And honestly, I can't remember
The first day we said hello
Absentminded; a little shy
Soon humor set the tempo

Years passed, as we grew
In age and companionship
Strengthening a bond
Perfecting our own script

But forgive me for not remembering
The first day that we met
I promise you today
Your heart, your eyes and smile
Became a story I won't forget

© 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

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

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

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

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

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

© JL Smith

Some who've witnessed death
Often fear seeing ghosts,
But if you pass before me,
Courageously, I'll hope it is I
You haunt the most...

© JL Smith

Come sit with me a moment
Let me reveal your worth
I'll share stories of triumph
After I believed things couldn't get worse

I've caught that glimpse
Of doubt in your eye
When I speak of dedication and success
You hang your head, standing by

You make excuses
"It's just not in my cards,"
But as a player, stop accepting what's dealt
And become the dealer, himself

Don't compare yourself to others
Resist imitating the norm
Embrace your originality
Your God-given power--that of a magnificent storm

When it comes down to it
Your potential bursts to excel
You alone possess capabilities of greatness,
But you must believe it yourself

© 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

In the quietest moments
Yes, the deafening silence
When life becomes still
As breathing breaks
Slowing the heart rate
Time halts
While reality dreams
I hear your voice
Echoing within
The walls of my organs
Vibrating my bones
And while I'm away
Here, you'll stay
Loudly, boldly
Professing your love,
My home and safe haven
In the quietest moments
While I'm away
I hear your voice
Promise me, you'll stay

© JL Smith

Five fingers, a palm
Rough texture
Yet, soothing calm
Diligent, precise
Your heated touch
My body's paradise

© 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

Wasn't it you
Who taught me to believe in myself?
Now I do,
But you don't
And it hurts like hell

© 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

SHE was
MaDnEsS and ChAoS
Botched together
By insecurities,
Hesitancy
Even so,
SHE exuded
COMPASSION
Enough to redress
Your misfortune

© 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

You asked if I get lonely
And admitted that you do
Living alone requires bravery
Something I've grown accustomed to

I breathe in the scent of memories
And exhale a new-found freedom
This time alone strengthens my character
God knows it's what I needed

But you asked if I get lonely
And truthfully, I do
Whether together or independent
We all feel it at times, but push through

For Love resides around the corner
Followed by Laughter and its comrade, Joy
You see, loneliness may try to isolate,
But Faith always defeats its ploy

© JL Smith

I sense darkness
Something hiding behind those genuine eyes
You've hinted at it before--
The fear suppressed inside
I'm not one to pull, to pry
My heart is patient,
My heart is kind,
But know the whispers of your secrets
May conspire safely alongside mine

© JL Smith

The race I run
Feels endless
The distance
Immeasurable
Detours denied
Mountains to climb
Persisting ahead
Hope in the line
Victory in time

© JL Smith

No matter where I roam
Nor what I see
Whether natural wonders
Or the Atlantic Sea
The home I've searched for
The home I need
I carry along within me
Embracing love
Penning poetry

© JL Smith

Today it almost slipped
Those words right off your lips
You know the ones I speak of
As our bodies aligned
Eclipse

And in my chair
Haphazardly
I sat, not scared to fall
You walked right up
Behind me
Leaned over me and
Stalled

Remember when you
Whispered
My name into my ear
I almost felt you say it
Those words I know we
Fear

I often wonder what it'd sound like
Not to read them or
Imagine in my head
For you or I to claim it
And yet we hesitate
Instead

© JL Smith

And I swear to God
I'm not strong enough
To face this pain again
I felt something was there,
But not to this extent

My **** heart will never learn
You've obliterated it to pieces
Investing trust and secrets
From all its deepest creases

Before I lost a lover,
But now my closest friend
You're selfish and you know it
You've lost nothing in the end

Go on, get back to living
Your life before I arrived
Pretend this heart didn't love you
With everything inside

I can fake a pretty good smile
So, don't worry, no one will know,
But the one you once gave me
Will forever cease to show

© JL Smith

Of all the lies I've been told
Of all the promises that have been broke
The ones I lose sleep over most
Are those three words you misspoke

© JL Smith

If your eyes
Were the only set
To read my
Candid thoughts
I'd write
Until
My fingers
Bled
I'd write
Until
Words
Emptied
My head

© 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

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

© JL Smith

I'm wasted on your words
Held hostage by your speech
Hanging on to syllables
Their emphasis and reach

The tone you chose is subtle
Distress unfolds to peace
Annunciate your authenticity
Lest my intoxication cease

© JL Smith

For some time now
You've been watching
As I walk along the edge
Wondering if I'll fall blindly
Questioning if I'll trust again

You know well
How my heart split in two
Please don't subject its mending pieces
To experiencing déjà vu

I now sit upon the ledge
Feet dangling for your view
Will or won't you catch me
As I allow myself to be loved by you

© JL Smith

These tears, I'll remember--
Not of pain, but of bliss
To come from nothing,
To hear I'm nothing
I dreamt of bright, city lights
On the coast
A place in books and film,
A place I never visited
Yet, somehow, I dearly missed
That matched my spirit,
That matched my energy
Deep inside
That never slept
And I promised myself
One day, I'll see you,
One day, I'll walk those steps
Amid the tallest skyscrapers
Along with dreamers who never rest
Today, I did
Today, I felt at home among strangers
Some singing, some partially dressed
A melting *** of beauty,
A melting *** of truth
Everyone here has a story
And it's vibrantly confessed
An immigrant's hope
A young woman's liberation from her past
I cried tears of joy upon a park bench
Fulfilling a promise to a young girl afraid to act

© 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

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

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

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

You speak your mind assuredly
But Darling, how you've forgotten
Your eyes translate your heart

© JL Smith

And so who declares
What's rEaL or iLlUsIoN
For when I met you
A L L became hAlLuCiNaTiOn

© JL Smith

THOUSANDS of faces from morning 'till dusk
The familiar, the strange
Over YOURS, I still lust

© 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

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