you lead
i follow
you run
your speed
i can no longer keep up
you're living
i'm sinking
you're shining
i'm fading
you were the compass
but now i'm more lost than ever

the ocean watches and it knows.
it knows of the mermaid who sings
of loneliness and strong tides,
she dreams of a sailor in constant travel.
her heart runs deeper than treacherous trenches,
her saltwater love for him overflowing.
she hears his song from deep beneath
and sings her heart out like he would listen.

the ocean watches and it knows.
it knows of the sailor who
has danced from coast to coast,
he braves the sea storms,
the continuous thunder,
because somewhere in the middle of the sea
he hears a lovely mermaid song
as if she were calling out to him.
so on sunny days, leaning by the starboard,
he hums a gentle tune in response.

the ocean watches and it knows.
it knows of the sailor who waits for his ocean darling,
it knows of the mermaid who longs for her land lover,
and beyond everything it knows that
the currents shall bring them together someday.

two like beings made from the same stardust
two souls meant to be one
but separated by the laws of space and life

now they spin on neighboring orbits
of different speeds—
on some days they come close enough to meet but they never do.

perhaps he sits down on his bed
eyes heavy from a long day's work

after the bustle of being
and the brightness of lights
and the noise of people
i suppose it gets lonely

maybe he wants someone to listen
maybe he looks to the sky
wishing that somebody out there
would listen

but little does he know
that somewhere not too far away,
someone sits by the windowsill
wanting to offer an ear
willing to give time
and would do anything to be the one
he would run to

trained to protect
armed in heart
dressed in courage
camouflage clothes
brave hearts
murdered unjustly
brave hearts
who were put down
by the gunmen
brave hearts
caught in the web of conflict
when they were the fearless
who only wanted
to keep us safe