If I read the Bible, would you call me a Christian?

If I observed Ramadan, would you call me a Muslim?

If I studied Zen, would you call me a Buddhist?

If I believed in Scientology, would you call me a radical?

If I was human, would you call me curious?

If I was curious, would you call me a seeker?

If I was a seeker, would you call me open?

If I was open, would you call me understanding?

If I was understanding, would you call me a mirror?

That we all perceive things differently
That our brains are wired differently
That miscommunication and misunderstanding lead to feelings of hurt and ignorance
That societal (peer) pressure goes a long way in choosing our decisions, whether we are aware of it or not
That being sad is okay!
That being happy is okay!
That we reflect and project what is going on inside
That polarization is appealing but not close to healing
That maybe we aren’t ready for healing, so we keep feeding into what’s appealing and wonder why we’re feeling what we’re feeling
That we go with the biggest waves because we don’t know how to make our own: or maybe because they’re just more appealing
That if you’re healthy, you’re wealthy, physically and mentally
That money pays for many things that want to be free
That our minds can put on and take off the labels at any moment
That all of this and whatever else is meant to be experienced

We can pick a battle with anyone about anything
They say pick your battles, though,
but honestly,
most of them are meant to be let go

Like do I really want to beef with the person who fights to bring people together among our division because they eat meat,
or the one who just saved my life from my death of not paying attention because they pay more taxes than me,
all because I became aware of one of their things that doesn't align with one of my things,
the things I think I believe are true to both me and you?

I'm talking about a view which I choose to never refuse that dilutes our very human existence

Why is it that when I discover my views aren't of you,
we become distant because I didn't listen to your vision
and my mind is now malicious despite your well wishes
and could care less if you just added more time to my clock,
minutes I thought to be so minute that I'm now using them to refute and dispute
when I should be using these precious seconds to salute
this person who paused the coming of this body’s substitute?

And now the change they chose to enact
becomes estranged in an instant because I chose to react
rather than truly gauge why they made this impact

Movin’ past the chatter like,
“What does it even matter?”
They predict my fate like I’m my own guest
Then they get lost in the ordinary with the rest
Greatness attracts impact
The crash I made left nothing intact

What do you expect?

How do you project?

We thrive through the night,
look to the moon,
hope for its light,
and know we won’t be leaving
soon….

Don’t you want that love that when you kiss,
it’s like you’re breathing
a back-to-life gasp for survival?
The kiss and the gasp
both grasp for revival

I want to love you
like how a freshly born child looks at the world,
with that instinct to just smile and laugh;
innocence is re-birthed,
re-earthed,
and pure in nature
Who on Earth
said that puppy love ain’t real
love?
Man….
it feels like we only begin our relationships like that,
but when we move on,
we don’t return to that same path

I want to be present with you,
at all times,
even if it’s just ‘til the end of time
I mean,
all we got is time,
and,
honestly,
that’s so fine

If you came across me
in the middle of the night at the spring,
or witnessed me
flowing with music infiltrating my being,
or noticed me
performing my compulsive deeds,
or listened to my
dreams,
opened up their seam,
and shone on them the
light of your own beam,
you would be one soul
who knows how mine really swings,
and I would love you
for understanding all these things

****….
what a dance we’re entranced with

Flip the mirror around
See how I get down
on your playground
No need for any filter
that will mess with your thriller
I already sense that it will feel quite
familiar

Totally speaking,
we’re all just
sums of our experiences
So if I add
yours to mine,
and you add
mine to yours,
maybe we can finally skip all the
ceremonial chores
and proceed to the part where we
inspire each other to soar

I wonder….
do you think of me as a time of day?
Or a season of year?
The numerals can bring magic
and summer’s colors help the passion
once again appear
Just like that ticket you saved,
it feels like the premiere
You know,
when the feelings just felt
so sincere

Truthfully speaking,
I know that when I see the clouds,
I see you because
they’ve seen you,
too
Luckily enough,
they travelled all this way to tell me
you see me,
two

Clouds….
where a soul can share its
sun,
and two of them can become
one

Love, in the face of adversity, never withers
That's why my stress lightens up when I'm with her’s
She consistently thanks me and says I'm too good to her
Yet it will always be that there could be so much more that can occur
Dedication has become my main moral in our relationship
I strive to show this value the moments we connect our lips
It would take an infinite amount of bullets to shoot our home down—the foundation is solidified
And if it all came apart, our hearts would still forever be building each other with every stride
So now I must ask....where shall we go next?
Someplace in our dreams; somewhere complex?
If you aim for a clear target, I will not object
For love is the simplest thing to feel, now that I sit back and reflect

May the words I speak help you reach your peak
May the words I speak guide you to what you seek
May the words I write help you take flight
May the words I write help your dreams ignite