When turning each page
the portraits are occurred:
convince the mind to engage
the old experience with her.

Suddenly, the lip is wide
pure drops are falling down
into the midst of mind;
crowd of noise is surrounded.

Not long, being awaken
by the presence of time:
lay on the floor darken
to listen to the silent rhyme.

I still remember
The days of loneliness
You found me and promised
That you will never leave me nor forsake me

I remember
The days of embracement
You let me be part of a community
And even become one of the leaders of it

I remember
The days of exploration
You sent me to different nations
For me to grow and experience You more

I remember
The days of rejoicing
You helped me to become a civil engineer
Despite my shortcomings

I remember
The days of failures
You did not grow tired of me
Even though everyone left me

I remember
The days of faithlessness
You still remain faithful
Because you cannot disown Yourself

I remember
The days of mourning
You were there to listen
To my never-ending self-pity

And now,
The days of deliverance
I remember You
The One who saves

baby, don’t cry.
you’ll be alright.
I know right now, you’re terrified.
I know that you’ve found the best place to hide.

you live in a place where guns equal power,
and where laws don’t protect you so you’re forced to cower.

gunshots fire and you can’t tell if they’re near.
the only thing you’re sure of is irrefutable fear.

you hold your breath, frozen in place.
all you want is to feel safe.
tears trickle down your innocent face.

you question whether or not you’ll make it out alive.
well, baby, don’t cry.
no matter what happens, we’ll continue to fight for your life.

In the sea of black
Amongst the wash of tears and the hands held tightly
The memories
Shared by a stranger in a pulpit
Prayers joined in for the occasion
A curious celebration of life
Your best bits
Like Match of the Day highlights.
Evading the times you cried
The times you didn't want anyone around.
Yet here they are - how would you feel?

Outside, the awkward embraces
Of long lost acquaintances
Awkwardly reacquainting
Amongst the tombstones, cursed forever to
Hear the condolences
See the sorrow of strangers
Feel the emptiness.

The hit of grief on the journey home.
Hot tears coursing their path onto the steering wheel.
The relentless regret
Of unspoken truths, lies, compliments and apologies.
But the unfailing, niggling persistence rather to have loved and lost.
And been a few crossed off calendar days.
A passing thought when hearing a song.
A flickering vision through whiskey-blurred eyes.
A small piece of the jigsaw.

Carry the torch high
Even in the darkest night
Let your flame burn bright.
 
Have courage in your heart
Step out from the shade
Be bold and unafraid.

Rise to the challenge
Climb the mountain run the race
Do it at your own pace.

Cheer loudly from the sidelines
Help others out
With an encouraging shout.

Don't fight your own fate
Accept how things are
And you'll always go far.

Follow your dreams
Make it happen, reach your goal
Find peace in your soul.

Live life to the full
Be happy, be kind
And your star will always shine.

There will be  pictures I want to see.
Pictures of your life-line growing,
In a background with Christmas Trees,
School days, soccer matches,
Recitals and dinner blessings,
Parties, proms and outright laughing,
When all who matter are present.
I'm not taking the picture.
I'm not in the picture.
So, Remember Me.
Don't release me.
Sit with your children's children,
Open and tell a story
About a picture in the book;
They may laugh with bewildered looks
At the old Irishman,
The Da da, Daddy, Dad, and Faja,
The one who's loved you
From conception on,
Your old man.

I have spent too long
Under too-hot water
Frying myself
And trying nothing
But to scrub you
Out from under my
Skin, red and raw

(9/25/17 || 10:00)

Innocence follows her, but inside she's wild,
She thinks of things that shouldn't be thought.
Her mind plays tricks while her heart ceases desire,
A fiction of its own, a lesson never taught.
And as she lays in bed at night, her eyes never truly close,
Seeing the colors in silhouette form, the painful memory shows.
The pitter-patter of a heart, beaten and broken yet fixed,
The silent screams in the dark, yet not a sound, transfixed.
A rage trapped beneath her light, she refuses to become what she hates,
The river that flows within her veins, a poison left to manipulate.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, she sings the melody again,
Paper bags and plastic hearts, a tune for only the insane.
"Each one has a color" she points to them all "some light and some dark"
"But those colors change in life when that person changes their mark."

Dreams like vague forms
Obstructed by this dense fog
Not grounded but floating,
As if on water

They drift closer together
But further away altogether
Becoming more vague
ever still

Remembrance, if at all
No more than a glimpse
Their true form and scope
Almost lost in time
Almost lost
Almost
Lost