I have a pit bull exterior but is that all you see?
Most people who walk by stop, stare, and then flee
But I know I am different, like you want me to be,
For I have a loving and tender heart inside of me.

The world is such a lonesome place, filled with shades of black and white, filled with catastrophe and despair

Challenges do not always get easier, criticism does not always get quieter, people do not always get nicer

But in these moments of sadness, gloominess, and adversity
Look inside yourself and find courage

Make your challenges into stepping stones, take the criticism with a grain of salt, forget about those who do not treat you right

For in the end, all that matters is who you are, and if you like who you have become.

Sleepily and lazily, he makes his way out of the hole that has sheltered him from the cold

As he looks both left and right, does he long to see his shadow, which will send him away into slumber for a little while longer, or does he prefer to lounge in the shade of the day?

To him, the decision will take only but a moment

To reporters, onlookers, and bystanders, only the moment can tell.

My mind frequently wonders
If birds pause in flight
To receive the fluffy hug of a cloud.

You can feel it, can’t you?
In the shiver of your spine
The tingling of your toes
The goosebumps forming on your arms

The time is now
Close your eyes, breathe, and
Jump.

The distant lights across the water attempted to illuminate the shadow waves, swaying in beat with the cool breeze

The stars above shone in the darkness, their brightness unaffected by the misty clouds

The dock was slippery under my feet and damp under my fingertips as they glided along the railing

Our laughter mixed with the frog’s croaks to make music never before heard

And as I looked over, finding her next to me, my heart felt at home.

She woke up and looked across the frozen landscape,
Surveying the shimmering white ground,
Admiring the twinkling trees moving in the slight breeze

The others were already preparing for the adventure at hand,
Combing through their rough brown hair with their tongues,
Sharpening their strong antlers on nearby trees

She stood and ran to catch up,
Longing for a sense of freedom,
Eager to journey with her herd

She gracefully pranced over snow capped hills and through blanketed valleys,
Only to arrive on a frozen river bed,
Which her herd had already elegantly crossed

One hoof stepped onto the glistening ice,
All seemed well

She placed her second hoof so delicately onto the ice,
And she thought she flew

All at once her hooves shot in different directions,
Flailing to the left and contorting to the right,
Sending her soaring across the ice and into the snow bank on the other side

Dizzily she climbed out of the snow and looked around,
Feeling frightened and lost,
As her herd was nowhere in sight

The snow behind her crunched and she jumped,
Alarmed of what danger could be there,
Fearful of unknown threats while she was completely alone

She ran on through the silver canopy high above,
Attempting to focus on the radiant colors of the sunset,
But getting lost in daunting thoughts of being alone

All of the sudden, she heard the scraping of antlers in the distance,
And the snorting sounds of her herd filled her ears

Her heart filled with joy,
As she ran with all her might toward the noise,
Overjoyed with having found her family once more

She was welcomed back with joyful snorts from all,
Smiling to herself as she laid down,
Resting up for the next day of journeying through the winter kissed landscape.

She starts every morning with light,
Painting the sky with pastel hues,
Spreading excitement for the unknown of a brand new day

She disperses her rays over plants,
Offering a warm welcome,
Stretching out her rays as if to aid them in their growth

She slowly slips behind a dark cloud,
Which makes the world cry,
Longing for her warmth and love to caress it once more

But she reappears once again,
Expelling her fire light across all creation,
Making faces and petals alike smile towards her magic.

In the blank of his stare and dullness of his kiss,
She found her soul trapped in routine,
Fighting to be set free.

Trees team up to block her,
Attempting to soak up all her marigold rays,
Swaying in her light,
Jealous of the way she shone;
Yet grateful for the warmth.

A sunny spot in the clearing beckons me,
Pulls me into its warm embrace,
And finally for a moment--
I feel at home

And time slows to a halt,
Until every detail feels tranquil,
Silence rushes over me--
I feel serene

And the earthy grass ******* sways between my toes,
Filling my nose with fresh scents,
Freedom fills my lungs--
I feel rejuvenated

And I stand, slowly walking away,
Glancing over my shoulder,
Barely catching the majestic rays peaking out over the mountains,
And for a split second,
I feel free.

when the rainy day comes along,
she can become more POWERFUL--
the greatest goal towards which humankind could strive.

The sky painted itself with pastel hues,
Oranges and yellows, with very few blues,
It was a welcoming start, I knew,
For it was peaceful and still half asleep;
Yet it set my soul aleap.

There are days where the sun grazes over the horizon
Flooding rays across the land
But somehow still seem somewhat bland

There are days where colors spew across a page
Expelling even the most vibrant hues
But somehow still fill me with the blues

There are days where the mind feels open to all space and time
Pouring out thoughts that are spirit infused
But somehow still leave me feeling confused

Yet,

There are days where light comes seeping in
Overwhelming all other senses
That completely soothes and cleanses

There are days where color is found all around
Exploding into sight and emotion
That help to make sense of all the commotion

There are days where my soul feels enlightened
Erupting with feelings only coming from God
That show me the exact path on which to trod.

The richest man may offer all his jewels,
The strongest man may threaten all his brute,
The most powerful man may call all his horses and all his men,

Yet no one, and absolutely nothing, can take you away from me.

Don’t be a ray of sunshine,
Bringing only a glimmer of hope, joy, and light into the life of another

Be the whole freaking sun.

Morning dew clings to blades of waving grass,
The minuscule beads glimmer in the rays of sunlight as they peak over the horizon,
I can see it

Sidewalk pieces jet this way and that,
The asphalt adhering to the tree root beckoning it to move,
I can see it

Tiny lights twinkle in a distant town,
The hustle and bustle of a world that is never quite put to rest,
I can see it

It is all so clear,
Yet my eyes are closed.

We adventured to places where my soul was free and my converse got *****.

Darkness floods the outside world,
Obscuring trees into uncertain shadows,
Allowing distant lights to grow or diminish depending on the distance in between

But the signaling of the train horn draws me back into the lit carrier,
My reflection and that of the cab slowly appear into view on the window
And I am back in my body

In the reality that clutches me.