War with Iran was January's desire,
As if Australia wanted that pain,
February set our country on fire,
Until finally the sky gave us rain.

March has given us Corona Virus,
Keeping us prisoners of home,
Yesterday's news is the Auzzie fires,
Now home alone on our phones.

Did you hope April your friend?
As the government offers a hand
Just another step towards the end
As we fall to their commands.

The world has said we'll band together,
But watch the over shoppers greed,
Alone they try endeavor,
Alone they try to feed.

Be sure to keep your distance,
Be it distant in your mind,
While Covid19 is persistent,
Stay home while your bills fall behind.

Bar tenders stay away,
Caution off all play grounds,
Your children can not play,
Our streets echo without sounds.

But never mind still catch the bus,
Live your life within our rules,
We're your government! Have trust!
Keep your kids home out of schools.

Await the vaccination,
Be pressured for the juice,
The saviour of the nation,
The destruction of our youth.

Don't always do what they tell you,
After your own research you might find,
The only thing any of us can do,
Is make up our own minds.

Dear Someone I loved the most.
You no longer hold a place in my heart.
You no longer are my soul.
You no longer keep me captive.
How can it be that you were...

Someone I loved the most.

Dear Someone I loved the most.
I wonder what you’re doing now.
I wonder why you let me go.
I wonder who holds you close now.
But you will always be...

Someone I loved the most.

Dear Someone I loved the most.
I have to let you go now.
I have to say goodbye.
I have so much more to say.
I’ll never forget...

Someone I loved the most.

as a child
my parents
kept me

well mannered
well traveled
they have given me
an abundance
of materialistic
objects

but

that is all
anything
ever was
an object

maybe
that is why
i cannot
connect to people

because we are

all just objects

sitting here
in the rain
trying to
keep myself
calm

thinking of
all the lies
you fed me
from the palm
of your hand

thinking of
the broken promises
you had no problem
washing away

thinking of
all of the pain
you have sent me
away with

thinking of
how you can not
even bring yourself
to say

i'm sorry

to be
completely
gut wrenching
honest

i do not
know
where to
even start
this piece

i am lost
i do not
know
which way
is up
which way
is down

i feel hurt

i am
aching
from the
pain of my past

the cracks
within me
are starting
to crumble
once more

i am lost
i am breaking
i will rebuild

First Steps
by Michael R. Burch

for Caitlin Shea Murphy

To her a year is like infinity,
each day—an adventure never-ending.
    She has no concept of time,
    but already has begun the climb—
from childhood to womanhood recklessly ascending.

I would caution her, "No! Wait!
There will be time enough another day . . .
    time to learn the Truth
    and to slowly shed your youth,
but for now, sweet child, go carefully on your way! . . ."

But her time is not a time for cautious words,
nor a time for measured, careful understanding.
    She is just certain
    that, by grabbing the curtain,
in a moment she will finally be standing!

Little does she know that her first few steps
will hurtle her on her way
    through childhood to adolescence,
    and then, finally, pubescence . . .
while, just as swiftly, I’ll be going gray!

Keywords/Tags: child, childhood, adolescence, pubescence, growing up, first steps, walking, running, aging

For a friend
Who got lost in a war
And never seemed
To find his way home
Again



For an innocence
That he wore as a cloak
Until it was ripped
From his shoulders
And left to burn
Who never talked much
Until I cracked him open
And peered inside
And saw his colors
Bursting, twirling,
Beautiful beautiful beautiful



A smile that was
Seldom given away
But seldom fake
And always
Beautiful beautiful beautiful



Who first introduced himself
Without flashing lights
Or a decent conversation
Just a name
Plain and simple
Just his name



Who was there
The next week
Same place, same time
And all he said was
It’s nice to see you again
Plain and simple



But with time
He grew
And so did I
Next thing you know
He’s my brother
Who was there for deep talks at coffee shops
And late night drives
And words of wisdom
Through telephone lines
Beautiful beautiful beautiful



Who everyone thought
Had a heart of gold
But no one could touch it
Except me
When I got close
And held his heart
Which wasn’t made of gold, but something warmer than that
And I held it to the sky
For the world to see
And maybe that scared him,
But his heart just kept
Beating beating beating



Until the day it stopped
Turned cold
And bit at the hands of whoever got near
And the world took their golden boy
The boy who stood taller than the clouds
And made the room around him
Melt into a puddle of glorious peace
They took their golden boy
And left him in the waves
To drown
Drowning
Drowned



Who never fought back
As they kept
Beating
Hitting
Beating
Who stayed silent as they spilled his blood
And broke his bones
And burned his
Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Cloak of innocence
All because he was a boy
And he liked a boy



Who
The next time I tried to cradle his heart
Flinched away
And pretended he couldn’t hear me
Pleading
Crying
Please come back



Who claims he left for college
But I can still see him
Running
Running
Running



Who got lost in a war
All guns turned on him
And kept his head high
With a smile that has become
Often fake
But always
Beautiful beautiful beautiful



Who will continue to be
The boy who could make music out of shadow puppets
Magic out of a thunderstorm
And fairies out of 4th of July sparklers
Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Until he finds his way home
Again

careful honey, careful
he's holding a gun
you got the fire

both of you carry on
a lethal game

he might snap
you might burn

I’m so much bigger now.
I’ve grown into a young woman.
You were my brother and it honestly hurt when you left without a trace.
I was just a child.
I felt abandoned.

I saw your profile today...
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to request your friendship, your attention, your acknowledgment of my existence.

But things are different now,
I’ve learned a lot.
And I know you’ve done the same.

What name should I call you by?
I’m unsure.
Are you still the old you?
The person I knew?
Or are you him? The one I never met?

Please know that I still love you.
We’re not friends, but I still love you.