By definition, you're a stranger
But from my gut, I'd risk the chance
To sit beside you
Get to know you
Hear your story
Fall under trance
You say my words are magnets,
But your own attracted me
To ask for answers
Seek your truth
Reveal my secrets
So effortlessly

© JL Smith

Don't follow in my footsteps
I warn you,
Soon they'll disappear
For my dreams won't
Keep me grounded
Before long,
these wings will lift me
In the air

© JL Smith

You promise to create a balance,
More or less,
But what if I desire someone similar
To my madness?

© JL Smith

It electrifies my veins
Blood charges through my body
When I gaze into your eyes
And view my soul reflected vibrantly

© JL Smith

I take my time
Stand behind the others
Listen before I speak
Then confront what they run from

You can tell me what to do,
But I'll learn my own way
I'm as hard-headed as they come
Whatever's forced turns me away

I won't duplicate the norm
I create what others can't
My ideas are abnormally structured,
But come alive through my two hands

Too many think the same
And so the world continues to circle
Yet, I question if it can change
As I dedicate my existence to its reversal

© JL Smith

When you hear the voice of "can't"
Know that it was never really yours
You've been preprogrammed to believe
The doors of opportunity are closed

Remember--
Our language's vocabulary is vast
For every contradiction of "You can't"
There is always an "I can"

© JL Smith

I sincerely miss
Giving the top of your head
A kiss
When you appear in my dreams
On nights like this

© JL Smith

Stop, dear girl
Savor this moment
The world spins fast enough
Don't forget the present
Before it's stolen

© JL Smith

I must have erased this
A hundred times
The truth is
I feared loneliness
As it peaked at bedtime

Someone once spent a fortune
Of time on me
Implanting ideas
I'd amount to nothing
"Just wait and see"
I wasn't worthy of love
Something out of my reach
I worked myself to the bone
To earn nothing
Of what was promised or preached
And one day Someone left,
But I've managed to survive
While those poisonous thoughts
Continued to eat me alive

Time does pass
As wounds heal slowly
My loved ones remind me to laugh
And look after me closely
I'm grateful for them
And for guidance from Above
I can fall asleep peacefully
Knowing I am loved

I'm confident
Someone wouldn't recognize me now
I'm stronger, wiser, less lonely
But I don't question how

For you see, the answer's obvious
Granting me tenacity of a fighter
All along, my strength's been within
Loving myself through words on a typewriter

© JL Smith

It's not that
I'm playing
Hard to get
I just wasn't made
To be kept

© JL Smith

I don't know
Which is uglier
Your jealousy or pride
I grew too closely
Then you changed
Like the seasons
And I drifted
With the tide

© JL Smith

They'll think I'm crazy for this,
But I'm certain they already do
You're not here yet,
But I'm confident someday in the future
The world sure is gonna welcome you

You'll be bright
A shining star
With a head full of curls
Always setting the bar

You'll be kind
Looking out for others
With a smile
Patient, like a Southerner

You'll be humble
A skilled listener
With arms open
For any visitor

You'll be witty
Eliciting laughter from many
With joy as your purpose
And remarkably friendly

You'll be loving
Deeply, so deeply
With a heart
Crafted ever uniquely

You're not here yet,
But someday we'll meet
For now, you'll remain in my heart
As I count its beats

Until I witness these words
Of all that you'll be
I know of their truth
Because you'll inherit them from me

© JL Smith

If the grass
Ain't always
Greener
I'll set sail
Away from land

© JL Smith

I fell in love
You fell in lust
I broke your plans
You broke my trust

© JL Smith

Please stop presuming
Something that is not

You walked in at my lowest
Took advantage, began to plot

I'm no stranger to these motives
More astute than you've given thought

What you want, won't be given
Shift direction
And that which you've sought

© JL Smith

Give me
Star-filled skies
Or
Bright, city lights
Poetry in books
Or
Breathtaking sights
Give me
Rain outside my window
Or
Vinyl on repeat
Warm tea, an old sofa
Or
Stranger to meet
Give me
Rips in my denim
Or
Converse on my feet
The scenic route
Or
Hole-in-the-wall place to eat
Give me
Rustic or antique
Or
Quiet time
Alone so I can think
Give me
Beauty through art
And
Passion in romance
A captivating smile
And
Invitation to dance

© JL Smith

In two days
I'll follow the wind
Whichever way it blows
However it will send

I've been running in circles
Yet, idle in this spot
Caught in routine
Prisoner of thoughts

In two days
I'm a stranger somewhere new
Open to change
Alternative views

I'd prefer your company,
But I know you're needed here
It's time my freedom finds the highway
And my troubles steer clear

In two days
I'll follow the wind
Whichever way it blows
However it will send

© JL Smith

I've been told
I feel too much
I overreact
As I'm easily judged
I overthink
Fervently speak
You dismiss my beliefs
And enforce critique

I've accepted your view
It's not mine to change
But open your mind
As our perspectives exchange

It's a gift and a curse
This heart of mine
For those I love or barely know
I'd drop everything, in the blink of an eye

It's true,
I feel ten times more than you
Your words hold the power
To rip me in two

But also know
I laugh louder than most
Joy floods my veins
Insanely compassionate--diagnosed

Worn heart on my sleeve
Isn't that what they say?
My emotions revealed
Requires more strength than you display

I choose to see good
In most everyone I meet
The world is cold enough
I empathize, I know how it mistreats

The spirit of a child
My soul in search of wonder
At the sight of the ocean
Or the clapping of thunder

I believe this is beauty
A mystery most won't comprehend
I'd face the demons before you
If it meant your nightmares end

I'll never stop feeling so deeply
Believe me when I say I've tried
Every fiber of me is stitched in love
An easy target, but you're welcome inside

© JL Smith

Don't come too close
My edges are sharp
These shards of glass
Protect my heart

But in you stepped
Wounded, yourself
Oblivious to my defenses
A heart compelled

It once beat slowly
Now you've quickened its pace
How did you manage
To bear its weight

You're strong, I see
No novice to pain
The reasons I'm guarded
You've already sustained

Different pasts
Yet, similar journeys
I'll bandage your wounds
While you kiss away my worries

© JL Smith

I was fascinated by magic
Until you chose to disappear

© JL Smith

You're there for me in ways
I cannot yet fully explain
I may not know your name
But our passion is the same

Let me share with you
What I feel, too
It took some time before I knew
This path we share, should be pursued

Through these words
We express our thoughts
Our fears, our desires
When our tongue's in knots

We doubt their power
Question its effect
Yet we continue to write
Adamant to perfect

The mark of an artist
Dedicated, through and through
Piecing together stories of beauty and heartache
For those unable to

We share a connection
Most won't understand
Old souls, storytellers
Stranger, take my hand

And remember, my friend
To believe in your words
From what I've read
It's imperative they're heard

© JL Smith

I'll let you in on a secret
I'm selfish, you see
I give hugs to comfort others
But honestly, it is I in need

© JL Smith

As you read this
Know that I am near

You may not see me
Nor will you hear

But trust me when I tell you,
Place your hand on your heart

Inside--that beating
Is me playing my part

With each thump that's felt
And the space in between

There my love resides
For only you, witnessing the unseen

© JL Smith

I guarantee there will be times
Where their voices will carry you over a mountain

I guarantee there will be times
Where their backs will turn, silencing the cheers and shouting

I guarantee there will be moments
Where your goals seem within reach

I guarantee there will be moments
Where your progress will fall under siege

I guarantee there will be days
Where your dedication is rewarded

I guarantee there will be days
Where your effort is unsupported

I guarantee there will be nights
Where your dreams keep you awake

I guarantee there will be mornings
Where your fears will dominate

But I promise through it all
If you never quit your chase

I guarantee you'll reach your dream
Only you can keep the faith

© JL Smith

It's nights like these
My bed for a queen
Holds me restlessly hostage
Laying alone as I freeze

© JL Smith

I'll wear myself out
Carrying this load
The one I believed I must burden

Embedded in my mind
Long ago
To heed echoes of the more "knowledgeable" person

But I'm learning in time
All they exclaimed as what's best
Doesn't fit my mold, it only worsens

Disregarding their judgement
Abandoning expectations
Looking within to sculpt my greatest version

© JL Smith

I never knew strength until it's all I had left
Stripped of everyone and everything; a victim of theft

I never knew strength until I was visited by death
Pleaded with God until His hand helped me catch my breath

I never knew strength until I faced myself
Staring in the mirror, buried by emotions I felt

I never knew strength until I chose to move on
Acknowledging my future is brighter now that you're gone

I never knew strength until I loved thyself
Standing firm in my convictions while accepting help

I've witnessed my strength; I no longer doubt
But in time I'll learn, I'm capable of much more inside and out

© JL Smith

If I called
Would you come running?

If I had one too many
Would you stop my world from spinning?

If I revealed my mess
Would you claim it as your own?

If I had lost my way
Would you save me from wandering alone?

If I needed to escape
Would you drive me for miles?

If my pain wouldn't cease
Would you incite a smile?

If I wanted to give up
Would you encourage me to endure?

If I felt uneasy and afraid
Would you protect and secure?

If I told you it's hard for me to trust
Would you risk a chance?

If I told you I'm a little hopelessly romantic
Would you tell me you fell in love at first glance?

© JL Smith

This is for those of you who
Sit with me in silence

Or for those of you who
See within me the courage of a lion

This is for those loved ones who
Feel pride observing my journey

And for those of you who
Extend a hand when my waters turn murky

This is for your loyalty
After everyone walks away

Or for your persistence
When I push, but you choose to stay

This is for those of you who
Lift my spirit and inspire laughter

And for those who
Answer my questions before I can ask them

I'm grateful for these moments
And your acceptance that I'm human

Yet, somehow you still believe I'm super
Maybe these boots and cape aren't an illusion

© JL Smith

I may not make much money,
But I make myself proud

My IQ isn't ranked genius,
But I can captivate a crowd

Neck and wrists don't shine with diamonds
Yet, my beauty radiates all the same

My tongue often twists and stutters,
But my script puts the best to shame

I seek solitude for peace,
But my loyalty is fierce

I may not know my destination,
But my faith is letting Him steer

© JL Smith

My darling,
First, let me apologize
For taking 31 years
To accept you needed me

I look back
And I see all you have experienced
I look back
And I see how you wished you were free

An identity lost
Your route shifted their way
Drowning in doubt
A tomboy, stowed away in a tree

Never shown respect
Still caring candidly
Voice hushed by sovereignty
Yet, maintaining a heart of glee

Outstretching my hand
I'm yours to trust
No one had eyes for you
But I see you--I'm here
And it's safe to grow up

© JL Smith

You and I have similar hearts
Different stories forming its parts,
But what I feel you've felt before
An outside smile while inside waging war

You gathered it quickly
How I'll invite you in with me
Your patience and listening
Unconditional love, persisting

You don't sugarcoat the truth
Yet, you protect and soothe
Walking beside me, I don't need to be carried
Allowing independence and growth, not burying

You see something of yourself within me
Maybe secretly praying I don't flee,
But let me share with you what I'm thinking
I'm beginning to trust you as you save me from sinking

© JL Smith

Today, God sent me an angel
It appeared at my doorstep
Ringing my doorbell
Trading wings for footsteps

The one I had prayed for
A guardian I've needed for years
Finally, you found me
In your arms, abolishing my fears

Others overlooked
A few did try
Giving up in the process
I continued questioning why

It took three decades
Until you walked into my life
I've survived through it all
Partaking in joy, contending my strife

His planning is perfect
We both have learned
All I have given is love
And now it's been returned

© JL Smith

MY LOVE IS DEEPER THAN YOU COULD FATHOM
A small body with a big heart singing its anthem

MY SPIRIT IS LUMINOUS LIKE THAT OF A CHILD
A reminder to live carefree with a bout of wild

MY LESSONS ARE LEARNED THE LONG WAY AROUND
A stubborn head, battling ten rounds

MY BRAIN ALWAYS QUESTIONS THE WHY AND HOW
An inquisitive thinker, a curious brow

MY KINDNESS IS LIMITLESS TO THOSE IN NEED
A compassion that shines for humanity

MY PATIENCE IS DEVELOPING IN ITS OWN TIME
A trait earned through trials and uphill climbs

MY CONFIDENCE IS BUILDING
A self-worth I'll continue honing

MY STRENGTH IS UNSTOPPABLE
A persisting power achieving the impossible

© JL Smith

Today was your birthday
I didn't forget
Your first in four years without me
How was it spent?

Maybe that's why
You've crept back into my mind
Our birthdays, so close
The only part of us intertwined

I don't think of you as often
I guess that's how I know
I'm moving on
And I'm letting go

As much as I hurt
And as much as I learned
As much as I hated
My heart remains concerned

In time, I'll forgive
But for now, I'll heal
Happy birthday to you
A heart I once could feel

© JL Smith

It's 1:43 a.m. as I sit here and wonder
If you're awake, asleep
Or in between where we dream
It's times like this when I think of you
Question if you think of me, too

Has your heart been broken?
Are your dreams coming true?
Is life everything you wished for?
If not, do you continue following through?

I know, it's crazy
I wouldn't recognize your face
And yet, I feel we're connected
Just need the right time and place

We're guided by Above
You face your trials, while I face mine
I pray you're somewhere out there
And when we're ready
We'll find each other
In due time

© JL Smith

I remember how I wrote for you
Rhyme after rhyme
How you pretended to love them--
My words, every time

I remember how you said you read them
But I soon realized you lied
Eyes devoted to your electronic screens
As my stories laid beside

I remember how I valued your opinion
Any emotion my words may evoke
You knew they came from deep inside me
Yet, you lacked the depth for them to soak

I remember how you asked for help
When you needed something written
As you sat beside me demanding
I pick up my pace, write quicker

I remember when you scolded me
Exclaimed I couldn't write
You knew how much it meant to me
How writing is my life

But now I've learned my lesson
And I'll remember it for years to come
I don't write for you, but for me instead
You weren't worthy and no longer will I succumb

© JL Smith

What you ask for
I promise I'd try to give
But all I've known
Are patterns of brokenness
I'm not willing to relive

I've heard it before,
"I'll never turn my back"
But all I've known
Are watching the ones I've loved
Leave before they fully unpack

I cling to your words
I'm fascinated, I'll admit
But all I've known
Are promises spun from lies
Absent of action, no one who commits

And yet, I promised I'd try
Here I go, up I climb
Even though all I've known
Are heartaches and blows
I'll attempt to trust, one last time

© JL Smith

As the man on the street corner
Sings his blues
So my fingers type each bruise

To experience such joy
In only a moment
I had first witnessed pain
Years, broken and molded

Look closer, dig deeper
You'll begin to see
To the eyes we scream sadness
But it's persistence and strength

He belts from his soul
About the love he had lost
But he stands before the world
Sharing his song at all costs

I speak through my rhymes
About the hurt I've endured
But I reveal each scar
As I've grown and matured

He'll keep singing his song
I'll keep writing my words
To share our stories of ache
As we persist, undeterred

© JL Smith

It's one big puzzle
Piecing this with that
Learning to walk
Without falling flat
Placing one foot in front of the other
And not looking back
Falling in love
Getting sidetracked
Making time for others
A balancing act
Nurturing yourself
Embracing what lacks
Forgiving the source
Of the pain from your past
Letting go of it all
As it comes and goes just as fast
Like tides of the ocean
And the weather forecast
Challenges arise
But soon they will pass
The grand picture unfolds
As your stories amass

© JL Smith

As you take that step closer to the edge
To get the view they won't
As you stand to speak
And their voices cease
Or you lean in slowly
For that first kiss
As your wit turns to humor
Before their laughter fills the room
As your plane lands
And you search for a face
Or your hesitant finger
Hovers "Submit"

You feel it along your forearms as the hairs begin to rise
And in your stomach, as it starts to squirm
You feel it in your bones
And in your mind, as it races to process
What's next

© JL Smith

I was going to piece these words together
To write you something just short of magic,
But then I realized it was I who needed them
More than embracing my hopeless romantic

© JL Smith

Alone again,
But not lonely
Accepted solitude
As tranquility
Your fear
My freedom
Exploring my depth
Releasing my demons
Core settles
In tune
Mind opens
Heart composes
Serenity and beauty
Heeding inner voice
Spiritual rejoice
Gratitude
Emotional latitude
Flows freely
Rejecting the judgmental,
Artificial
Open to growth
Affirming an oath
Confident in myself
Purpose in moving forward
Trusting my gut
Relying on Superiority
The One and Only
Alone again,
But not lonely

© JL Smith

With these hands
I've written stories
I've penned my secrets
And shared my glory

With these hands
I've assisted my friend
I've patted his back
And made amends

With these hands
I've lifted a child
I've caressed her face
And witnessed a smile

With these hands
I've earned my keep
I've labored long hours
And rested my feet

With these hands
I've held you tightly
I've loved you gently
And given politely

With these hands
I've dried my tears
I've bandaged my wounds
And conquered my fears

With these hands
I've prayed to our Creator
I've thanked Him for this gift
And a Love that's greater

© JL Smith

I'm harder on myself
Than you will ever be
You're more concerned with my world
Than your own scenery
It gets under your skin
The way you watch me progress
Contrasting yourself
Surrendering before success
Judging my every move
Accomplishments and failures
Embellishing the latter
To suit the envy you've tailored
Shift your energy and focus
It's not too late to start over
Accept I am my own worst critic
Yet, I continue planting seeds like the sower

© JL Smith

I can recall every detail
On the top of my sneakers
The faded red
And ***** laces

I can recollect my hands
Crossing my fingers
Increasingly clammy
In between spaces

I remember
The wall, ceiling and floor
Cracked and stained
Bland in places

I summon to mind
Your long-sleeved shirt
Buttons and collar
As my memory retraces

I remind myself
Of what frightened me next
The contact we made
As my heart races

And so I relive
The most precious of moments
As our eyes finally meet
Their passion embraces

Don't let me forget
The depth of connection
As our souls were exchanged
Through the windows of our faces

© JL Smith

Stroll into my life
Conveniently a critic
Choosing when and where
To enter my story
Pessimistic cynic

The mask you wear
May hypnotize
Attracting followers
Here and there
I'm not deceived,
But wise beyond my years

Project onto me
Anger and jealousy
I'm constructed
To comprehend;
What you portray
Deflects your fear
As loneliness sinks in

Defining your disease
Is simple
A hypocrite,
You pretend
I offer my hand,
A genuine token
Yet your pride
Is in command

© JL Smith

Unapologetically
I am becoming myself
No longer resisting
The impulse

To speak my mind
To write veraciously
To stand alone

Confidently
I am embracing myself
No longer doubting
The belief

I am capable
I am influential
I am resilient

Patiently
I am forgiving myself
No longer burdening
The guilt

Of disappointment
Of pride
Of anger

Wholeheartedly
I am loving myself
No longer surrendering
My need

For peace
For grace
For miracles

© JL Smith

Love greets you
In the morning
Amid the afternoon
And evening, too

But what I receive
I must ration
To keep me
Pulling through

The difference is
You're greedy
Needs become desires
And thus, you pursue

While my chest's
Ripped open revealing
My *****
Beating loyally for you

And so here I am
Left wondering
If there's anything
I can do

To contain
All this emotion
As both contempt and love
Cloud my view

© JL Smith

When the world casts its shadow
And the trusted disappoint
When the dependable get busy
And the wise become silent
When love feels distant
And confidence falls short
When left alone with my thoughts
I write miracles to save myself

© JL Smith