It's not how many times I  retreat,
it's how many times I come back
that makes a man of a boy.

For my 2016 writing project, I’ve decided to write a single line of poetry every day for an entire year. Below, is May’s poem. Enjoy!

City streets littered with couples holding hands,
But we aren't one of them.
We can't be.
These streets are Titanic safe.
False promises are everywhere you look;
People who support as long as they don't have to watch.

We are always made to feel like the other.
If they could see us at home,
Maybe all would be different.
They would see themselves.
Simply, a couple.

So, we walk down city streets like friends.
Our expressions stand as the only truth.

We are new to this world.
Perhaps our courage will grow.
Maybe self-advocacy is to be had still.
This feels like someone else's war.
Our armor remains in the closet.
We escaped long ago!
All I want is to grab his hand.

My love shows in other ways.
Power is always on display.
The public can't take that away from me.
My love is real.

City streets are war zones.
We are merely soldiers of the sidewalk.
Our only goal is the destination;
Often, simply, returning home.
There is safety and security.
There love flourishes.
Just as it should.

Life is full of eddies and whirlpools
God will prevails over all the rules
All those who don't know are fools
This can not be taught in the schools

Daring are those who dare to encounter
Winners are those who just face the altar
Life is real domain and not just barter
Sincerity asks for all clarity and candor

Challenges but refine vision with clarity
Strength in faith makes one strong ,free
A fortunate is one that hols the real key
Success comes as a matter of right plea

Col Muhammad Khalid Khan
Copyright 2016 Golden Glow

For my 2016 writing project, I’ve decided to write a single line of poetry every day for an entire year. Below, is April’s poem. Enjoy!

Salvation was offered in the Safeway check-out line today.
It was delivered in the form of presumed morality.
Letting someone cut in line never seemed so significant.
I had to stand for what I believe,
Even if it meant denying who I used to be.

I believe in mankind.
I believe in shared humanity.
I believe your pain belongs to me.
My pain is your burden.
Our lives are shared.

For some, this message is too simple.
They are consumed with the folly of man.
All they ever see is sin.
Life is not that simple.
Man is machine complex.

He is built to be good.
Often, his selfishness rules the day.
Yet, his core is constructed to care.
His actions define the day.
As a species, he may disappoint you.
As an individual, I see potential.

I defend the human race.
I am a proud member of it.

Religion drove me to this point.
Towers falling forced me to look away.
I told the man in line the same thing.
He probably doubts my belief in humanity too!
Yet, I press forward.
Doing the absolute best I can.
I expect you to do the same.

My skin  is now ready for your eyes
Not for a stranger in the night
I know you are waiting for a rhyme
Like a rainbow that's out of sight

I painted birds and  chickens on canvass
I know you'll remember this day
Spend time calculating the hues
To create a piece all the way

You may fall short of  time and chance
Sometimes you may pause and then hurry
But that's how we  create like we explode
Be obedient if you don't want to feel sorry.

-----

She's an artist. She paints.  She write songs,  poems and stories.  Even a stranger  could prove that. Her skin tattoos speak so well.  You can see flowers and animals on her arms,  neck and shoulder.  So funny that even chickens can be seen once you closely look at those marks.  

As a poet,  she mostly observe rhyme and meter.  She would always spend time calculating the syllables in a line.  She always remember her mentor's teachings even when writing short pieces. There was no moment that she's not obedient of the rules she had learned from him. She won't forget that anything should not be done in a hurry.  

She is an artist,  and her  creativity is like an emotion that is going to explode once properly set.

A puzzle is easy to take apart but hard to put together
The bigger the puzzle the more frustrating it gets
And sometimes we give up on the challenge

I am a puzzle
A one thousand piece puzzle

I gave up on putting myself back together
Too many missing pieces
Too hard of a challenge

I Brandon Amberger accept #TheChallenge
This is not a request nor demand, it is a challenge. This challenge is to be the better person and to take responsibility for your actions. To swallow your pride so that instead of arguing you choose to shut your mouth, do the right thing, and get the job done. To simply follow the principle "treat others, how you would like to be treated"
I'll tell you why you should accept my challenge. It's to set an example and improve our future for our kids. If you don't have kids, you do it for your family's kids and your friends' kids. Everyone deserves the same chance. For those of you who have influence, you have higher expectations. Why? You have power and with power comes responsibility. So I’m challenging the CEO’s, the interns, students, actresses, lawyers, foreman, electricians, bus-boy, waitress, teachers, children, the parents, and everyone alive to accept.
I really, really hope you become a challenger. For those of you who do accept, there is no punishment, nor reward. Just gratuity for doing the right thing. Now do you accept the challenge?