Dangling on the edge of sleep with something on my mind;
A shadow of a dream, perhaps, or something of its kind.
The fabric of the umbrella chatters in the gale
As the emerald water rises with the swell.

My toes are curled in the sand, my head rests on my arms -
Here on the pristine beach I am safe from harm.
My skin is warm in the glow of the sun -
This sweet summer day has only just begun.

My breath is deep and even, my limbs relaxed and free.
My eyes are tightly closed to the glare of the sea.
I allow my thoughts to wander into the deep
As the whisper of the waves sings me to sleep.

Don't ask me
To share your burden.
I'm weary,
And I cannot carry more.

An open ear
And a soft heart
Can gather quite a load,
And I am tired
Of carrying so much.

Don't ask me
To share your burden.

I have my own to bear.

A wild moon hangs in the sky, its errant beams piercing my eye.
The clouds obscure, but do not hide, the nature of the moon tonight.

The tension mounts and the chaos builds
As the clouds roll in from over the hill,
Bringing a promise that will not be forgotten.

The trees acquiesce to the winds' passion
As the people scatter in a hurried fashion
And the miniature missiles crash to the ground.

The heavens scowl in our direction
As the zephyrs howl with a cruel inflection
And the creatures cower in their hidden hollows.

The storm rages and the ****** nears
As the thunder claps and the lightning sears
And the darts pound a staccato on my roof.

The calm steals in and the winds fade
And each new drop is slightly delayed
As the storm moves on to search for someone new.

Knees bent, the notebook rests upon them
Hands clutch, the pen dances across a page
Mind races, words tumble and fall into place

The fingers flag as a word is tasted
It's not quite right and another is tried
Until the flavor is perfected

Teeth chew when she's deep in thought
Lips purse as she checks over the verse
Eyes smile and it is done

Be still my soul.
Be silent and calm,
For none can know of your brooding.

You flutter and twitch
And lie down again
But to be stirred by a draft.

You foolish thing.
Fold your wings,
For you shall not fly this day.

Soaring is a treacherous deed
And should rarely be done,
But never in another's presence.

It's so easy to plummet;
To fall to the depths
Of despair's deepest abyss.

So be still my soul,
And fold your wings,
For you shall not fly tonight.

To a good dog:

I love you.
You were beautiful
And amazing
And the first dog I had.

You knew how to sit and lie and even shake hands,
And once I taught you how to jump through a hoop.

You ran like crazy after every ball
And chewed the fuzz off them all.

You'd lie on the couch when no one was looking
And chase after squirrels if you saw one around.

You loved eggs and hot dogs and grease from cooked meat.
You always came running if you heard the word "treat".

You hated cats and cowboy boots and taking baths.
There's no way around it; you were awesome.

We grew up together and I wished it would last.
I know that sounds silly, because all things pass.

I love you like crazy,
And I miss you more.

I wish you were here.
I'd curl my fingers in your fur
And bury my face in your neck
And cry until I couldn't breathe

And you'd sit there and let me
Because that's how you were.

You were a good dog.