There's this voice in the back of my head whispering little thoughts,
every day spilling words into the vortex to cause a chain reaction
of action each day that I step foot on this earth. Some days I shake
and shiver, wonderin' if it's the cause I want. Some days I take and
take a single breath one after the other. And whether or not I'm ready
to take the leap, that little voice keeps on  and on, steady thunderin'
in my brain as I snap both my legs together as the ledge reaches out
and that voice straps my thoughts right to the purpose that I belong.
And still each day I wake and I wonder, am I becoming what I want.
And each day I ponder and I shake because I just cannot be sure.
Yet, there's a little bit of a voice entirely committed to the choice
that I settle with both feet upon. And although I'm never certain,
and my heart, filled with its nervous palpitations, pitters and pats as
I sit and stare past the curtain, eyeing the world with its thisses and thats
that I'm not even sure I want to obtain, but still  so effectively contains,
I realize a couple things. I may not know my direction, but I'm not lost.
I may be filled with one too many faults that are in need of a correction,
but I'm not broken. So, each day a voice whispers in the back of my head,
and each day I whisper a little bit back and even though I'm a bit scared
of the mystery of life, an epiphany brings me back: I may not know my place,
but that voice keeps supportin' my claim and my head keeps saying the same,
so I'll just go ahead and keep this *******' smile on my face.

I list lazily and can find no purpose
As to a leaf that is buoyed by the stream.
I see unending sky but find no purchase
In this place that seems like another's dream.
Yet, I claw at the world with its strange, fierce tide.
Hoping only to arrest this slow demise
I scramble furiously at the stream's side
While the forest ignores my pitiful cries.
Alas, I begin swallowing my substance.
As the burning pain subsides into dull light
The perception of my body grows more dense
And my conscious loses all its will to fight.
My body sinks slowly and without a trace.
The light dims dark as a new leaf takes my place.

Shivers, subdued, sit poised and submerged for flight
Just below my, still yet, warm-to-the-touch skin.
Conversation licks across a yellow light
As my mind wanders to simply going in.
Yet, my neck creaks back and heavy my lids lie
When the decision finally comes to speak
And vocal chords retreat as if always shy--
Miscommunication between tongue and cheek.
Resilient, an iris peeps out to observe
A mind's vague understanding of echoed phonic.
Small leaves shiver. A chill creeps across each nerve.
The night serves as a stress relieving tonic.
A comforting thought as I reach to envelop:
That each day serves as a chance to develop.

I sit, misty-headed, contemplating change;
Wondering what constitutes that narrow goal.
Because I've come to realize something strange
That cannot connect its parts to the whole:
Change may require forgiveness to the man
That took from me the desire to forgive.
Yet I do not say he abandoned and ran
Instead he gave me choices he wished to live.
And, like a child, he struck ignorantly
At that which seemed to cause him the greatest pain.
A boy, grown into a man, if he could see
Me. A man walking with his head high in the rain;
A warm voice that caresses the souls of those
That need a strong word whispered into their ear.
A man capable of strength. A man that flows.
That recognizes weakness isn't a tear.
So, whenever your childish life is done,
You're welcome to be a father to your son.

Today I saw two brothers of the raven--
I wonder if it's a comment on our plight.
One sat despondent and reeked of the craven,
The other was full of rampantly cruel flight.
Is this the universe sending me signs?
How can I be sure the world works in such ways?
But consider a man stuck within the lines
Meekly regretting the content of his days.
Another speaks loud of his life's vibrancy
With scarcely a consistency to his soul.
Now I'm questioning what's inside of me
And staring fully on the decision's toll.
You can gain more from what you see with your eyes
If you can peer through the world's little disguise.

I remember now the feeling that incites
My head to turn and to appreciate you;
The abrasive beauty causing the nights
To fleet past and leaving me with naught to do.
I'll sit and let my engine hum to your sound,
With nothing but the warmth to ease lonely minds.
Can I be too forward tonight and come 'round--
Can I idle along 'til you close the blinds?
But I know that a gentleman's place is here,
Right among this respectable decision.
But I can't deny this desire is clear--
Wrapping tight around that which I envision.
And tomorrow I may wake and feel the same,
So maybe tomorrow I'll ask you your name.

A fresh, honest answer, wind whistling by--
Words tumble forth gracefully in spite of all
The tiny thoughts you can't bring yourself to lie.
The choice? Lie happily or suffer the fall.
Yet, I won't point the finger--dichotomy
All tangled up inside my gentleman's head.
I'll never bear the burden of glee to be
The truth behind words you think and those you said.
But will you remember the transparent life
When the vacuous facade blurs your vision?
I will. But I won't remind you of those moments, rife
With pity when looking at your decision.
However, I'll tell you what happiness takes,
If you please just let me make my own mistakes.