The way the wind blows
The sound it gives
A memory of something missed
I miss how the sun shines
When it isn't
Whatever yours may be

I get angry
Or sad
Heartbroken and just broken
Over petty things I realize
But I have to let it go
And be reminded of the truth

Truth is something we all
Need to learn a little more about
We all love selfishly
And that's not love
We forget about what love
Is really supposed to be

We get too caught up in ourselves
We forget
About what really matters

Our babies
Our family
Our friends
We all forget sometimes
And that is okay
But try to remember
Before it's too late

Keep in mind
You are not by yourself
Even if it feels that way
There are people
(Friends, family, loves)
Remembering you

Don't let the anger and pain take hold
Remember the sunshine
When the sun's not shining
Because it will come back for you

A dog without a bone
A child without a home
Loved by many, yet alone

A comedian with no jokes
Mountain climber lacking rope
A convict dropping the soap

A bottle of wine without a corkscrew
A detective absent of a clue
Arts and crafts minus the glue

A day with no sun
A party that's no fun
The last of a lineage with no son

Some things in life are needed
In this life to get through
In my life, that is you

Tough exterior
Tore apart
Piece by piece
From the inside out
Knowing the fight
Was a losing battle
Too stubborn to quit
Hope was the last hope
Never giving up
Headstrong against the odds
Purely out of spite

Like buried treasure  
You've lost the map for
You can't always find it
When you're looking
Sometimes it turns up
Where you least expect it

It's true
A world without love
Life would be much easier
No pain
No heartbreak
For the love of money?
Nope
No corporate takeovers, no greed
For the love of power?
Nope
No wars, no genocide
Without love
There would be no hate

It's true
In a world without love
Life would be much easier
But
Life would be incredibly dull
Like the stars had been plucked from the skies
All of the color had been taken from the sunset
No more passion
Progress would cease to exist
Laughter would be heard like silence
And a baby's smile wouldn't mean anything

It's true
Shadows couldn't exist without light
And the truth remains the same for hate and love
A world without love might be easier
But that's a world I don't want to live in

Before I met you
I had resolved to stay single
That was the safer route
I had grown tired of being hurt

Sometimes during the night
I would look at the stars
Wondering, if there was someone
Out there looking for me as well

I remember feeling distraught
Over the pain life had handed me
Not understanding why
If I deserved the pain
If I even deserved to ever be happy

Because others hadn't appreciated me
I had lost the understanding of my own worth

Before I met you
I had been used
Abused and confused
Alone
Wanting something I thought I would never have

A needle in a haystack was found
When you came into my life
You were the one to recognize my value
You showed me what it meant to feel loved

Your sweet disposition and honest smile
Helped me to forget about the past

All I can see now is the future

Not a day goes by
Without you on my mind
The moments without you
Seem to drag on forever
Yet I wait for you
To see you
And feel your embrace again
To protect you, held in my arms
I wait for the day
When we are together once more
Finally without obstacles
Standing in our way

Taken
Stolen from me
With my guard down
I let it happen

I gave up willingly

As a man
I try to be strong
I carry many burdens
Upon my shoulders they rest

I don't let my guard down
For just anyone
I don't let everyone in
I especially
Don't hand my heart away willingly

For you, I have
No regrets
That is how it should be
You've unchained me

The walls I had built
To protect me from harm
Only left me imprisoned
Yet they crumbled
With your charm

You make me feel
Like anything is possible
Dreams aren't something
Only when you're asleep

Sometimes, they're granted
Once reality and heaven meet

We are young
Maybe not forever
Being carefree
Moments don't last

Sometimes our paths are set in stone
Burning out too soon
Leaving someone
A family
Alone

I've learned of you
Through family and friends
The best was always said
You were a best friend
Before a dad

But
You became a dad
Unknowing that the future was short
Two sons, your name
The seeds you planted
Each, each other
Never the same

We have grown up on different paths
Never forgetting
Our father
Who didn't have a choice
To not be there
Because cancer is a ****
Gave you the last time with us
Being sick

We don't judge you
We only miss you
And try to be the men
You would have wanted us to be

Even though I was there to hold your hand
You forgot about me
And went to another, instead

I was there for you when you were broken
I broke myself to pick up your pieces
But you went to another, instead

The games you played
I never knew the rules
I always lost
And I was the fool

I kept forgiving you
Wanting love to be reciprocated too
No matter what we had invested
You still wanted something new

There is no point
In giving your all
When there is nothing left
So long as doing your best
Isn't enough
Don't trip and fall

Sometimes
It's okay to say goodbye
Don't give up
Don't blame yourself
It's okay
Tomorrow is a new day

Where you live
Isn't always an option
A beautiful thing, really
Without, where would the children go?

An escape
They are searching for
All you have to do is offer
They are small businessmen
Looking to make a buck
They are tired of their family being dry

Just let them know that there is something
Out there besides...
What they know
They are looking for more  than the most privileged do
It's about the men they know
Lacking of what they show

Kids want what they think is perfect
Once they don't get it
They rebel
I've been an ******* since the day I knew Santa wasn't real
All I wanted was to be told the truth

You were only a child
I got lost in
My own troubles
I didn't forget about you
But I got lost

Please understand
I am
Only
A man

Sometimes we forget
That it isn't easy
We all judge
But we forget

Disney movies
Tell us everything should be perfect
When you want it most
It will come to you
Real life tells us otherwise

I don't expect perfection
I know we are flawed
And that is where true beauty lies
In understanding
And not judging
(Grammar helps)

Everyone hurts
There's too much pain out there
No reason to give in
Keep it in perspective

****** days
Bad times
Lame lines
Hurtful signs

Noone can hurt you
As much as you can yourself

Just dig in and know
The roots are deeper than that
Being stubborn never was so stubborn
And that's okay

Take responsibility for yours
And give cheers for others
You are not alone
If is very selfish to think that

We are here with you.
Never (again) alone

Sometimes you have to work for it
Sometimes it's just about being yourself
Someone will want that
Even if someone before, didn't

Don't give up
Don't give in
Look up to the stars
Believe
In what the heavens hand
And give

You are a true friend
And I love you with all of my heart
Through these times while you're being tested
It's not worth giving up
Over what you've invested

Never

One of my dreams growing up
Was to end up being a father and a family man
When I heard you were on your way
Was one of the first wishes
I was ever granted

I missed most of your first year
Because I was overseas
Although not a day went by
Without you on my mind

I came home
And watched you grow
Your smile and laughter
Reminded me of the innocence
I had lost while I had been gone

I may have not been the perfect father to you
But you have been the perfect son
You taught me how to be patient again
How to love and let someone in
There were times when I felt
You were the only one that understood me
And you were just a little baby

When you came into the world
Everything became a little more scary
Reality and priorities changed
Because I had to protect you from the evils
You also gave me hope
That the world wasn't that bad off
Because it had people like you in it

You patted my back when I was sad
You told me, "Everything is going to be alright, Dad"
You meant it and I believed you

I call you "future man" all the time
But the truth is,
You are a better man than most I've met

I am here for you
Always and forever
I am trying to be the man
For you to emulate

Sometimes there's nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
How can you explain
That what you're trying to get away from is yourself?
When you can't catch a break
From disappointing yourself
Unmeetable expectations
Even though it's as simple as
Just letting things be
Deep inside
The feeling won't die
Never good enough or deserving
When happiness is so close
A hand smacked as you reach for it
No
It's not yours to have
Look but don't touch
I need saved
From myself

I want to do things right
Leave the past behind
Quit judging people for other's misactions
Quit judging myself
Let myself be happy
Quit wasting time
Be a little more kind
Take charge of my life
Get back in control
Tie things back together that have unraveled
Instead of taking the easy road
Travel the path less traveled
Learn to appreciate what I've got
Take less for granted
And learning to love this life
I've been handed

Because of the past
I had become afraid to love
After all of the hurt and pain
That had come before
The walls I had built around myself
Were tall and strong
My heart was guarded
Safe from infiltration of the love kind
And I walked along through life
Imperious to affection for the longest time
One day, however
You came along
And like a thief in the night
You slipped past my barricades
And stole my heart
I was helpless to stop you
Because I was the one who let you in
Now that you are the keeper of my heart
It is your job to protect it and guard it from harm
To show it the world and what it missed
While I hid it behind walls

I never knew it could be like this
And you may think this is just another love poem
It's about the journey of two
Of fate, destiny, or chance
They found each other
All three most likely played a part
In the meeting of these two souls
Finding happiness once again and together
A second chance
A new start
I never knew it could be like this
Everything seems more vivid
The shining sun more beautiful
Not only are great things possible
But they happen
Sometimes when you least expect it
As I wandered aimlessly
Under the cover of clouds
You were the ray of light
That shown upon me
You gave me direction again
I had been searching for so long
Not even knowing what I was looking for
Now that we've found each other
My search is over
I never knew it could be like this

So sensitive
And sentimental
You touch my heart
With all that you are

I once felt hopeless
The way you look at me
Leaves me breathless

As I write this
I understand
That no words can give justice
To what is happening between us right now

As a man of words
You leave me speechless
And yet our connection says more than any that have come before

I realize now that I have been lost for years
And I finally feel like I have found my way back home
Your light guided me to somewhere safe
A place I can call my own

Whatever fire I've walked through
Which led me to this
This point in time and place
To you
Was more than worth it
You were the passion I've been searching for

Come Woman
If you'll let me
I'll show you the world
What it means to be happy
The things dreams are made of
Turning fantasy into reality
Fighting demons together
Burying the past
Creating something
Built to last
Setting the bar higher
And changing the standard
For others to emulate
Showing you what it means to be pampered
Come Woman
If you'll let me
I'll show you the world
What it means to be happy
Staying young forever
Something that cannot die
Your quench I quest to satisfy

Sometimes it's hard to find
The time
To be kind
Always about what's mine
Tightroping a fine line
A dinner better cooked than dined
It's not my fault
I drank too much wine
Maybe that's a sign
To slow down
Weigh options
Value to pound
King, no crown
Sometimes
The best music
Has no sound
What we want
Is sometimes lost
Then found
Who we hold we hold close
Make up what matters most
Stand up and be
Let rhythm rhyme
Let freedom be free

Everyone makes mistakes
Loved ties come undone
Trapped in the past
Tomorrow will never come
Letting regret go
No matter how long ago

Sometimes things feel like a voodoo curse
But everyone makes mistakes
Never forget, it always could have been worse

It is never as bad as it seems
A positive perspective, a must
Without it
The downward spiral will never end
Everyone makes mistakes
You have to forgive yourself first to mend

The pain behind your eyes
Tells a story that could never lie
That feeling of being lost
But wanting to be found
Intimidated and vulnerable
Tired of being pushed around
Confused and torn
At having a second chance
An opportunity to choose
When it's safer with nothing to lose
Picking up the pieces seems an impossible task
To find someone true
To trust
Not hiding behind a mask
I can see the pain behind your eyes
It isn't hidden very well
Sometimes to get to heaven
You gotta go thru hell

I sold my soul
For a parking space
Mama told me not to
But I let it slip away

She died
Of the broken heart I gave her
Because I stopped calling
I stopped loving her

My love was for money
The quest to acquire
More
I live in a sea of amenities
Endless luxury and toys
But I don't know what fun is anymore

I climbed the stairs of success
Stepping on backs as I went
Leaving friends behind
Never looking back
I traded my best friend in
For a Lamborghini

Trophy wife
But I sleep with my secretary
Because she doesn't ask questions
Trophy children
But I've missed most of their birthdays
All they care about is money too
The shadow I cast shrouds their innocence
And one day
They will be me

I sold my soul for a parking space

Ughh...
Morning light
You tease me with your beauty
For I am not ready

This morning came too quick
My bed was so cozy
Inviting me to stay a little longer
Alas, I cannot!
I've got work to do!

Trying to build up
Enough momentum to go
Two cups of coffee down
Enticing my blood to flow

Alright, it's not so bad anymore
Bed
I shall return to you
Later tonight
And our reunion
Shall be such a delight

A place inside
I placed a piece of me to hide
Fragile but protected
From the world outside

Deep within
Hidden from view
I had forgotten about this piece
Until I met you

This piece
Restless to get out
To be held and seen and known
After being hidden for so long
To finally not be alone

This piece
I finally release

You have quite the selection
Your customer base
Have lived a life of rejection
With pocket change to spare
Head to the ghetto shop
In your local hood
To get your under-quality good

Your forty options are near endless
To sate the alcoholism of the hopeless
Everywhere I turn
There is a security camera
Mainly to record
A niche in a world
Lacking glamour

The coin-tilt game that I see kids playing on
Surely can't be legal
Yet they flock there
To open pavement
As a seagull

The hood respects you
And needs you
Even though your necessities are seriously overpriced
The lack of a car or high gas prices
Creates your demand
Your convenience
Makes quality get sacrificed

Should a drug addict or otherwise desperate soul
Try to rob you blind
They will be lucky to end up serving time
Because you are ninja hiding in the open

Sounds like a stereotype or cliche
But it's most definitely true
The ghetto shop exists
And will treat you like a friend
Always, "Thank you, come again"

The more you see
The more  you know

The more you know
The more it hurts

The more it hurts
The more you feel

The more you feel
The more you see

I'm sorry I was gone when this started
Not my fault for that
But I feel like I wasn't there for you

I know life is tough
And escape is tempting
I do it myself

Wrong place
Wrong time
Don't know the details
Don't need to
Fact is
You succumbed and it got you

It brought you down
Almost everyone has turned their back
On you
And I know that pushes you down

But I am here for you
I know you
And I love you
I want good things to happen for you
I am forgiving and understand
What I can

Life isn't a bunch of ice cream cones
Or trips to the zoo
A long Sunday drive
A barbeque

Life is painful sometimes
Real painful
We all need an escape
A break from what's bringing us down
I get that

All I really want you to know
Is that I'm here for you

If you need someone to stop you
I can do that for you
If you need someone to talk to
I can do that for you
If you need to unload on someone
I am that person

Please
Let me be a point of light in the darkness
I can help you find your way if you're lost
And I will guide you back

Columbus, Ohio
You're doing good things for me
An educated glance would say
You're not a bad city
Same **** as any other bigger city
But people seem kind

I ride my bike to work
It's not far
Not much trouble
Drivers are mostly considerate
And I am as well
There are a few *****
But
I understand
Some people can't forget about themselves

People seem kind
Happy for the most part
Maybe something is going on here
Young people seem more wise
Older people seem more patient
Maybe it's just me

I do really want to know though
Why does it smell like **** sometimes?
Because I ride a bike
I really have to deal with it
It's funny to an outsider
But not when you get a mouthful

Everyone's **** stinks
But **** Columbus
Can we do something about that?

All I can promise is my best
I may stumble or slip
With the best
Comes the rest
Good for a laugh or a cry
Today or tomorrow
I will be here
I promise my best
At being me
If you want me for me
Then I am yours
If you should ever decide
That you don't want me
Or desire me anymore
Don't be mean
Don't be vindictive
Don't make it my fault
Just take my hand
And say goodbye
Parting ways
With no hurtful or hateful words
Able to remember the good times we had
Without the fighting and screaming
The sadness won't be hidden
I'll wonder what went wrong
And why the magic is gone
Especially if we are still getting along
Sometimes it's best to move on
Apart

You are convinced
You've made your escape
As far away from midnight you can get
Continuing on and on
In the hopes that you can hide from the inevitable
You can't stop time
Avoiding the reality is an insatiable quest
The more you try to escape it
The more you will become lost
Unable to find your way back
To yourself
The darkness will come and it's unavoidable
Stop running and let it happen
The more you fight it
The more people are going to get hurt
You've gotta stop to let yourself heal
Move on
The road you took led you here
Accept that
And quit punishing yourself

Osama
Obama
Mothers killing babies
Cops killing kids
Kids killing kids
Facebook
Twitter
Online dating
Connected more than ever
Yet never more far apart
More suicides than combat deaths
Generation Y me?
Marriages don't last
A broken family is a typical family
Legal Marijuana
Bath Salts
****** is higher than ever
No more cursive writing
A degree doesn't guarantee a job
Just debt
Gay marriage
Equal rights
Politically correct
Because everything is offensive
Donald Trump for president
Caitlyn Jenner from the chopping block
Skinny jeans
Trust fund kids
Starbucks junkies
Disney Star Wars
Men to Mars
Internet wars
Cam ******
Electric cars
Hookah bars
A generation founded upon instant gratification
This is the world we live in

I am not a stepping stone
I am not dirt to be walked on
I am not yours to be tossed away
I will not let you undervalue my worth
I will not be taken for granted
I will not be abused
I will not let you disrespect me
I will not build you up
Just to be left behind
The feelings will be mutual
They will be reciprocated
And if they aren't
Well then
You just don't have a chance
If you want my heart
You will have to steal it
Break down the walls that guard it
Catch me by surprise
Tread lightly
And I will welcome you with open arms

We grew up there
Until the streetlights came on
We kept going

Mothers calling us for dinner
Avoiding the call
Until they found us
Because we were never far

Unless we were on our bikes
Only around the block
We agreed to that
But lied

Getting grounded to the house
Looking out and watching
Hoping and waiting
Until our sad faces
Reminded our parents
We were just kids
And they gave us our freedom back  

Outside
Alive

Running
Definitely screaming
A lot
Laughing about dumb stuff
But that was the best, yes?

Feeling invincible
Time seemed endless

The bonds we made then
Will last forever
We carved our initials into trees
And concrete

Threw rocks
Broken windows
Crashed bikes
Comic books
Baseball cards
Chased girls
Walked to school
Ice cream

The foundation I was built upon
Seems unreal anymore
A distant dream

Can I count on you be my friend?
To stay and hold my hand
Till the bitter end?

Will you stay through the tough times
When the days are short
The long night comes
As we wait for the light to come back
Will you stand by my side?

Will you help me fight off my demons
And protect me from my sorrows?
Will you teach me to smile again
When I've forgotten how?

Will you love me still
When I'm not being very lovable
Think I'm cute
When I'm just a mess
Be close  
No matter how many miles?

Can I count on you to be my friend?

I had other poems in my head
But now they are dead
I sit here and wonder
What it is
I wanted to say
Something I was feeling
That needed out

Stressed and upset
Placing my last bet
End of the line
Spread thin
Again?

Wondering
How far can I be pushed?
Until I fall over the edge
And I'm falling
Out of control

But
It didn't happen
Because I don't have time for that

Beauty
Love
Truth
Laughter
Keeps me true

Life is too short to waste it
Being angry
Or blue

Smash stuff around
Be angry
Your primal emotion
Things aren't fair and you're upset about it
Stomp on others
Spread your negativity
It is contagious
Your vibe is ******* with us all

You are a grown baby
Nothing can make you happy
You wouldn't know happiness
If it landed in your lap
Free costs too much
Nothing takes too much
Compassion is selfish
An easy day is too hard

The best you have is pretend
That is all on you

You're so full of ****
It smells

You'll never get enough mother's milk
You big, ******* baby
Keep *******

It starts
It's happening
Intensity
We are both feeling it
It is amazing
Although
I'm no sucker
I don't even know you enough
There is no way I do
This is lust
We are acting like teenagers
And it's fun
But
The way you look at me
Makes me think of the possibilities
Of what we could have together
Also
The past still lingers
I remember how things fall apart
How beautiful can turn to ugly
How love can turn to hate
No amount of experience or understanding
Has prepared me for this
I am still vulnerable
And this is how you make me feel
I am not ready

My favorite lie
Is to be told that everything is going to be alright
To feed that hope that things will get better
Somehow life will be perfect one day
This is a beautiful lie
It tricks you and comforts you
In a time of need
No one talks about it
But we know the truth
This lie gets us through the mess
One more push to get through this
On to tomorrow
The next day
The next struggle
But don't let it get to you
Everything is going to be alright

This day has been rough
I'm spent and my reserves are burned
After all of the hard work
The pain
The grind
The time
Keep pushing ahead to get there
Figurative haymakers thrown
Untouchable to get the job done
But burnt
Spent
Overlent
Taken to the limit
Finding out what you're made of
Being surprised but impressed
No matter the task at hand
Or tribulation overcome
At the end of the day
Knowing when a someone thinks of you
They think of love
To feel appreciated  
For being you
Will make breaking through any obstacle
Wonderful

I smoke too much
I drink too much
I don't sleep enough
Balanced diet?  Ha
I don't exercise enough
But, this is the perspective of others
I don't just survive
I live
I feel
I do what it takes
To wind the clock to keep on ticking
Still young at heart
Even though I know time is flying by
Never to be replaced
No matter how busy
Or tired
Or burnt
I still take time to notice the wonderful things
Big or small
They are what keep me moving
And keep me
Young at heart

You feed me lines
And I let it happen
I cling to hope
That it isn't over
I know it is
When you kiss me
And it isn't real
Out of habit
Lack of desire
Out of time
Out of fire
We tried
We failed
The heat is gone
The change we needed
Was needing to grow
We grew apart
Instead of together
A blind man can see
What we had is gone
Now we walk in separate directions
Further apart
The best is to pretend
All the magic
And laughs and love
Were just pretend
Child's play
Although just a moment
In our existence
Like it never happened

Why is so hard to find
When it's right in front of you
It rides on your back
And it's bringing you down
You keep hiding it like it's a secret
But it's as obvious as ever
You're so transparent
I don't see you anymore
All I ever wanted from you
Was one thing
In your eyes
You may feel it's alright
But the more you stray
The worse it gets
And you're getting so lost
No one will be able to help you
Find your way back
You're burying yourself
In a hole you keep digging
The respect I had for you
Is slipping away
You are imprisoning yourself
Behind a wall of lies
All I ever wanted was the truth
It will set you free

Without restriction
Blinded by lust and love
I took your virginity
Never to be undone

I pushed the first domino
Unknowing of the journey ahead
Or the repercussions of my deed
I don't judge you
For the choices you've made
The things you can't take back
But I judge myself
For pushing that first domino

To watch you
Sails unfurled
Rudder missing
As you ran rampant
With no direction
As the other dominos fell
Was heartbreaking

I know it was exploration
But you deserved more

Do you remember
When we used to talk for hours
About nothing and everything?
Our hopes and dreams
Our triumphs and fails
Our loves and hates
We would disagree sometimes
But we always learned something
And it was fun
Until the wee hours
Sacrificing needed sleep
To listen to you
No matter the topic
Taking 10 minutes to say goodbye
Then wishing it had taken longer

When things fall apart
It's too easy to judge
Point a finger
Blame them
Shift the weight
Off your plate
By the time you quit steaming
It will be too late

Take responsibility
And own up
To the steps you took
Down the wrong path
Sometimes it's better to look back
So you can retrack
Fix your steps
Instead of stepping on a mine
Quit wasting time

Easier to blame
Than understand
Waiting to argue
Rather than listen
You have the patience of a kitten

All your energy
Used on fighting
Something as credible
As a bigfoot sighting

It's better to stop fighting
And stop and think
No one is perfect
All of our **** stinks

You judge me
My abilities are limited
My skills peak out
At knee level
Or lack thereof
But I am the Quadriplegic Ninja

Combat I fight with inner strength
A punch I pack
Comes with arms I lack
You will question
How you were beat
By the ninja with no feet

Words I use
As my greatest weapon
Once I'm done
You better get steppin
Well
Cause you can

I'm Quadriplegic Ninja
The ***** I give are zero
Ask me anytime
And I will be your hero

Bleeding Laughter

Because of a lass
I sat in the grass
And a piece of glass
Cut my ***
Possibilities were teaming
But my **** is bleeding
She is screaming
So much for dreaming
There could be hope
But I'm a dope
I keep on swimming
Without a boat
Doesn't matter
As long as I stay afloat
You may think this is just a joke
That I wrote
But it's more of a *****
Than a poke
I can assure you
This is just a poem
Straight from my dome

I'll be the spark
To light your fire
I'll be the water
To quench your thirst
I'll be the blanket
To warm you up
I'll be the breeze
To cool you off
I'll be the light
To guide your path
I'll be the hand to hold
In this journey
Young to old.