A bird flies free across the brook;
From springs of life it sips.
It paints its name across the skies;
Beyond the clouds it dreams.

On the ground in a small cage,
Is another, sitting still.
With eyes raised, its longing stirs
For a life confinement kills.

Yes, oft I wonder why free birds
Do not echo songs as loud:
As birds sitting within bars-
Their songs stir sleep about.

The seasons change, we learn with time
From people met and crossroads walked;
And with every newfound sigh,
Are whom that hear and whom do not.

I know now why the caged bird sings
As the world dreams at night:
'Tis the song of hope and dreams
That sparks its song inside.

For when from ash caged birds rise,
And when their wings they finally spread,
Each sacred savour of wind beneath
Is sweetest honey in most cherished *****.

And upon its journeys it listens still:
For only they can understand
What cries all free birds fail to hear
And frees those caged once like them.

-c.t.

O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm.
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

Yes, darling, maybe now you can see
That I am not all I seem to be
Beneath the innocent laughter displayed
Is a girl brought to her knees in the fray

And in the closet, skeletons scream
As ghosts of my past jump out at me
Yes, everyone left when they saw the dark
There are just too many scars left on my heart

It's only been weeks, but i hope you'll stay
Even after you have seen the fray
Please darling, don't you leave
But I won't blame you,
because nobody could take it, you see.

Lead me on,  for you have my Salvation in your hands.
Lead me on, unto the Finish Line where you stand.
Lead me on, for I trust you with everything I am.
For there is none other whom love me like you do,
O Lead me on for you have my beginning and my end.
All mapped out for you have everything locked in.
For you are all that I ever need my Great Source.
So lead me on , so that through me others shall see you.
For I have no fear, for you have everything under control.

do you remember our little corridor
that blackish floor between two and three
where dreams were made and staged and broken
where we were free and still made eleven

your voice echoes along three black walls
and your laughter, along the green
i still remember what you said about your sister
and how i held you as you cried with me

it's three months over, but i see you still
dancing through a building in the sky
i hope you're smiling, where you are
free from the dark stage you chose to leave behind

it's funny how it all comes back in waves
maybe you miss it too - all the fun
maybe you're up there, smiling down
maybe you're somewhere, saluting the sun

and when my turn comes, i'll look for you
in another space unscathed by time
i'll embrace you tight in a fresnel light
and softly sing you lullabies

but for now,
i'll just keep going on
i'll keep you where time cannot erase you
and where no one can ever hurt or break you:
i'll keep you in our little corridor
the blackish floor between two and three
where dreams were made and staged and broken
where we were free; where we'll always make eleven.

-c.t.