My heart has always been a terrible prize to hold,
Whether it's been given or earned.
It's a poisoned burden.
It's strong and loyal to its possesor,
But it smothers and steals their last breath.
It supports during the toughest moments,
But it pushes away when abused.
It will naively believe the best in others,
And it breaks when reality crashes down.
It will guard itself with steel,
But it will allow sinister people to slip through.
It has learned to stop hoping,
And then doubts the person who tries to take care of it.
It feels empathy to its core,
So it's often too sensitive and moody.
It's a difficult prize to behold,
But the right person can cure it from its poison.
They will take a deep breath and plunge in again.
They can treat it with fierce love and positive reassurance.
The right person can prove there is goodness in the world.
They can dismantle the walls.
They will heal the wounds and wrap it in love.
The right person can be my heart's savior.

You lurked as my shadow
The shadow of immense love and affection
Even under the scorching sun, your shadow shaded me in my journey
Shadow that follows me everywhere, softly soothing my pain and agony

words trapped within thick layers of ice
are embraced by the warmth of spring.
they can finally breathe and be free.

To love, raise and support
It takes

To cry, teach and praise
It takes

To laugh, learn and grow
It takes

To be free, survive and thrive

It takes....

Stand arboreally tall,
present a strength,
represent stability,
provide a safe place,
wide-branched sanctuary,
hold rooted principles,
speak truth to power,

til the hour you break and tumble,
your fingers thumbs
and your heart falling
numbed

senses bent, thoughts fraying,
tattered threads evasive,
the very idea of existence,
position,
self,
buckles

Far-sightedness retracts,
a fancy contra-zoom,
Hitchcockian,
eyes locked on your two feet,
tip-toes edged up
against your own precipice,
your own private void

We all feel this
sooner or later,
but its ridiculous melodrama
stills our tongues to tell,
til we’re left believing
we’re the only losers facing hell

To speak is strong,
to cry courageous,
to panic and dread next steps, next breaths,
is human

I pledge to listen, ask for the same
and beg that next time
we keep shooting the breeze
until the ledge fades

Love is supposed to win
Yet why do so many give up, give in?
When it comes to marriage does our capacity for life grow or shrink?
When we are with our soul mate standing at the brink
Are we growing or are we fading?
The percentages say don't even try
Just give up when there are no solutions to sell or buy
Because I realize that life with you is the prize
Getting the honor to see myself in someone else's eyes
Shouldn't it be harder to love you after all this time?
It's gotten easier and I am not quite sure why
As we watch our little selves grow
I wonder is this the type of love they'll seek or bestow
Was this really ever so hard? Am I forgetting the heavy times?
Or was life always easier with you in it?
Living freer without disguise
Hurdles feel like pebbles with you by my side
In your love still now and forever my soul will abide

May I carry your bag?
I have been watching
It strain your shoulder
All that makeup and necessities
And the old receipts
Are weighing you down
Please, may I carry your bag?

May I carry your shoes?
I know you chose them
But your feet have been hurting
And you need your hands free
I never knew what to do
With mine anyway.
Please, may I carry your shoes?

May I carry your coat?
You thought it would rain
Down on you again
But it hasn't rained since I found you
And it  is squeezing too tight
Around your waist
Please, may I carry your coat?

May I carry your scar?
The one on your face
I know it is part of you
But you never liked the way
It made you look
I never looked like much anyway
May I carry your scar?

Then you may carry me.
With all your burdens lifted
Close the distance between us
Take me upon your shoulder
And you will tell me that
To you I feel weightless
Please, carry me.

Emptinesses
framed by inequalities
that sew the disaffection,
throw the disenfranchised into
blues sharp relief,
stark contrasts of
black and white
rich and poor
needful and needless cries

There should be no politicking
or filibustered unkempt bluster
in the emptiness of children’s stomachs,
nor grave injury from
the ignorant knuckles of authority

Hunger of all kinds
in guts and minds
brings pain
and a shame to even voice,
for there shouldn’t be cause
to have to

Hunger has a way of spreading
to hearts and minds
and when hurting enough
will drive change

But not alone

The comfortable,
careful, silent,
the full,
must give time,
use voice,
use currency,
and fight