As I reflect back
On previous poems
I remember the feelings
That each one contains
They're there in the words
Not visible,
But palpable
Speaking more than the symbols on the page
Could ever hope to convey by themselves

I think of my anguish
The pain and hurt I've been through
And as I hear stories from others
I learned what to do
To keep my head up
Even if I'm alone
To let it out, and let it in
No matter what feelings they are
To cry when I'm sad
Or laugh when I'm glad
Or sit there when I have nothing to say
Not to intrude
Not to delude
Merely to Live each and every day

I don't mean to Live
As to possess life
I mean to Experience
And value your life
I take much for granted
I'm realizing more
Whether it's a long talk
Or laying on the floor

I think Living is contingent on Loving
Not anyone or anything in particular
But Loving the world wholly
And knowing that you don't know
You and I don't know why the trees grow
You and I don't really care
You and I can't tell if it's a Heavenly glow
We just hope to make it there

Believe in what You choose
I'll believe in my choice
God or no God
Take hold of your voice
And proclaim out loud
What you believe
Because though some may shun you
Some may shut you out
Some may tell you you're wrong
Some may tell you 'what it's all about'
I ask you to answer
When criticism knocks
To stick up for your feelings
To stand up for your thoughts

And when you stand strong
Head held aloft
Know that I'll listen
And Learn from your thoughts
I may find it silly
I may not agree
But one thing I promise
You'll receive no critiques from me

I've learned through others
And through myself
That we each have our own paths
Our own crosses to bear

And I will never know
What lead to our paths crossing
But what I do know is
That I owe it to you
To figure it out
To learn who you are
To seek out the answers
To drive in your car

See, to me it seems
The world has become mean
And discontent with being a part
Of the Evil, Greed, and Misery
I choose instead to seek out the Good
To seek out the Giving, and the Elation
Because though I'm glad
That I've been sad
And that I've learned from it
I'd rather be Happy
And spread Goodness
Than fester in this rotting pit termed Humanity

People together can do great things
People alone can too
People in general are maddening
People specifically are True
True to themselves
True to others
True to their Values
True to their Brothers

Beware the false Prophets
The ones who reach out
And try to tell you
What it all is about
They tell you to conform
To go with the flow
And pretty soon you're converted
Content not to know

Please avoid this Fate
If you so choose
Try not to Hate
Yourself, don't lose
At the end of the day
You're nothing but yourself
So be the best you you can be
The rest will handle itself