i once had a teacher so full of boundless enthusiasm
that i thought, without hesitation
he could break through the stars just to
show us what it was like on the other side of the galaxy

i once had a teacher who was bursting with a passion
for performing arts, and i wouldn't
hesitate to speculate that he was born with a hollywood smile
on his face, and jazz hands and dance shoes

i once had a teacher who had this faultless optimism
and uber positive outlook on everything
that anyone ever did, that he spread to everyone he spoke to
and cheered them instantly, and made them smile


but oh my god we loved him
and its with a heavy heart that we wave goodbye
the world's your stage now sir
*we miss you already

it's been one hell of a year
I've worn the seasons
under my sleeves
on my thighs
and running down my cheeks
this is what surviving looks like

it's been one hell of a year
I feel this next one will
be full of
surprises around
every curve
and that's why I'm scared
this is what being alive is like

it's going to be a hell of a year
there's so much to do
so much I've done
and I don't know
what to expect
but im excited
this is what being better is

a promise of a better future
*guaranteed if you work for it

you can say whatever you want
but know that i still have to grit
my teeth to avoid slapping you
into next week so you know the
pain i feel now, without you right here.

there's a gaping hole in me now
where you tore out the piece of
you that was stitched so carefully
inside my heart, you've thrown me
in at the deep end and i'm fearful of what's to come

the wind whistles through me now
it tickles the inner chambers of my
heart and reminds me of the passion
that we had that is now completely
extinguished but the warm embers burn on softly

as if we could ever be anything now,
now that you've reclaimed what little
of you i had salvaged from the wreckage
of the empty carcass of our love. we were
never really in love;

*but oh god, we could have been

kiss me on my blackened soul as we fall
softly for each other as we are wrapped
in this embrace holding a little tighter
than would be comfortable to anyone
else

love me tenderly, kiss away the pain
of a thousand days when you weren't
there, i want to cover my eyes before
the dark returns and crushes all of
us
[i.k]

the thing is
we are all completely beside ourselves
with pain and anguish
but yet we continue through
the pain, feeling as awful as ever.

and then we allow it
to continue and we
let our heads fall down
our mouths scream in anger
and our words to drip with spite

for those that have it easier
than me or you
kiss the constellations and
you just pray you'll
make it out the other side
[i.k]