In the silence and misunderstandings that separate us
I need to believe there is a place where we can meet
a place of mottled light where the only shadows
are painted by ancient firs who conspiratorially lean
open, welcoming hands down to greet us.

It is a place where all thoughts of judgment and jealousy
are simply too petty for consideration
love being implicit in the moisture of the air
words are unnecessary for our eyes reveal
everything we ever want to say.

Fear and resentment are unknown here
we refuse to recognize them if they slither
into this haven while we are sleeping
restful, innocent, unworried
history does not exist, the moment held is enough.

If this vision were dispelled, my soul could not sustain
reality’s weight.  I would be battered, fragile
as a spiraled whelk on deceptively smooth rocks
splintered by hate and unwillingness
to be as the sea, fluid and graceful, all encompassing.

Will you come with me here?  
Or is the hour too late?
We can meet in this hollow sacred space
and begin again, let loose misconceptions
clouding the life we share.          

The path is faint
trust your weary heart
it will lead us to each other.

I used to believe that people had a choice.
For the longest time I believed
that you chose who you love
But I realized how silly that was
when I noticed how I never chose
the people that I love today.

For the longest time I believed
that you could choose what you want to do
but it occurred to me that I never chose
to write stories or poems
but one day the paper and pen called to me

For the longest time I still believe
that people have a choice
that decisions can be made to change
the current situation

The most difficult lesson I learned
is that being sad was never a choice
I did not wake up one day and decide
that being sad sounded like fun
that choice was made for me
But I have control of my actions
I have control of my words
and I'll be in Hell if I don't try
to help myself first

So yes, depression is not a choice
but to a degree, how we react to it
is a choice
I could stay in bed all day
or I can get up
and this morning I felt sad
I still feel sad
But I got up
I got up
and that was a choice I made for myself

Afghanistan used to be such a prosperous nation before the Soviets invaded it
I'm so sorry it fell to such a disastrous fate
If i could take all the suffering and damage away
I would
I'm sorry for all the Afghanis
I hope to see your country in serenity again
I never wanted it to be this way
From yours, an American.