Dear Friends,,

I have been on Hello since the end of December. Before that I never thought I'd ever have thousands of people read my poems  let alone provide positive reinforcement. Many of you have become very precious to me also. I recently noticed the amount of reads I've gotten, and the number blows my mind. Thank you for supporting my addiction! I love reading yours as much as you have enjoyed mine, maybe more. Keep writing everyone. Thanks for your support. You mean more to me than even a poet can express in words.

Love,

Chuck

I have been lying, pretending, about most things me;
Its suffocating, disconcerting; and I can do this no more
Inside of me, I regret missing out on breathing, and its real beauty
So much that I can't wait to get a hang of life bereft the armor.

The smile on my face meant no one saw the tears behind the veil;
When others crumbled beside me, I came off as strong
While on the inside I was distraught, and going pale.
But no more, now the world will know they were wrong.

In this rat race to be fair,
Haven't we skewed our perceptions
Of beauty, and how we should be?
It sure shouldn't be based,
On the tone of your skin!
Wouldn't you consider it demeaning,
If you were the one ridiculed?

A father looks deeply
  into the eyes of his son,
He speaks soft and sweetly:
  "Child, my days are done."

"I've loved every moment
  From the day that we met.
The day of your birth,
  And I'll never forget,
You told me you loved me
  Without using words,
I gave you my heart
  And you gave me the earth.

"And though my life's ending,
   I want you to know,
This is the beginning,
  Of life on your own.
So hear me right now,
   With these final breaths,
And I'll tell you how,
   Your life shall be blessed:

Sing with the water,
  Dance with the bees;
Travel the world,
  And sail on the seas.
Learn to enjoy
  The moments you have;
For now is eternal,
  Yet time moves so fast.

"Learn to love,
  And love to learn;
Light your passion,
  And let it burn.
Reach someone,
  Touch longing lives;
We are all one,
  Together we fight.

"Let go of hurt,
  Learn to forgive,
Understand others,
  We're all new at this.
One day you'll see,
  You'll blink and wake up;
And then you will teach
  Your son to grow up.