Our friends are mercenaries
They have their own love and mission in life
And you may have troubles that cannot be helped

But still they come

Though what they may leave behind
Are rivers carving valleys you have never seen
Where green meadows await the night
Chasing their children home
So the breezes can sweep the dust from the porch
Cooling the sweat upon your brow
Guiding the sounds of a pedal-steel guitar into their hearts
Where each season waits its turn
Accelerating the change from warm to cool
And the migration of nature from north to south
From leaf to limb
And ice to garden
Yes all of this is what they may have come to know

But still they come

You can build a life of honor
No matter how poor
Dignity or hunger
The choice of some must make
It has always been so
Or instead to make a stand
There is no advice from a white man
For someone on the bridge
You can only walk beside them
But you cannot be them

But still some came

Sometimes that is all that matters

We watch while anger enters our space
Choosing to understand is that easy
If you can only clear you mind
Forget from where you came
Even if they cannot forget their past
There is no community without open doors
There is no country without open minds
Each of our troubles takes its turn
Like the seasons
It can never be the same
Happiness is not a life
But a moment to cherish
Suffering is not something to ignore
But a moment to live
What kind of a life would it be
To wait until it happens to you
Is to close the windows into your soul
Without sunlight
Or air to breathe
Or truth

But still you expect them to come
Because now it has happened to you

And they did

Who are you I ask myself...
We stare and wonder recalling not so distant memories ...
of faded smiles and laughter
... turned into this wicked game
no clear rules
just hurt and blame
and then again...more of the same
When will this cycle stop....
a sharp point
when our foolish pride might end?
if our minds can just embrace
we we're both so wrong
like the melody playing of our favorite song...
knowledge it didn't have to take so long...
and the beauty can be recalled
and I can touch you again....
battle over..
.scars intact
but healed ...
..it's all been revealed
and we could find the ability to feel
...us again.
A warm relief
and found belief in all things that were...only a possibility -
but I hold that tight to my chest...
guessing this is just another test...
and....hoping we survive.
Cherie Nolan © * All Rights Reserved - 2016

"Hey mister, how you doing?"

"Do you need a friend tonight?'

"I can take away your troubles"

"I can make what's wrong seem right"

A woman's thoughts from a childs voice

Knocked me senseless in the dark

I guess I should know better

Than to walk home through the park

"Baby, you'll forget your troubles"

"If you'll spend some time with me"

"Where's your car? Just let's go do it"

"You'll really like it, wait and see"

I kept my pace and ventured forward

I didn't want to see her face

I didn't want to see her standing

So I began to increase my pace

"C'mon baby, it's worth your while"

"I can make your problems go"

"It won't take long, I know you'll like it"

"Come and play, it's fun...you know!"

I turned around to see the speaker

Just to say that I'd heard enough

I didn't want to hurt her either

I didn't want to come off tough

So when I stopped and turned to face her

From the darkness she stepped out

A tiny child in a woman's outfit

Looking like she'd been knocked about

I said "No thanks", this ain't my style

I just want to get on home

I want to go about my business

And I want to go on home alone.

"But baby, I'm the best thing ever"

"You'll never find a girl like me"

I swear to God, she acted older

But she only looked one score less three

I looked at her and something tingled

"Sure, let's go" I spoke aloud

Then she smiled, ever so slightly

She hooked my arm and I gently bowed

"I have a question, dear...before we"

"Head on out to do the deed"

"When did you last eat dinner"

"When was your last real good feed?

"It's been a while, I can see that"

"Your'e nothing more than skin and bone"

"If your'e my date, we'll first have dinner"

"Then, I'll take you to my home"

'She acted tough, but failed to hide it

"Dinner..fine..but then we go"

I smiled back, and off we ventured

Through the park, our heads bowed low

We found a small, deserted diner

We took a booth where we could talk

Talking was just what I wanted

But talking, that's where she would balk

She ate her meal like a starving beasty

Sparks were flying off the plate

What? I thought had forced this child

To turning tricks to be her fate?

We finished up and left the diner

She said that I would not regret

I took her home like I had promised

For a night  I'd not forget

I hung her coat inside the closet

Climbed the stairs up to my room

She followed close, but was not speaking

The air hung heavy with her gloom

I said "Before we do the dealing"

"You should clean up...the showers there"

I found a robe and watched her smile

I then sait down in my old chair

I heard the water run forever

She came out clean as she could get

She wore the robe and a small hand towel

Wrapped about her hair so wet

I'd make some drinks, some nice hot chocolate

I sat her down and then she spoke

"I'd like to thank you for the dinner"

"do you mind if I have a smoke?"

I told her fine, but had my reasons

I'd keep her busy, without ***

She talked for hours, just like a child

She was rubbing her bruised neck

She said she'd run from down in Georgia

Coming here was not her plan

She had wanted to go to college

But this was where the poor girl ran

It's funny but this child like woman

Never talked of why she'd come

She talked of people she was missing

She'd said she'd like to once more run

She nodded off into a slumber

I picked her up and laid her down

I wrapped her up with a warm blanket

And then I headed off to town

When she awoke, I sat there smiling

And not a word was ever said

For when I left, I bought a ticket

One...to Georgia...lay on the bed.

I said "It's yours...if you should want it"

"You've got three hours, so let's go eat"

This waif like girl then responded

With a smile that just could not be beat

We headed back down to the diner

Breakfast was the meal this time

I paid the bill and from my wallet

Said "Here, take this...it's still my dime"

This girl was lost inside her body

I helped her find her way  again

I watched her leave clutching the ticket

I knew we'd never meet again

I hope she found where she was heading

I hope she made it , I admit

I never went to check the depot

I hoped she used that bus ticket

Another night, another walk home

Another voice came from the dark

"Hey sweetie, you look kind of lonely"

I smiled..and walked back in the park.......
.

I think for the most part
It's when you're actually alone
That you have no choice
But to become stronger.
You have no shoulder to lean on
You have no-body to listen
You have no faith on anyone
So you pick up yourself.
Trust becomes so vague
You search its preciseness at times
But you don't spend much on it
You rather leave your troubles behind
Because the moment you remember
Is the moment you rather forget
All the ******* you have endured
And how alone you were then.

Flowers and petals cover my pain.
The sound of your voice drives me insane.
You I won't miss.
As you ******* a kiss.
Go ahead throw my heart down the drain.

Life is pointless
Like an ever revolving top
It'll take it's spin before falling over still
It laughs in your face
Like a bad memory
That resounds in your nightmares
People make it worse
Even though they see your troubles
They make thing complicated by adding their drama
So why?
Why must we go on?
In this never-ending carousel?
Like a haunted carnival
Life is full of terror
And the rides will never end
Until you give in
And leave it forever

Tears are falling down.
Leave your troubles behind.
Searching for peace in your soul.
A broken heart so refined.
Lost in fragile mind.
Swimming around and around.
Deeper into the depth
of the sea.
Almost drowning getting so tired.
More energy is required.
To beat your demons.
Rewind your confessions.
Haunted by your past.
Trying so hard
while you swim so fast.
Out of breath and
grasping for air.
You try to reach the shore
but nobody is there.
You think to yourself,
this is not fair.
All your love
gone and replaced.
So many words unspoken.
Let your heart broken.