let them watch as she dances
their desperation hanging
like the smoke from their cigarettes

a sea of bloated bellies
and empty glasses
cast hungry glances from high
up on their bar stools

she will dance
and they will wish
they still had a spark that
could catch her attention
longing for a night
taken from the pages of their
glory days

let them watch

in hopes that a piece of her spirit
will twirl off her skirt
for them to capture
and put on a shelf
along with what they once
had been

just another thursday night
at the tragic tavern

Pulled apart at the seams
I'm trying to cut you out
like I should have long ago
when the signs were clear
but what does that mean to the blind

I never thought I asked for much
just that you'd
live long and die for me
as I'd do for you
now I'm drowning in your discontent

pulled under by your ignorance of
my suffering
sinking down at least I
tried
what else could you have wanted

now I'm just another stone in the sand
at the bottom

Rash decisions
made a monster of you
now
standing consumed
by regret
in ruins of the things
you
turned your back on
when deciding
what you thought was best
and realizing
too late that
getting what you wanted
wasn't what it
was supposed to be
now
left alone to
pick up the pieces
you didn't appreciate
what you had
sadly, they rarely do

In the darkest corner
willing the time to pass
and for the shield of youth to wane
it waits in hopes you lose control
of what you are
your potential
and eventually
you will succumb to the shadows
mistaken as comfort
they will swallow you whole
and then all will be lost

Four walls crush
barely recognizing the reflection that stares
longing for the fat a cushy existence has brought
to burn with the binding responsibilities
another morning brings
Freedom
is hunting with the wolves
no place to call home
open air, open eyes
open life
with only your bones and wit as companions
new faces, new place
no cage around what should be free
will
guilt would linger at first
then a home would be made in the ***** blanket
that is loneliness
fleeting moments with strangers a staple in this life
I will create
like many do when it all becomes too much
and you become reckless abandon

You’re not right
he chimed,
your mind
cluttered with what ifs and who’s who and
what color your coffin lining will be
when all the jarring in your pretty head
finally takes you over

a turbulent sea
crashing waves of this and that
these and those
staying afloat on a dab of rationale
slipping under, under
under the blanket of black and white
the only colors you see

even before you start to slip
sit and try to see the silver lining
can you make it out past those dark clouds?
It’s there, you just need to look
& hold fast

I know where teddy's gone
the one that collected dust on your shelf
for so long
he grew tired of being chosen last
or not at all
so he let go of the past
and left

now the wild child
who found him has given
more love in their short days together
than you ever did

to think, as the blankets of time
covered the bear
you forgot he was there at all
but he had never forgotten about you
until he did