Look at them,
       see them as peace
**** with intent,
       killed with honor
rest the body,
       a rest taken known

Belly burns with many inferno's inside.
Charred screams and shrieks
of rage.
Ancient noise travels up from
the soul's deep cage.
It may be time to burn that page.
That within the deepest, primal
moans of ecstasy.
My long chained arms fling free,
as the profuse pump of life proceeds to seize.
My mind is now a sweet swarm
of gentle jasmine breezes.
Veins vibrate inner peace.
To desire nothing,
to have no need
Just a greed for great tranquility.

i. descent

three years of
trial and tribulation

three years of
self-pity
and regret

i kept asking:
is there something
wrong with me?

am i my own
worst enemy?

am i my own
biggest threat?

three years ago,
i thought
i lost it all

a fall from grace
that put me
to the test.

ii. decision

i had
two options:



fail


or


try my best


to not be
a part of
the problem

to let the past
be the past

and
lay it all
to rest.

iii. healing

as the years
went by,

i learned
to break free

i learned
to forgive my
past

so the bad dreams
could finally
drift away

and i
can finally

be at peace,

at last.

And so,
I looked back at the fire behind me
At all the orange and ash
I set down my pail
And my hardness sat with it
And I wept
And the scorched earth around me
Began to soften
And only then, did I know
Only in the eye of the storm,
Could I see
That I had not escaped

I had simply become one
With the flame

The wind was a delicate caress,
Like tiny jets of zephyrs gently brushing against the branches.
It was so subtle that the nimble verdant limbs trembled in response,
Mimicking the soothing sound of a seashore.
Just step onto the deck and close your eyes,
And let the warmth of the sun envelop you like a long-awaited hug.
Its light kisses your pale skin, infused with melanin, 

And toasts you to a perfect shade of cinnamon.

You can feel the excitement of vacation coursing through your veins,
Rising and falling with each breath.
If you..shhh, calm down, and relax,
You can experience the weightlessness of shedding a world’s burden from your stubborn shoulders.
There’s life in this moment, even in the comfort of your own backyard.

Listen to the songbirds’ cheerful chirps
And the playful chatter of chipmunks scurrying along.
But resist the urge to open your eyes and embrace the present moment.
Live in a dreamlike state, where you can savor the taste of freedom.
How it tastes like silk and watermelon, or lemon lime, sublime
This moment has the power to transform your life,
Banishing the harmful cancers of sadness that have plagued you.
No more today, when you bask in the sun’s rays, feeling a renewed pep in your step
And confidence in your sway.
As the day unfolds, the rain clouds may roll in tomorrow, but not today.

There is an ocean deep inside of me                                                              
­                                                                 ­                                                     
and lately I've gone deep sea diving                                                           ­         
                                                       ­                                                           
I'm doing a little bit of self-reflection                                                  ­                      
                                          ­                                                                 ­   
Making sure I'm headed in the right direction                                                    
   ­                                                                 ­                                        
Trusting my intuition, no second guess                                                            ­  
                                                              ­                                                          
It's working pretty well, no problems yet                                                    
         ­                                                                 ­                                    
Walking in the path that's right for me                                                            
                                                                ­                                            
Standing tall in the face of adversity                                                        ­        
                                                        ­                                                    
Saying what I believe is the real truth                                                           
Even if it's not hitting your sweet  
tooth                                                    ­                
                                                                ­                                                
Hold my head up & walk through the crowd                                                  
                                                                ­                                                
This is me being me, me being proud

somewhere in the black,
my hand is outreached,
searching in that darkness.
pulling out one by one,
an item from my secret drawer.
i’m not sure what i’m looking for,
but i know when i feel it—
its smooth edges or distinct texture—
i’ll know that i found it.
i found it once,
so i know i’ll recognize it,
but the truth is,
i’m not sure if it’s still there.
did i return it to its place?
should i turn on the light?
i’m afraid that seeing all its contents
might distract me from my goal.
you helped me find it once,
but now, i don’t have you.
i’m on my own, all alone,
to again find my missing peace.