As  a child  
I colored with reckless abandon  outside  the  lines
                         all over the place
             and   wherever  I  felt, as I defined
                       the word abstract

             Blue  elephants,   purple   trees,  
   red   fish, blue and white bears, green oceans,
            pink moons.   -- it  was  all   good.

                     As I grew older everyone
       was  trying  to make me  color inside  the lines,  
                color everything just like
                          I saw  it.

        So  I  ended  up  painting  by numbers.
          --- Whether you actually paint,
                         or you write poetry,
                or dance, act or direct,  create
                              what you feel ,
                         create outside the lines
.
                    I want to watch green oceans
                                 and red bears,
              an orange sun and a pink moon.
                            I like to listen to
                      purple   trees   as  the blue
              elephants make their way through
                                          them.    

           ­        What color is your  love  
                                 now?
                     What color was your love
                              as a child?                                           Jon York   2019

Wake up
        hug a dog
        have a
        good day.      

          Be the
         person
        your dog
          thinks
         you are.
                                                                                               Jon York   2019

You are
         my heaven
           on earth.

             You are
            my  sun,
           my moon,
              and all
           of my stars.

              You are
             the most
             beautiful
               thing I
               keep in
              my heart.  

          Some people
             are worth
            melting for.

              The best
           thing about
            memories
            is making
                them.

              Always
              kiss me
            goodnight.

               You are
         the best thing
            that's ever
                been
               mine.                                                          Jon York   2019

ATTRACT
              what you
                 expect,
               REFLECT
              what you
                 desire,
               BECOME
              what you
                 respect,
                     and
               MIRROR
             what you
                 admire.

             And    decide,  commit,    succeed
             and  may  your  heart  be  BRAVE
             your   mind    FIERCE  and   your
                                       spirit always FREE.

              Surround    yourself  with   people
              who   will  make you   hungry  for
              LIFE,   touch    your  HEART   and
                                     nourish   your  SOUL.

               Show     kindness     to    someone
               - a  kindness   that was  not  asked
                                        for and unexpected.

               We can't always  choose the  music
              LIFE plays for us, but we can choose
                                        how we DANCE to it.
                                                             ­                                Jon York   2019

Don't
           forgive and forget.
           Remember   and
                    recover.
               ( Healthy Self )
                 Heal thy self
                    I'm not
                telling you
                  it's going
                  to be easy,  

             I'm telling you
                 it's going
                     to be
                  worth it.
Put your broken pieces back together differently and learn to love the sound of your feet walking away from things not meant for you.

              Make broken
                       look
                  beautiful
                       and
                     strong
                       look
                  invincible.

                 Walk with
                the universe
                  on your
               shoulders &
           make it look like a
                      pair
                  of wings.                                                  Jon York   2019

You  are
                  my today
                      and
                   all of my
                 tomorrows.

                       And
                   you will
                     forever
                      be my
                     always.

                          I
                       have
                      found
                     the one
                     that my
                        soul
                        loves.

                             I
                       put my
                         arms
                       around
                           you
                           and
                      I'm home.

                           You
                         are my
                          happy
                           place.
FORGET: who hurt you yesterday, but don't forget those who love you today and everyday. FORGET: the past that makes you cry and focus on the present that makes you smile. FORGET: the pain, but never the lessons you gained.
                                                                                         Jon York   2019

Don't tell me
                          what   to  do,
    unless       you're    naked
                      and
    If   you    had  a   bad  day,
    don't  take  it   out  on  me,
    unless  we're  both  naked.

    There's  a reason why we
     have     stayed    together,

    We  give  each  other
                 something nobody    
                                    else can.

      Relationships get stronger  
      when  both  are willing  to
                   understand
       mistakes and
                     forgive each other.

      People    may  not   always
      tell    you   how  they   feel
                                   about you,
                          but
      they will always show you.
                       PAY
               ATTENTION
  In  the end affection  is always
             greater than perfection.
                                                                                         Jon York   2019