting?
Ten most wanted?
Interpol?

When I finish my drink?
When I empty my wallet?

I used to close my eyes
To hide me away
From the things that were scaring me
When I didn't want to listen
When there were too many things going on

I've grown and undertaken
Some real mistakes
Misjudgments
Decisions that made me judge myself

I find that nowadays
Not much has changed
From when I was a little person
At least for me, anyways

I still see a lot of good
In people
We all want the best
For our children and our favored peers

But there is all of this fighting and disagreement
A true mess
But what future do you want to have?
A place to care and love one another?
Or somewhere to distinguish and compare?

We are all in this together
If you don't realize this by now
You are lost

I keep on trying to love people

We were apart and you were gone
That much was true
I never knew if it was permanent or temporary
I kept catching myself looking for you

Getting along without you, day to day
Wasn't anything especially difficult
We hadn't had a falling out
And I knew you were out there still
I just kept catching myself looking for you

Every time something made me particularly happy
I would want to share it with you
Even though I knew you weren't there
Whenever I felt sad, I would look for your support
Even though I knew you weren't there
Many times, I just sat there telling myself
"Everything is going to be okay"

I missed you and you became a perpetual daydream
More than I was comfortable admitting
I often pondered if you missed me as often as I did you

Our last kiss was savored
I knew at the time
There may never be another
The memory is vivid
As my lips touched your lips

As I write these words
I still wonder about you and how you are doing

The fire you lit inside of me still burns
Always offering some help finding your way back
Should you ever decide to tend the fire

I will always look for you
Because it is you that I am missing

Walking home by myself
A lonely trip with only the wind to keep me company
Cigarette butts litter the curb
Whose lips they've touched
Their story I will never know

The smells of nighttime and laundry fill the air
In the distance, music can be heard mixed with laughter
Somewhere, memories are being made
Unbeknownst to the receiving, someone is falling in love
For it to only end up in heartbreak

In those high rise buildings
Someone is contemplating suicide
Three doors down, a life is being made

On these lonely walks home
I witness the world we live in
In the darkness, I can see

Romantic and sweet
Darling, you make me weak
Never having felt this before
What it really meant to give
Your heart, soul, and passions
What it meant to love someone

For a king to kneel to his queen
Not behind but besides stands she
Until you came into my life
Something had always been missing

It had always been you
Maybe our paths will take separate routes
Or maybe we will travel the same road
I am just glad to have met you on my journey
Because I don't have to continue to search

Not knowing what I was looking for
Was something that ate at me
I didn't understand why I felt empty

Because I have found you and I know that you're out there
The world just doesn't seem that bad of a place anymore

Thankful of our paths having crossed
Of those lips having kissed

Not worried about the destination
But blissful of the journey
Finding you
Instead of forever searching
I was set free