sometimes it seems there
is no escape from your mind
when life twists your light.

you can't recognize
yourself anymore after
all your stars collide.

on the horizon
of the black hole in your life
full of lessons past.

self-destructive mind
remembering the heartbreak,
the ungentle death

of a giant cloud,
pain so hot that you explode
birthing brighter stars.

but you still feel small.
smaller than the Earth you walk
that is smaller than

the Sun it circles
around, that is smaller than
the galaxy it

floats in, smaller than
the universe they reside.
But they don't know they're

small, and neither should
you, full of galaxies. you
are a universe.

but a universe
can yield violence beyond
comprehension. with

every heartbreak, and
with every tear, a lesson
making you think twice--

did i do this right?
everything has a lifespan,
not a forever.

these are not times you should wish to reverse,
these are just the actions of a restless universe.

to be honest with you,
i didn't plan on making it this far.

i didn't plan anything at all.

and i'm always baffled by my lack of motivation,
but i forget i've already made my biggest accomplishment by

being here today.

we grab too tightly
at that which is not ours.

and wish so hard for hearts
with heads lost in the stars.

reach out for some attention
from minds racing fast as cars.

seek love and affection
from hearts trapped behind bars.

forgetting to look in the mirror
and first mend our own scars.

flat land to the horizon
cacti lined streets
sun blinding
mountain peaks like
dragon's teeth
eating cotton candy skies

trust yourself, love yourself, be yourself.
be kind, you truly don't know what another person is going through.
if you need help, ask. if you don't understand, ask.
even if you don't need help or even if you do understand, still ask--
someone may be able to teach you something new!
be curious. ask why.
define your success by something other than money.
put yourself first,
it's not selfish, it's necessary.
i love you,
i believe in you,
i respect you.
i hope you live out all of your wildest dreams.
stay gold.

harsh waves meet the shore,
as your sharp tongue meets our ears,
we drown and fade away.

once gifted with
true kindness and compassion
i learned love.