Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
No—
That bard Will has beaten me to it.
Half a league, half a league—
But the Light Brigade gives its thanks
to my Lord Alfred.
I know why the caged bird sings!
Oh wait—
That’s what Maya knows.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.
I’ll take the road less traveled,
but only cause that’s what Robert said.
What’s left for me to write?
Thoughts swirl in my head,
and out through my pen.
Art has taken written form.
I know what I’ll write.
The world will love it.
I will love it.
And I’ll keep writing,
I’ll keep writing till the sidewalk ends—
Really, Shel?
You had to take that one too?
But no matter…
I’ll show you,
someday.

My heart beats in my chest,
Hovering in that state of in-between.
Not knowing whether to suit up for battle,
Or to brace myself for the break.
Is this dream worth the fight,
Should I give it my all,
No matter the risk?
Or is this a teaching trial?
Is this a time
To summon every scrap of strength I've got,
Or is it a time
To find the courage to say no?
Cause sometimes a true show of character,
Is not staying strong in the face of a battle,
But knowing when to wave the white flag
And walk away.

I remember as a child,
Looking up to the older kids,
Thinking they were so cool.
And now,
All of a sudden the tables have turned.
I'm not a little kid anymore;
I've entered the stage of turning points
And life-changing choices.
I feel like my life is a news cast,
With reporters on every corner,
Trying to get their nosy noses
All up in my business.
I feel as though I am stripped and vulnerable—
I have no answers to their questions.
I used to dream of doing great things,
And now it's time to choose
Whether or not those dreams will become reality.
I'm told that I should follow my heart,
But what if I don't know what my heart is saying?
The dreams I used to have...
I don't know how to fit them in my life.
I thought I knew what I wanted,
I thought I knew what I loved.
But now I'm not so sure
If I can align my fantasy with the rules of life.
I'm afraid to make the decisions
That will determine my destiny.
I guess that's what happens when you grow up.

I want to tell him
that I’m scared,
that I’ve been here before.
And that the last time I felt potential like this it imploded;
I imploded.
But I don’t want to taint it,
You see I’m still hopeful
That maybe this time
Won’t end up laced with maybes,
Or what ifs,
Or open wounds pouring blood onto paper.
That maybe this time,
just won’t end.

I’ve not quite worked out whether I think it’s beautiful,
Or stupid -
The human capacity,
And pliancy,
And longing,
For love.

Let me take your heart
to where it should lie,
in a place that consists
of only you and I

Let me take your heart 
to where it should be,
in a world that exists
for only you and me

©

There once was a bear,
Who sat all alone
On the toy store shelf.
He watched as his friends
Were gently taken
Off that wooden shelf.
They had soft brown fur
And handsome bow ties,
Just like he did.
But their golden coats
Must’ve been softer,
Their bow ties neater.
What made them special?
Why were they chosen,
And not this poor bear?
Days turned into weeks,
And weeks into months.
Still, he sat alone.
So now, he still sits,
Watching and waiting,
Wondr’ing why he’s there.
What good is a bear
With no one to hold,
No one to comfort?
What difference could he–
A lonely stuffed bear–
Make in this big word,
From all alone
On that toy store shelf?

A dream is a wish your heart makes,
when you’re fast asleep.
Then when you must wake,
will that dream keep?

Dreams wake us up,
the let us live.
But to make them come true,
How much must we give?

We all have a dream,
to sing, to dance, or paint a work of art.
Or maybe we wish
to teach, to travel, or help others find a heart.

There’s a fork in the road we must pass
every waking day.
Both paths are different,
each with a price to pay.

Will we choose to live our dream,
whatever it may take?
Or will we choose the other path,
and our dreams forsake?