I fought my way through the pain,                                                            ­    
                                                            ­                                                            walked through the fire of loss                                                             ­                     
                                                                ­                                                          
I fell over and over again                                                            ­                        
                                                                ­                                                      
and paid all that it cost                                                             ­                       
                                                                ­                                                
Picked up pieces of me                                                               ­                         
                                                                ­                                                      
that I lost along the way                                                              ­                                  
                              ­                                                                 ­               
savored & tasted victory                                                          ­                              
                                  ­                                                                 ­                   
and I stand here today                                                            ­                          
                                      ­                                                                 ­         
   Shed the tears as I was needing                                                          ­                          
                                                                ­                                                  
but I wiped them away,                                                            ­                            
                                                                ­                                                    
as my wounds were bleeding                                                         ­                   
                                             ­                                                                 ­        
I would kneel down and
pray                                                             ­           
                                                     ­                                                                 ­  
     I had to be there for
  myself,                                                       ­                           
                                                                ­                                                    
  no one else would stand up                                                               ­             
                                                                ­                                                      
        I had to walk through hell                                                             ­                   
                                             ­                                                                 ­    
but I never once gave
up                                                               ­                 
                                                                ­                                                
Now standing tall all alone,                                                           ­                       
                                                                ­                                                      
I found out I was strong                                                           ­                     
                                           ­                                                                 ­                    
  because I did it on my own                                                              ­                  
                                              ­                                                                 ­       
I am back, where I belong                                                           ­             
                                                                ­                                                      
It never was an easy road                                                             ­                   
                                             ­                                                                 ­    
and yes, I had lost my way                                                              ­          
                                                                ­                                                        
don't know what my future
holds                                                            ­          
 but I am here to stay

Without you
Without me

Love is always so fickle,
Itself only as strong as our commitments.

Oftentimes, we seek a level
Which is non-commiserate
To that which we offer.

We often feel ourselves
To be what's most important.
Pushing & pushing.

Until that day
In which the push is away.
Distance becomes
Only that which we are close with.

Another day ended
with mountain dust and ice melt in my boots,
dirt on my hands, blood on my knuckles,
fresh air and sage smoke in my lungs.  

Sage smoked and threw tobacco on
the sacred fire today.
I miss you guys -
sending good thoughts your way.
Life's great up north,
growing stronger every day,
wishing you all the strength you need.

I wish to love you religiously.
To find my religion in the cracks of your lips.
Feel your holiness through your callused palm.

I’d worship the temple of your soul.
Nurturing and loving,
a spiritual healing
restricted to the sanctity of your love.

Salvation meant existing by your side,
fulfillment was being your shadow.
Purity meant being solely yours.

And if hell meant eternity with you,
then I’d burn the rest of my life with the fire you started within me.

If it was a sin to love,
then I have become the most immoral person in your name.

I continue loving you religiously,
submitted…
entirely,
wholly
to you.

"Never should you ever give up" was always her call
My reply was; Darling, what if I fall?

He will catch you, show you the right path
In a moment, my mind was back to the times of drought

I stood, I crumbled, I climbed, I flew
But who was behind this, knew only a few

When quiet-screams echoed in silences
Who shielded (you) wretched, in times of violence

It rains, thunders, it shines again
His remembrance alone will keep you from being vain

A sigh, a tear, and a gentle prayer
Was all, my Darling, wanted to hear.