I watch the rain
as it washes away
all the sidewalk chalk
the smeared paintings
floating away
in a stream
of beautiful color
a vibrant rainbow
on a rainy afternoon
fuchsia pink swirling
around my naked toes
children running
and laughing
in the hot streets
the smell of fish and spices
makes my belly rumble
hot white rice
upon a bamboo plate
an old woman
scooping boiled fish
and smiling
her toothless smile
her soul filled
with liquid sunshine
as we sit cross legged
and laugh like kids

The ***** children in the street
have no shoes for their tiny feet
Their mothers cry in nightly pain
hoping for a little rain
Shaving heads to avert the lice
eating handfuls of wild grain rice
Dressed in rags that cover their skin
to ignore these kids is quite the sin
Feed their bellies and give them hope
make them strong and able to cope
Teach compassion and how to give
give them all a reason to live

You always asked me
"What would I be without you?"
To be brutally honest,
that question scares me to death
because I already know the answer
and I don't want that responsibility
of being your one true love
there is a fine line
between love and obsession
and I'm afraid to say
that you've crossed over
to the other side
where love isn't enough
constant attention isn't enough
daily praise isn't enough
I refuse to be a prisoner to your love
you can't capture me
and put me in a high tower
out of fear that others
may find me desirable
I have spent many a night
scratching and scraping
at the walls of this prison
and today I broke through
and saw the other side of love
the love that is free
and trusting
and encouraging
and amazing
I couldn't look away
I had to have it for myself
so I pulled at the wall
until my fingers were bleeding
and the sharp jagged pieces
ripped through my skin
as I crawled through
the tiny hole I was able to make
I think I even let pieces of hair behind
but no matter
because I am now free
away from your angry clutches
and my new love is helping me
to seal up that wall for good
and I shall tell all about that very day
that I escaped from hell on earth
I wish you could see my smile
it would irk you
and that thought
would make me smile
throughout eternity

Raindrops falling on my face
in the early morning light
gray clouds racing by
dancing on the mighty wind
trees swaying in the distance
like they're waving hello
to all the strangers walking by
people running like little ants
through the crowded streets
looking for shelter from the storm
I just stand in the middle of it all
letting the rain cleanse me
and wash the sins from my soul

I watch lazily from my hammock
as the fiery red orange sun
sinks into the horizon
and night falls down upon my head
as the warm breeze caresses my skin
the hibiscus are swaying
dancing to the tune of the earth
the smell of Tom Yum Goong
(spicy shrimp soup)
fills my nose
my belly rumbles uncontrollably
distant music and little voices
sipping on Nam Dang-Mu Pan
(melon ice drink)



S̄ìng thī̀ dī thī̀s̄ud thī̀ c̄hạn khey thả k̆ khụ̄x kār ŷāy pị yạng pratheṣ̄ thī̀ yxd yeī̀ym nī̂ h̄nụ̀ng thī̀ p̄hm thor h̄ā thī̀ b̂ān

translation: The best thing I ever did was move to this wonderful country, the one I call home

such a tiny town
with slim ***** streets
children playing in the rain
their clothes ragged
but their smiles pristine
old men with their toothless grins
telling stories from the past
old women sweeping with straw brooms
yelling at the neighbors dogs
babies cries heard
through an open window
and the smell of fresh bread in the air
I love this tiny town

This morning
I saw the smallest flower
tucked deep inside
a group of much bigger flowers
it didn't belong there
it wasn't part of the group
it wasn't even the same kind of flower
but you know what?
they were all getting along just fine
maybe there's a lesson to be learned...

My tears have long dried
my emotions were fried
I just wanted to hide
you shouldn't have lied
it's been months since I cried
three  years since you died
I was never your **bride

the ticking of the bedside clock
ringing in my head
as I dream of better days
when you were my
"jack of all trades"
those lazy days of summer
floating endlessly
on the cool rivers swirls
toes in the air
and your laughter
made my belly quiver
as we drank wine
under the blue velvet sky

Touch my heart
with your starry sky
and wrap me
in your velvet black
the cries of the wicked
singing at our feet
hoping for scraps
from the holy table
beat them down
with your
righteous hand
and hold fast
to the original beliefs
dip me in your
cosmic fluid
letting it
refresh my soul
as you sit perched
to strike
any who defy you
and blame it on
a simple brain overload

I scratch a couple of lines
on a old notebook cover
about a beautiful girl
and her soon jilted lover

He stays out so late
til the break of dawn
the jumps into bed
with his britches on

he smells like beer
and farts in the air
pulls the covers over his head
like he doesn't care

his phone is open
a new ******* speed dial
she finally caught him
and starts to smile

she packs his bag
as he snores away
he has to go
he can not stay

grabbing him by the ankle
she pulls him to the floor
tells him to get out
holding open the door

he stumbles out
into the grass
"STAY OUT" she yells
"YOUR'E SUCH AN ***"

he takes off quickly
in his fancy car
got nowhere to go
he heads to the bar

he tries to call her
she's done with him
his chances with her
are rather slim

he made his bed
it's where he'll lay
that's what happens
when you try to play

I sit upon the ocean
and the waves they comfort me
the salty air in my lungs
and the sun bronzing my skin
I look deep into the water
and wonder
would anyone notice
if I slipped silently into the blue
and became a mermaid
swimming fiercely into the tides
my long golden hair fastened with
seashells of abalone
my naked chest adorned with sea emeralds
and white pearls around my throat
I would sit upon the largest rock
and sing until all the men were mine....

you laughed at me
the first time you saw
the bucket on a string
hanging from my neck
you asked me its function
I said it was for
when you break my heart
you said
I don't understand
simple I said
it's to catch the falling pieces

Sitting at the river
toes splashing greedily
taking the late afternoon sun
and absorbing it into my skin
my color like bronzed caramel
my sun-streaked hair
flowing freely down my back
a warm breeze brings the smell
of vanilla and jasmine
the scent is sweet and inviting
tiny fish darting in and out
of the shallow depths
a calm and peaceful place
as the sun heads
to other side of the world
I wouldn't trade this place
for all the gold in the world

early morning sunrise
sitting on my favorite pillow
lush royal purple with golden braid
nag champa incense burning
a slight breeze, smoke swirling
tibetan singing bowls
and my prayer beads

Tie-dye nights
and cotton dreams
nothing in life
is like it seems
your eyes are green
and your heart is black
this smart girl
ain't coming back

Warm paint upon my hands
the canvas calling to me
my hands trace the fabric
leaving memories of you
streaked across the white
I chose black first of all
for your deceitful heart
and red for my fuming anger
the last color I choose
for this horrific masterpiece
is blue to represent
my never-ending regret

your darkness flows within me
and I crave to see the light again

your past sins have been grievous
and they haunt my inner world

your chains have left their mark
on my bruised and beaten soul

the time has come for me to swim
in the darkest shark infested seas

to escape your psychotic world
of broken promises and shotgun shells

Your obsession with me
is finally over
well hopefully...

anyway
loving you
was like
trying to breathe
through
plastic wrap

I was left alone
                           weeping
my bones
                  turning to dust

you chose
    to overlook me
         and follow a crooked path

you are an old habit
that HAUNTS me still
just another addiction
that did me wrong

the jagged ice in his heart
gave way
to the warming of her sun
the poison in his veins
gave up
to her smile, the simple antidote
his sadness deep inside
gave validation
to her departure
his broken mind
gave away
his greatest gift
her

Every night I used to sit by the lake
and listen to the loons
Their song was so sad
but its beauty touched my heart
As the sun sunk slowly
into the great mouth of the lake
I felt blessed
being part of it all
As night came on slowly
I prayed for one more day
hoping that if this was my last
I did it right