We all, at some point in our lives, come across those songs-with
The melodies that seem so bland,
The rhythms that we can't stand,
The lyrics that repeat themselves with no meaning attached,
The dynamics that are out to attack,

And then we come across those songs-with
The melodies we can't get out of our minds,
The rhythms that remind us to push forward at all times,
The lyrics that explain what we were unable to,
The dynamics that help to bring out how we're feeling inside,

Maybe the people we come across throughout our lives
affect us in these ways, too.
*jm

I miss the long walks
When words were seldom spoken,
Or the nights spent lying in the yard, underneath the gleaming sky.
One smile from you was all it took to make
The stars shine brighter
And the trees stand taller-
You made everything beautiful.
To live without you here
Breaks more hearts than only mine.
*jm

I'd do anything just to
Get away
Forget this place and
Run away
Chasing new memories as I search for
Better days
I can't move on if I can't get
Past today
To forgive and forget is
All I have left
*jm

I want to dance in the moonlight
Until its glow radiates no more
I want to gaze upon endless stars
Until they deteriorate into oblivion
I want to see myself reflecting in your eyes
Until they close on that final day

Even when the shimmering lights fade
And darkness consumes the light of day
Even when the stars are devoured
By reasons unknown to man
Even when beautiful beings pass away
And time lapses and it feels as though nothing can ease the pain

My love for you shall remain
*jm

We'd be walking the Florida roads
That first day of our endless vacation
With your father and your sister keeping enough distance behind us
As your hand entwined with mine underneath that beating sun
With palm trees lining the streets
Feeling as though we were walking in a dream.

I didn't realize then
That dreams of you would turn out to be all I'd have to rely on
Just to see that look on your face
When we snuck down from that balcony suite
To swim underneath the array of gleaming stars,
And you whispered that you loved me as we floated in the current, holding on to what we knew was a finite moment.

Every single one of those moments,
From cautiously stepping into the salted waters,
Accepting the fact that we were tourists and collecting seashells was a must,
Letting my elation take over as I serenaded the artists playing on the radio,
To climbing up to the roof to watch the sun set on our last night in paradise
Will stay molded in my memory for eternity.

When I look back on those six endless days,
All I can imagine is your smile fixated on everything surrounding you.
I don't believe that either of us had ever felt so free.
I do believe that those six days
Were the last six days
Of our true happiness.
It was easy to be happy in a carefree world that wasn't our own.

These memories don't make
Being reminded of the fact that I'm no longer yours
And you're no longer mine any easier,
And those Florida nights during spring
Are nothing but the waves, washing unto shore, never returning.
*jm

He makes me smile
By looking deep into my eyes.
He makes me laugh
More than anyone has in a long time.
He makes my heart race
When he shares his dreams with me.
He makes me realize
The world is much bigger than it seems.
He gives me hope
That things can change.
He sets a fire inside of me
I didn't realize was capable of being rekindled.
He makes me feel beautiful
When he looks at me shyly.
He doesn't realize
I have these thoughts in my mind. I may not ever voice these, because
He also makes me dread
The inevitable day we'll have to say goodbye.
*jm

Lying still
Aroused by your unexpected
Unwanted scent
Go away
You aren't here anymore
You don't belong
To the strength
Belief
And love
That has pulled me through
This isn't yours
It never was
*jm

Sick of the illness
She learned of years ago,
Sick of the episodes
That never leave her alone,
Sick of the medication
That doesn't help a thing,
Sick of telling the doctor
She's fine with all of this,
Sick of trying to hide it
So very deep inside,
Sick of feeling tired
After every single time,
Sick of feeling hopeless
As she prays to God on high,
Sick of unanswered prayers
And not knowing if she's alright.
*jm

No one has ever made me feel the way that you do

I face every fear
That's come from my past
You make me believe
That my pain will not last

You don't start to judge me
After stories I tell
You see past my mistakes
And wrong words that I spill

Your eyes see right through me
Your analytical mind
Shows more of me
Than I could ever find

Comfortable laughter fills the air
Your eyes squint as you smile
I think I'd like to stay here
If only for a while

*jm

I'll keep living this life God's given me until He takes me home to Him.
Going through all of the ups and downs.
I'll keep breathing in and out until the day I die.
Reminding myself He's by my side.
I'll push forward until I reach the end here.
Knowing that He's leading me through it all.

the crescent moon
sends casting lights
upon insomniatic eyes
bodies shadows dance
upon dampening grass
as bare feet beat
and leave their marks
upon the soft earth
with souls brought to life
under the gleaming sun kissed moon
in the spirit of that summer night

Released balloons fly freely with the breeze.

As they glide peacefully above,
we are reminded of your love.

Until we meet again,
we'll keep you in mind until the end.

We repeatedly listen to your songs
and wonder if you're up there singing along.

As we watch the balloons rise,
getting carried by the wind,

We know you are flying joyously with Him.
*jm

So used to dreading
Having to sleep alone.
Got used to depending
On you coming back home.
Never forgetting the nights
Held near.
Always reminding myself
That you aren't here.
When one departs
It breaks both apart.
Accepting the departure
Is what makes this life harder.
*jm

The forest is no place for a girl
Snowflakes fall and tumble and twirl
Did her parents love her? Did anyone?
She ponders, staring at the setting sun

Her heart pounded in her chest
Parents voices chanting, "Do your best.
Come in first, get good grades."
Each word a sharp and deepening *****
Cutting through her heart and mind
Where on earth could she possibly find
The courage she needs to survive

Because the forest is no place for a girl.

She ran and ran, through the woods
Doing what she thought she could
The day had almost turned to night
She shrilly screams with all her might
She runs, not knowing where to go
The shivering cold, the blankets of snow

The wolves, they cry out to the moon
They surely will be hunting soon
What will she do to stay alive?
How can she live a constant life
Of running from the beasts out there
Knowing they are everywhere
Now she sees they are within,
All her troubles, every sin
It's too late now, she's realized

That the forest is no place for a girl.

Branches start to grab her now
She needs to leave, get out somehow
How could she have been led astray?
She cannot live her life this way!
Each problem now such foolishness
She longs now for a hand's caress
But all she has are chasing beasts
Longing for a human feast

She prays to God, her only choice
With all her strength, with all her voice
"Please save me from the beasts I face
You know that they will win this chase"
She did not know if God had heard
Each and every single word

Now the wolves were all around
She stopped, not making any sound
They looked at her with beady eyes
Staring at their final prize
When suddenly a flash of light
Like ten million suns burning bright
Caused the wolves to run away
Leaving her alone to stay

The light had slowly disappeared
And now a peaceful man appeared
Dressed in white, He walked to her
"You saved my life, didn't you, sir?"

"I did what I knew must be done
I am the Lord, The Three in One."
She clung to Him and silently wept
While He held her and closely kept
Watch over her

For He knows the forest is no place for a girl.

*cc

To help me grow in my faith,
To remind me there's always a way,
These true friends God has blessed me with
Are the reason I'll continue to praise.
*jm

You were so young
Oh, so young
Why did it have to be you?
We may never understand
The timing of The Lord
It's safe to say that this time
I will never understand
You were so young
You were so loving
And you were loved
I never wanted to see
All of those people gathered
In that too small church
For that reason
You were so young
None of us down here
Will ever forget you up there
A privilege to know you
A blessing beyond compare
To know that being your
Friend,
Sister,
Daughter,
Granddaughter,
Niece,
Lover,
And everything in between
Meant having memorable times
And endless laughter
Now there are just tears
You were too young
*jm

They're drowning in sorrows,
Hoping to see tomorrow,
Fighting for freedom
As we lie safely dreaming.
Our true heroes are the guardians
Of our country.
Standing for the people,
Standing by the people,
Living and dying
To protect, to defend
Our one nation
Under God.
*jm

The way he held her hand
Throughout all of the hard times
Proving that their
                                                                Love
Would live forever
Even when she couldn't remember
Proving that he would
                                                              Never
Give up on his one and only
Sacrificing all he is for all he has
Until the day he
                                                                 Dies.
*jm

Oh, how I'll miss their smiles, and
Their pattering feet as they'd come to greet me the minute I'd walk through the door.

Their love so pure, and
Their hearts so full.
Their innocent,
But naturally smart-alecky comebacks to statements like,
"It's time to come inside,"
"We should wait patiently in line,"
"It's time to take a nap,"
"Let's give him a turn first, and yours will come next,"
will always put a smile on my face.

The love for them, and
The joy they'd bring to my heart
From innocent
And naturally earnest words to me like,
"Your earrings are pretty today,"
"When it's naptime, you're going to hold my hand until I fall asleep,"
"You should sit by me for snack time,"
"I love you, Miss Julia."

Though I'll never see these children again,
I hope, through the years, they'll remember me
The way I will them.
I will cherish each one of them, and
Every memory they've given me
Until the end of time.
*jm

Another holiday
Another get together
Another special occasion
Another painful memory
Another reminder of his absence

Fireworks bursting in the sky
Tears streaming from her bloodshot eyes
Her heart's exploding
Her mind is drowning

No one
Can see her pain
Hidden in the dark
Trapped
She has no escape
No way out
From the painful,
Overwhelming
Memories of her past

*jm

As slowly as the waters waves grasp for land,
Is my heart yearning to return again.
As quickly as the rush of wind sets waves in motion,
Is my mind set back on letting go.
*jm

I see your face and it shows your grace to me
And there is no one, that I'd rather see
'Cause I've been waiting for you now
To show me how
We can fly together, through all time
You came from nowhere, you were so hard to find
You mean the world to me, leavin' all others behind
There is no one that can be
Like I am for you and you are for me.
And we can fly together, through all time
We're just beginning, to see what's right
Walk with me for always, heading towards the light
We've been waiting for this forever
To walk down life's road hand in hand together
And we can fly together, through all time
Yes, we will fly together, through all time.
*br