Sure I've been in love before
But never like this
Your love is so kind
Like a salve to my burns
You take care of me
With your words and your actions
Yet it makes me feel so broken
How do I act
What do I say
It never feels enough
I'm trying to learn this new love
This right love
But how do I show you
That with all your actions
Your slowly healing me
How do I show you
That I love you so dearly

Don't you ever listen - enough to make my ears burn,
I went back - there were lessons and now it's my turn;
You treat people as you would expect them to treat you,
take stock, go thro' this life, don't mess up, whatever you do.

Why did I do the things that hppened, was it just me?
Broken hearts, scattered lives, , it really was a mystery,
you think - I'm not a bad guy but lack responsibility,
I suppose be thankful, could have been worse, that's me.

A free prisoner, could have been locked up, no room now,
for indiscretions, poor decisions, but too late anyhow;
ironic, I married a teacher but you don't listen to her,  
so many times and then it's just gone when they occur.

I'm left eating sweets in a corner like Little Jack Horner,
write on the white board boy - be contrite and never forget her.

A protector,
a brother once but now it’s me.
He wanted not
to have to care for the boy.
Because of his own hidden hurt.
His own disconnect
from his little boy.

The hurting part wants Dad.
Is heartbroken.
Afraid for himself,
of himself,
and all alone.
Just wants
to be held.
Wants to feel safe.
Loved through the pain.
Seen.
Acknowledged.
Recognized.

i’m nineteen.
and i’ll never be able to tell you how life works.
or how people exist.
or how cranes build themselves.

i’ll never be able to explain to you how planes fly.
because i know it has something to do with
****** and aerodynamics
but please don’t ask me to explain because truthfully i have no idea.

i’ll never be able to explain the vastness of space.
or what setting to wash my clothes on.
or how to not fall apart.
or the temperature you are supposed to brew your tea at.

i’m nineteen.
but i am able to tell you that life gets better.
and that some people are good.
and that to exist we must learn to trust.

i’ll be able to tell you that despite trying not to
you’ll still inherit things from both of your parents.
you’ll secretly hope that you are more like your mother
and i will loudly hope that you only get your fathers good.

i’ll be able to tell you to keep going.
because one day you’ll look back and be thankful you didn’t give up.
i’ll be able to tell you that it’s important to learn new things.
and that everything goes down a little better with tea (despite the temperature it’s brewed at).

I was reading a 2005 edition,
Of an Oxford dictionary, and,
And a 1990 version of the,
Websters, New Thesaurus,
Yes, it was a slow evening,
That day. Two common words,
You may often hear, or say,
Why and but, could nowhere,
Be found, as I searched away.
The both are used in negative, or positive ways,
Depending on what you are expressing, and your attitude,
At the time. But you are so sweet, to but I am,
Doing it my way. Why, that was so kind, to,
Why, the hell did you do that.
If you read every word in both of those books,
You learn a lot, and you’ve read almost every word,
In every other book.


                             The Original: Tom maxwell © 07/02/2024 AD

though a storm can reveal a tree’s roots.
their essence remains.
through the soil, through every crevice.
a home is still a home.
no matter how far it moves.
no matter how fast and far time moves.
the eyes learn different than hearts.
the body reacts. soon lost in the gaping hole
backfilling a testament with everything tangible.
hearts like tree roots.
grow and they twist, and they turn.
they will always be there.
my heart seeks to learn from yours.
growing big and thick.
though a storm can reveal a tree’s roots.
very seldom, does it remove every root.
beneath the skin, where my heart and yours exists,
layer after layer of dirt blessed by the gift of life.
no matter how much the storm rages.
a piece of you and I will always exist

Demonstration and

imitation, play and learn --


to play together.