A gentleman, my father is.
He’s kind, and loving, and caring.
A liar, my mother is.
Her anger is never sparing.
Patient, my father is.
He waits for freedom.
A partier, my mother is.
She wakes feeling like dung.
Quiet, my father is.
He thinks before he speaks.
Spontaneous, my mother is.
In another bed, her secret leaks.
Forgiving, my father is.
He lets her back inside.
Stupid, my mother is.
Her ringer is on high.

Broken, their marriage is.
Lying, cheating, deceiving.
Tired, I am.
For ever believing.

my fingers meet raindrops on tips of leaves.
Branches surround me and catch on my sleeve.
Darkness encloses; worry breeds fear.
I wonder if The One Whom I Love is near?
Hands ever searching, eyes remain blind.
He's different from me, yet one of my kind.

i trip, stumble, fall. A scrape bleeds.
Surrender to forces greater than me.
Uneven skin proves i'm riddled with sin,
Yet The One Whom I Love, will still let me in.
He dries my tears, and washes my feet.
Although i'm imperfect, He gives me a seat.

His love for me is ever confusing.
Human nature can be amusing!
i'm cracked, cut, battered and bruised.
i'm *****, beaten, tired and confused.
All of this mess, and i'm still so wanted.
He leans in close for a kiss on my forehead.

In this moment, I am free,
Because The One Whom I Love, loves Me,

For Me.

This time of year is crazier than the rest,
It's hard to put my finger on what makes it just the best.
I love my family, and I know they love me too.
So I thank God for deer, and plenty of work to do.

Im thankful for the coffee that gets me out of bed.
For friends who know the kitchen and how to keep us fed.

For dessert too good for words and jerky just been smoked.
For patience and forgiveness when we're easily provoked.

I thank God for furnaces when it snows before Thanksgiving,
And for tank tops and shorts when the grass is still living.

I'm thankful for health, for strength and ambition!
Pain killers for knees that give way without reason.

I'm glad we have music to fill the air.
For country and gospel and Creed to blare.

This work that we do is one of a kind.
Tedious and tiring  is what you may find.
Although this is true, at the end of the year,
I'm thankful for family, and our season of deer.

Do you remember when the leaves changed?
The cold came. Over me, your sweatshirt draped.
Skipping and beating, my heart swooned.
Beating and throbbing, my heart breaks.

I see I wasn't good enough.
Not pretty, not smart, not skinny.
I deterred your focus, but your feelings remained.
She's skinny, and smart, and pretty.

A fool in your sweatshirt,
I thought you'd be mine.
A fool in your sweatshirt,
For your attention, I'm vying.
Just a love-struck loser,
Sitting there crying.

Now she's in your sweatshirt.
Now she's the fool.
Now, you've faded,
And I see you're a tool.

I remember when the leaves changed.
I was your second choice, your midnight vice.
Your selfish desire left me hollow and bruised.
I fooled myself; you were just being nice.

Zeal for appreciation,
A push for perfection,
The touch of an Angel
Cries to heaven.

Desire for recognition,
Brainwashed into hollowness.
A voice from heaven
Pleas for safety.

Ravenous for love,
Coaxed to mutilate.
Constant reassurance,
A prayer for embrace.

Parallel lines
Connected by blood.
Forearms like ladders,
Perception clear as mud.

The itch for normality
dulls the blade.
Bloodlust dissolves
When attention is paid.

A devil's on the left,
An Angel on the right.
We make our own decisions.
Choose to fall, or choose to take flight.

Looking up at a painted sky,
Pinks, purples, and blues.
A warm breeze pushes hair from my face,
I kick off my shoes.

Lukewarm sand between my toes,
I think of all my friends and foes.
Plans I've made, mistakes I've made,
They rattle my brain like a grenade.

Looking into the fading light,
I see a future that looks so bright.
I see happiness, although it's fleeting,
I pray to God I can stop this bleeding.

I imagine the pain and the searing loss.
Violence, alcohol and illicit drugs.
Trust broken, lines crossed,
I'd do anything for one of your hugs.

I hate what you've done and the pain you've caused,
I'm embarrassed of the life you've paused.

I find hope and answers in the sky.
The bleeding colors and fading light,
Keep my focus on my life.
Mine, not yours. A continuous fight.

I find comfort in the creations on Earth.
My heart feels free. Free and secure.
The tide hits my feet, and healing begins.
My God is here with me, of this, I am sure.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
Picture perfect, porcelain doll.
That perfect body and human desire,
They say she's a tease, sets boys on fire.

She looks in the mirror, searching for admiration.
But all she finds is mutilation.
A broken beauty. With makeup, she hides.
Hiding scars, hiding lies.

Hand-shaped bruises plaster her body.
Her daddy loves her,
And thinks she's a hottie.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
Reflections shatter, blood falls.

She tried to stop him,
He held her tight.
Pushed her around,
Made her fight.
His sadistic game
Played out of spite.

One swig too many,
His eyes turn to glaze.
Her anger and pain
Have built up a blaze.

One missed step and a roll down the stairs.
The smell of ***** and a broken neck.
A broken heart, released into freedom,
Wet eyes look down at the wreck.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
She's the fairest of them all.
Hand-shaped bruises fade from her body.
She knows her daddy was very naughty