Laying here thinking
Of all we have left to do
The sunsets and laughs to come,
Let’s dance and smile in love.
I’ll hold you tight
And tell you you’re my world
My hand reaching out
To touch your cheek,
Can feel my heart beat
Wishing I could bottle the moment
And keep it forever.
I pray “please”
And get on my knees
That my love will stand by me
Through life’s journey.

Floating
Blue and green
An army of stars
Lies far away
Reaching for something,
The end of space.
A universe so kindly quiet
A black and stagnant pool
Of nothing I can imagine.
In my heart I see
Earth is quite a dream
And Space my mind's fantasy
Outside my soul
Sits this lonely home
Still beautiful

Close your eyes
See the rich static
Of black velvet
You are a rock skipping
On an endless sky
Amidst stars sinking into a deep night
Your thoughts
Running until you’re lost.

On these cold nights
I dream of yellow
In the depths of a fire
Crackling to match the thunder.
The trickling rain
Shows a mirror on the ground
Another world,
Close my eyes and sink under
Maple syrup and apple cider
My inner thoughts
Like honey colored drops.

Do you feel it still?
On your skin
My hands tapping
Begging for attention
As you look in another direction.

Talked about leaving town
But who we kidding now?
Can't be the people we wanted to be
Anymore.

A grief without tears
Thought bubbles trap fears
Caught in limbo
An ice hand squeezing
Freezing feelings of warmth
Numbness
Waiting to cry again
At fond memories
Escaping in the steam.

I love you
With all the smiles and tears of my life
When you're sad, I'm sad
Because the world's not right.
When you're safe and warm at night
I close my eyes and dream of lights
Dancing in the wind
An angel- my best, best friend.

But here we stay
Worlds away
Hearts beating slower, they wait and wait
Until again we're face to face.
A key player is missing
In this hauntingly beautiful city- without you, empty.
On a brief adventure- look to the sky and I'm there
Look to the ocean and wave
Someone once told me love is give and take.

True love pushes through,
Trust me, it's only you
Who is a breath of fresh air in an untouched forest, the sunlight in waves, a diamond that never fades.
Came into my heart with a golden ticket
And worlds away the show still plays.
Reaching for your hand to hold, but the empty space is too cold.

Lights dancing in the unforgiving wind.
Trying to catch them, but can never win.

Come with me to where the water hits the sand
To the end of mystery
And take my hand.
The endless roads and maps
Will end and all that's left
Is deciding to sit and rest,
Feeling all is right.
And a light appears
That reflects us in your eyes
We are together,
I am me forever
And hope you feel the same.
Lost in the sounds
Of you simply breathing
The world is my illusion
Amongst fog.
You stand as a clear vision
But now pleading on the edge
To hold you till the end
Perhaps long after.
Won't you come with me?
Let's go together
There to belief
That beyond uncertainty is you and me.

Laugh out loud
Don't care if it's too loud
Wave to the crowd
Skipping on the streets
A train of dust,
Stopping to stare at the sea
And so it goes each day
Can't be, won't be the same.
Smile at the birds watching
The bunny running away
You were tip-toeing too loud
Because life's a play, take a bow.

Forget what they say
In gossipy ways
Smirking to a crowd.
Pointing fingers to find control
Flicking others down
Embodying a spirit other than their own.
A loneliness giveaway
Cursing at the stars
Messengers of denial
One can see it from afar.

As daffodils bloom and white doves coo
As corn grows tall and maple harvests in fall
As rain hits cheeks and lighting streaks
As skies of blue and red and peace
Remind me to close my eyes and think
Today is today, tomorrow the same
Now flitters away, now remains.

Sharks swim in circles round stoic sunfish
Ancient eels hide, watch out- they bite
Sea turtles hover near the glass
Wide eyes in the audience
At what to them is mysterious.
Both feel wonder, a sense of danger
Unpredictable natures, could they relate to each other?
Peered in a little longer, leaned in a little closer
Saw in the reflection
Fish out of water.
Separated by land and sea- no matter
The lowest fish in the water
Sees what life has to offer.

Wisdom teeth- you're out.
Sneaking four, about to commit a heist- no doubt!
Fuzzy and tingly- then darkness consumed the high.
Awoke, the sting of absence felt.
I've taken my drugs- cried and iced.
I caught ya. Wisdom teeth.
I will plead for sleep.
Gone now, but if I ever lose my molars?
How wicked would that be?
My wisdoms couldn't aid me!
I'll accept the philosophy of Candide.
For "all is for the best" arguably,
In "the best of all possibly worlds" supposedly.

Left out and drenched blue
The sky could not change it's hue
Solace found in night.

Persistent contrast
Each had made the sky alive
It winked thankfully.

Accepted this fate
What purpose lay in repine
Smiled, oh the sunshine *azure!

Thoughts spiral in circles, pondering existence
Worrying about what happens, or ignoring fate after darkness
Is life a vacation from nothingness?
Do Bible stories of two opposing paths bring more comfort- or less?
Could it be- every thought is controlled by languages?
Not the independent "me's."
Or is there more than one mindset, can we be freed?
Possibly dreaming forever in the end, more questions begin
Will I encounter the same souls again-
Did I choose this life I'm living in?

Possibly something has control over what we ponder
Everything may remain mystery after eternal slumber
All we see and feel, illusions- moans of thunder
Absence of reality, hopeful or hopeless banter?
Purpose connected by wonder
One day we will discover the truth of the matter
What a feat, was it worth it-
Pondering existence?
Did I choose this life I'm living in?

I want to sit on the banks of the Xi Jiang
Even if I am not connected to it in any way,
Yet.
I want to follow the west wind
Go to shadowy depths of cities, toss up ideas on mankind-
To opine about messages secretly received- opinions we’ve debated and have
Yet to.
I want to go where the lake has dried
Giddy when I dream of dropped treasure left behind- value, poor loiterers have
Yet to find.
I want to seek orange rinds
And follow them through the journey of tossed away remains
Protectors once, you know, in times of yesterday
I too have lost and have
Yet to preserve a place.
I want to peak through broken venetian blinds
Spy on sneaking criminals and discuss intentions
See how motives coincide
They entwine and have
Yet to preserve a place to fit in.
Where they are exactly how they perceive themselves, no chagrin
But, where they’re also still dreaming.

It's my point of view, let me tell you-
Take it or leave it, know what you want
Move on, get things done
Appreciate everywhere you've gone
Follow a path of your own, hold on.

Embrace the customs of others
We're all brothers
Forgive, don't forget
People often regret what was once said.

Remember your alluring, keep on track
If you swerve off, bring a map
Speak the truth
Respect your neighbor, accept a truce.

Keep in touch with confidants and family
Stray from apathy
Open your heart
Be confident in your art.

Laugh and cry
Aim for the best- at least try.
Look at the world through someone else's eyes.
Valuing perspectives makes you wise.

I wished on a star too
Skipped rocks, flew off the inner tube
Played capture the flag, hide and go seek
Summer camp and climbing trees.

Passing notes, amusement parks, sports awards
Just Dance, sleepovers, boogie boards
Tire swings, smores, shirley temples,
Neighborhood friends, trampolines... few troubles.

A shooting star passed,
Silent tornadoes of memories
Come, lets ponder the time machine.
Just a kid, or maybe an adult- I'm 18.

Cherish past experiences, live for your dreams.

Rest in peace,
Your life was full.
A tender smile,
A restless soul.
When all the world seems a lie,
An unforgiving place,
Where not even the strongest, most caring, or most intelligent
Escape
Jack O' Lantern fates.

Look again.
Today they burned out
After having found love, dreams, and knowledge about
Their purpose.

Rest in peace,
Though I wish I had taken the time to
Talk the night away.
Spend another moment believing things stay.
People have a destiny,
None can stay,
So rest easy.
Life was a journey- even if only briefly.

I saw that glance
A short-lived romance.
I saw that smile
Think of me again, once in a while.
I saw that stride
A sudden nervous longing for
Our paths to coincide.

A small boy watched his brother
Happy as could be
One spun and twirled and loved a balloon
It was all he ever did need.
Somehow, someway the balloon popped
Right in his hands
He stopped.
They stood together for a moment
A silent weep shook through
One brother saw the other's tears fall
And knew what to do.
He hugged his shoulder
Picked up the plastic remains
Walked on side by side
Sharing a single pride
For one brother’s burden is both brothers’ fight.

I bowled three games tonight.
Possible paths to victory skipped rocks in my mind,
Until the ball dropped.
I won and lost.
My face flushed.
My skills wavered,
Such a tragic player.
A strike, a ball doomed to the gutter.
What did it matter?
When the lanes burst with laughter?
Friends, arcades, night bowling.
Fingers contorting.
Strange shoes and watching feet behind the line.
No passing it, no crime.
All win in the end.
Bowling alleys- hidden gems.

I cried tonight for love
A love that beats and shakes hands
With strangers
Kisses them in a passing glance
I found my grasp on laughs
Crispy leaves punched out of air
Fireflies that emerge in the midnight flare.
I watched the fish on the end of my line
Decided that it was time
To push past, but keep in my heart
Live for the moment, cherish the start.
You never know where the people go that fill your heart.
They are a part
Of who you are and who you wanna be. Of things you want and what you wanna see.
Stop the tracks, place another penny
A bet on life and a pocket of plenty
The girl of your dreams or the guy that steals your heart
Hits the target with a dart.
Ride into the moonlight, alone if you want. Make friends with the moon and the dullest star.
Speak your heart, decide who you are.
That fish was caught at the end of my line
It had forgotten its mind.
Remembers only desperate times.
But freedom was the goal of its tries.
Happiness still lingered, a dream that’s kind.

Sun beamed dust riding
The distant mirage is blinding
Boots melting, dirt frying
Past two cascades
Up and down orange, cracked caves.
Horses sit for days.
Rocks, trained.
Snap back into freedom
Rebel against wooden planks
Feel the wind on hooves, how yellow grass fades.
Builds back green brigades.
A fly landed in a lonely place
His wings kept beating, wanted grace.
Eyes unfocused. A piece of barley wasn't whole.
A grain of salt, a dry home.

There was a star I wished on when I found the chance
Remembering the motionless dance.
The same glare shone, even if they came true
Who knew?
In one world or another
I’m sure I’m back with you.
Embrace the extreme heat, the numbing cold.
For if we couldn’t feel, what would we hold?
To slap our backs and charge our souls.

I found a part of myself on the banks of a distant river
This girl that will stand up for something
Hope for more
Look beyond the murky waters to an endless sky
Float along the banks
With a purpose in life
We trudged along, sailing past lives
Put on our boots and discovered another side
In between the lines
These people, they changed my perspective in a week
Thank you to the people that ponder and read
One hundred books a year
Whose purpose and future is clear
Those who have been in the eighth grade for years
Once were part of the swat team - so I hear
Who tell jokes that remain untranslated
Found hope away from home and built dreams, settled down far away with their family
Braid like no one's watching (Thank you for your braiding talent - honestly)
Wear fedoras confidently
Break out the world record book
And bring people together under one cause
To travel away to the Amazon
Trying to help those on another continent
Water filters, guarana,
Guitars, and farinha
A caiman aboard
I found a part of myself in this land, untamed
Because of the people, the songs, and the rain
No goodbyes, friends for life
Setting our hopes high
There's this boat out on the river
That honks to call you in
This blue majestic gift that holds our memories within.

These people
Mucho beautiful.
You can see them smile
Miles and miles
Riding in a van awhile
Brothers, sisters, mothers,
Daughters, fathers, sons
Hammering until stability comes.
Family and friends under brimmed hats
Gazing through glass at a land void of grass
But full of passion
Leaving behind permanent tracks
They reflected on how they had made lives brighter,
Seen children beg for water,
Woke up yearning to play soccer-
If they won against the locals it'd be a wonder.
A military women, an Illinois baby,
A president, an el Pancho puppet
Pharmacy pros, a summer camp enthusiast, and an old teacher-
He's the coolest.
Some want to be preachers, psychologist, and to just live past round one.
To run around rainbow tires daring to risk
A dusty trip, a graceful fall.
Keep calm.
It's tacos for dessert, van rides, and mafia till the end.
Spoons for life and jokes all day.
The wind picked up but hope remains.
Braids, charades, dancing, picture frames.
Hole in the sand.
Bouncing in the back of the van.
Almost, but no luck at riding in the back of a pick up truck.
Soaring free down streets.
Towns, the same images on repeat.
A woven rose, question marks leading to unknowns, a circle of bonds forever.
Will we be there soon?
A carnival under the midnight moon.
Coconuts by homes. Respect for third tier bunk beds.
Rushing to the dorm room, downstairs for food.
Todo esta bien y tu?
Braid hair all the time please!
Don't let the paint bleed.
Let's go ride the ATV
Reflect on who we want to be
From here on till eternity
A rower, a reader, and eighth grade dreamer.
If the nail bends, stop to see
It could be saved!
Our Baja family

Moved from place to place
Meeting friends, leaving- straight face
I sigh now at lost relations.
Building and breaking foundations.
Lost in locations,
Frustrations.
Scrounging up translations.
Of feelings and summations.
I am stronger, though
I feel a part of many worlds.
I am glad to have met so many souls.
A thought that consoles lonely strolls.
I wont forget the stories wrapped in white gold.
Memories are something beautiful to hold.
As are scandalous tales untold.

Clouds know true desire.
Gracefully lifting childhood hearts.
Pat adults on the back who miss days of old,
Fishing for simple strings to hold on to.
Don't fool a heavy heart,
Can't love somebody one day
Then the next, never could.
Clouds understand what motives are.
Do we act the same- no,
Will we admit it- no.
The sky winks though, as fire and nature collide.
Don't mind showing mankind that nothing stays the same.
Things change.