I remember ascending to the surface of the river,
And grabbing the other end of your float.
Exchanging a smile, I wanted nothing more but to hold onto you instead.
The clear river pushed us along for awhile, then I looked behind, sighed and rolled over, to give her the space to drift along with you ahead.

Take me back to the Mountains,
with a soft breeze in my hair,
for steep hiking, leaves crunching,
and short intakes of air.
You were a speck in the distance,
from a climb through the ridges,
so I clambered over rocks
to make it to the finish.
With one last pull to the peak,
I saw a smile on your face,
then I brushed off the dirt
and fell into your warm embrace.

you like to sleep on the ground
of a forest or cave.
with the world as your roof,
it breaks you out of your cage.
it's uncomfortable to most,
but it's comfort to you,
to be hugged by the earth
instead of swallowed by a room.
with the music of insects
and the rustling of leaves,
you fall into a deep sleep
with the sweetest of dreams.
or to the dripping of water
and the flapping of bats,
you get peaceful, calm rest
to each drop- split, splat.
it's the outside that's freeing;
the shackles are cut loose,
but for now, you are stuck
in society's abuse.

Poetry is a band-aid to pain- it helps heal wounds.

Why does anxiety happen in
An avalanche
The weight can't be held
It plunges
Piling on and on
It smothers
The frost encloses me
It numbs
I'm losing feeling
I'm frozen

you make me want to
create art
run faster
write poetry
climb further
see the world
dive deeper
read to learn
hike longer
listen to music
and fly higher

Around the world
I'd follow you
Across the ridge
Into the valley
Through the cave
Up the mountain
Along the waterfall
Off the cliff
I'd follow you
Around the world

he's got more than 9 lives
from staring death in the face
freezing down to his bones
in a bitter dark space
a trek through the mountains,
food's not more than a bite
struggling for existence
for just another night
not knowing what's there
falling fast through the air
and several encounters
with a mad grizzly bear
being tracked in the jungle
by a silent wild cat
it's a feat he survived
with a stalking like that
he's a man with some luck
he's got more than nine lives
he never stops moving
on adventure, he thrives

Should I act with passion
or more with reason?
Have thought behind action
or give my heart freedom?

Our love was a high
that had an expiration.
We knew that good-bye
was an expectation.

We were so quick to fall,
but it was so hard to let go.
I wish that it all
could last longer and grow.

But here we are, a mess,
of emotions exploding,
and unneeded stress
piling on and loading.

Upset and depression.
Anger and hate.
Blame and aggression.
Insults and berate.

I don't like this feeling.
I was it would leave.
Slowly I'm healing
and will no longer grieve.

I just want a place
where I can cry in peace
because I am not
all in one piece.
For a little bit longer
I just want to be alone
its hard to find silence
in this place we call home.

We paddled for miles
on the wide open lake,
with constant sweet smiles
as the oars made a wake.
We pulled up to an island
when the sun started to set,
sunk our feet in the sand,
and let our bodies be wet.
We talked there for hours,
the pink slowly turned black
with smells of wild flowers
and bugs biting our backs.
Still, a paradise hidden
just for us on that day,
But night made it forbidden,
so then we paddled away.

The moment finally came-
you are back
saying sorry, you're glad
with tears on your face, pain in your gaze, and heart full of shame,
all our hate has escaped.
While I spent those months grieving
you spent them disbelieving,
reliving the love through another women.
But look who's crying now!
When she didn't compare.
I learned to conquer the world
so now you stare
at me and swear,
while your heart tears,
and mines been repaired,
that this friendship is truly what you want,
but your face
says something
different.

When you look at her,
I see the pain on your face
while she smiles, unaware,
of the hurt you can't erase.
And that's the worst part-
she doesn't hurt too.
She's moved on with her life
and doesn't think twice about you.
I know she consumes your mind,
every morning through night,
and I know you have tried
to free yourself from this mental fight.
Just that look can show so much,
I wish that I could wipe it away,
and change it to that look of love
instead of that look of dismay.

if i ever let it get too quiet
you haunt me.
you can consume my head,
making sleep i dread
because you taunt me
in my dreams
each night.

A thousand cats roamed 'round the house
now since her children left.
She fed them all three times a day
and never would forget.
She liked having the company
while everyone was gone.
They were in every room and porch
and even in her lawn.
She sung to them and dressed them up
like little baby dolls,
and watched as tiny kittens
licked off milk from tiny paws.
She loved them more than anything
in the entire world.
At night, she would lay next to them
in a ball so tightly curled.

Most poems are about heartbreak-
the kind where your heart is broken.
But what about those times
when it is you who does the breaking?

I'm not trying to be a *****, I swear,
it's better to hurt you now than later.
But how can I not lie to myself
AND stop your heart from aching?

There's no other choice that I can see-
breaking your heart is what I'll have to do.
I pray that you'll forgive eventually,
and find your true love in the making.

Behind your eyes
used to be a spark
a light

They reassured
and made everything
alright

But now when I glance
I see a star
-less night

An urge to hate
and a want
to fight

I don't want to look
but I can't help it
I might

I am free
without a trace or a mark.
I've boxed up everything
to leave in the dark.

I am free
to grow in the light.
Nothing holds me back now-
I can fight any fight.

I am free
from you stopping me.
I will take on the world
to be all I can be.

I am free
to do what I want.
Although free in my life,
there's still dreams you can haunt.

Humid air
Frizzy hair
who cares?

*It's December in Florida and it's 80 degrees and disgusting outside.

Good riddance to you!
You poisoned my life.
I'm cleansing myself
of your toxic bite.

When the new year comes,
I won't be thinking of us.
I'm done with your venom
and the pain it's caused.

I'll destroy and forget
your promise and gifts,
since I'm much better without you
than I ever was with.

Intoxicating
you give me a high
I'm addicted to you
and I can't tell why

you're totally wrong
in so many ways
but you strike on my match
and set me ablaze

With so many layers
I want to uncover
You're unlike the rest
A real four leafed clover

You told me how you feel today,
but that's exactly how I feel about  him.
Why does it have to be this way-
love being a game which no one wins?

You say you feel you need me,
just a glance will cause you pain.
Knowing that "us" will never be
makes your hope continue to drain.

I understand better than you think
because I feel this too.
I really don't want to break your heart,
but I don't know what else to do.

I really cannot love you;
no matter how hard I try.
You're just not the one I want
so please stop asking me "why?".

I don't want to make you hurt.
because I know too well what it's like.
So we'll both end up as losers
as the game of love strikes.

You ****** all the air out of my head,
making me dizzy, spinning
until I feel almost dead,
and that's just the beginning.

The shaking starts at the tips
of my fingers and my toes
then spreads to my lips
until on my whole body it shows.

I'm gasping as my body falls apart,
since you tied my stomach in a knot,
which swings around and bruises my heart.
My chest soon becomes boiling hot.

What do I do, what have I become?
Tears are rolling down my face.
Luckily, a good friend stops by
to give me a relieving embrace.

When I drive
beneath the city lights
I can't help but look up
and sigh.

The top floor
of the highest building-
so insignificant to everyone
but I.

The thrill we had
of sneaking in,
then climbing to the top-
so high.

Watching the traffic,
hearing the music,
and observing so many lives
go by.

One of my most memorable times
of growing up; understanding life,
but now it's just a memory that lives
underneath
the city lights.

You don't know it,
but I owe you my life
When I lost control
and almost plunged in the knife.
My breathing shortened:
in
out
inout
inout
inoutinoutinout
Tingly, stinging
losing feeling,
flashing images
spurting my head.
But I saw your face-
Knew I wasn't dead.
Clenched my fists
and held on!
For you.
You were my reason,
my inspiration,
my motivation
to overcome,
continue on,
get back up,
and fight for my life!
because the pain proves
to be worth it.

My favorite book is The Fault in Our Stars, so I wrote a poem about it.*

The fault is not in us, my love
The fault is in our stars
For we should be together
Whether we be near or far

But due to certain circumstance
Our love will never be
But I will always love you
For Earth's eternity

Although I cannot see you
And want to fall apart
Your beauty and your warmth
Will live within my heart

Beats dropping
Sweat dripping
Humid air
And heavy breaths
“Wanna dance?”
Grabbing hands
Feel your body
Through the rhythm
Quick glances
Swift smiles
See the hair
Stuck to your face
Have to go
Moving on
But wish our dance
Could last til dawn

You came to me and said it
like nothing would be wrong,
not thinking it would hurt me;
I’m trying to stay strong.
A kiss is still a kiss!
No matter whom it’s with.
If it didn’t mean a thing
then why did you do it?
I just can’t understand
why you’d think it’s okay.
It’s not a large demand
to stay loyal while I’m away.
Thoughts are running through my head:
What?
How?
Can I trust you now?
I think I can, we talked it out.
But in my mind, there is some doubt.
I have to learn how to forgive
so our relationship can live.
I want this to work – I really do.
There’s no one more perfect for me than you.
We’re both humans – we make mistakes,
but this is making my heart ache.

Why do I hurt the people I love?
And yet I let bullies chastise and shove.
I sit in a silence and take all their hate,
but to my confidants, I yell with irate.

Why offend the people who care?
I cry and scream until they can’t bear.
But to the cruel people, I can’t take a stand.
I shrink and dissolve into small grains of sand.

Why must I **** my friends with my words?
It makes them hurt like stabbing with swords.
I sometimes can make them the lowest of low,
so cold and alone under ten feet of snow.

Why would I ignore my best friend for years,
Making us both run deplete out of tears?
Just thinking about will keep me awake.
The worst I have ever made someone’s heart break.

Why can’t I just direct my ill temper
to those who give my life a large damper?
Instead of hurting the ones that I love.
Instead of hurting the ones that I love.