it takes you to the frosted basin
it wraps you in the floating glass
it means to make you mindful
and you
must

make yourself louder

and rush the ice from your veins
and you
will
make yourself the peace
and you will breathe
from over the colder water.

When I was small I said “Mom
my tummy hurts” and
then kisses and maybe a spoon of liquid
(icky) tylenol followed and then
All Better!

Now
when I’m bigger in shoe size, in brain
(in tummy)
Now when
my stomach starts to bubble and
roil and twist I know the source
is not candy and the
cure is no longer kisses and
I need so much more I need
slow breaths and
slower
thoughts
and
no maternal concern concerning
itself with my intestines, small or
large

I drip viscous honey from my lips
Soothing those who are broken

But when does the honey run out?
I feel as if manuka isn't always enough

When the hole inside of someone is all-consuming
When it cannot be filled

When a person fills the void with acrid bitter substances
Chasing the euphoria

We walk through life with honey dripping from our lips

Out seaward to the  horizon I see Forgiving hills where lessons fade,
Projections of my desirous plea
Patiently await their farewell to bade,
Look now for at their peak the sun is setting,
With an orange hue caressed blue sky,
And white clouded streaks like thought forgetting,
Senses renewed—our demons die.
Can you see that place where intrigue resides,
Beyond those hills ‘neath the sky turned red?
For there the heaven and earth collides,
Pervading all hope in our angels stead.

There’s something magical about 3AM
It calls me awake almost nightly

Sometimes I’ll sit outside then
Just to listen to the wind dance

It’s peaceful there in the calm
I can feel that peace in my soul

I don’t discount that comfort
Because it’s few and far between

Calm yourself, dear
There's nothing to fear
I'll always stay near
I hope that that's clear
So vast and so sheer
The world by your veneer
I hope that you'll cheer
Not crawl back to rear
You, like a blind seer
Predict your career
But then pierced with a spear
Crash between there and here
Crushed in a belvedere
Summer lasted all year
I inform you as a peer
Eye to eye, ear to ear
It doesn't seem you know which way to steer
From boardwalk on to pier
Where you drop a tear
For universe mere

the ocean is blue
blue for the sky,
blue for the calm,
blue for freedom,
blue for the way it mirrors the flight of the larks.

the trees are green
green for the leaves,
green for happiness,
green for harmony,
green for the life it makes course through the veins of every living creature.

the sky is white
white for the clouds,
white for purity,
white for simplicity,
white for the snow that falls from it every cold season to embrace the world.

Hidden in fabrics
                                                                            Concealed beneath a mask
Taking shelter in music
                                                                                 Letting the lyrics soothe
Calm the frenzy of thoughts
                                                                                   Ease the internal storm


- Jay M
November 18th, 2019