once upon a time
i was a poet

i formed words into phrases;
formed phrases to the beat

of the heart that pulsed so eagerly within me

when i was a poet
once upon a time

once upon a time
i met a stranger

he brought life to my soul;
brought my soul to a flame

that burned brightly like the sunshine on my shoulder

when i met that stranger
once upon a time

but once upon a time
i became afraid

i could no longer pattern words;
there was nothing there to write

in the journals gath’ring dust upon my bookshelf

when i became afraid
once upon a time

once upon a time
i lost my dreams

i fell victim to the darkness
i darkened my own reflection

in the mirror which once knew my brightest passions

when i lost my dreams
once upon a time