Today my alligator stuffed
animal
returned from being mended;
so
now, as I'm falling
asleep
at night I'll reach
across
the bed and delicately
feel
his soft green cotton
scales.

you guys taught
me
it's not too
late
to make new
friends.

I know when she
pats
me on the back
it
means I’m doing a
good-job.

that's the thing
about friends
just when you think
you're too far gone
they extend
a helping hand
and save you
from yourself.

Why?
because that's
what friends
do.

when you held me
like
your little brother and
said,
"I'm not gone yet,
Aaron."
We became more than
friends.

As we
strolled
through the
rain
I didn't
mind
getting wet
because
you got
soaked
right alongside
me.

Like a rushing sea
wave you can't stop a panic
attack from flowing.

What's beautiful
about our
relationship,
is that we're
just
friends,
and I'm
fine with
that,
like even though
I'm not getting
everything
I want
I'm
ok.
I'm just happy
to be in
her life
at all.

Funny
how a kind
word
or a simple
smile
can be just
enough
to get me
through
a hard day,
it's
true the best
things
in life are
free
now I see.

Today my
boss
told me
that
I'm now
due
for a
raise;

it's about
time.

I do
appreciate
how you
feel
comfortable enough
to
complain to
me
about other
people.

She used
me
as a
pillow
to cry
on.

Sometimes you gotta,
Shut off the lights,
Kneel at the foot of your bed,
Clasp your hands together,
Pray for God's mercy,
All for a good night's sleep.

I can't
fall
in love
with
someone unless
they're
my friend
first;
I'm a
demisexual.

I swear
riding on
that bike
with you,
holding on
to your
back for
my life,
and seeing
you smile
just like
that is,
the closest
we've ever
been to
each other.

The reason I
get
up in the
morning,
and
got to work
is
just so I
can
toil away with
you.

Dusty tile floors,
blinky fluorescent lights,
the serenity prayer,
stapled to the walls,
this place is not home,
how did I end up here?
All alone in the dead of night,
this is John's place,
I don't know who John is,
but I need his help,
somebody's help,
please, dear God, get me,
out of this place!
As I shiver,
and choke down the tears,
sending up my prayers,
into the air,
life is never fair.

I asked you
not
to shave your
stubble
for the rest
of
November because of
how
handsome you look
with
a beard growing
on
your face.

I've had
such
an ill
temper
in the
past
that's what
people
expect of
me;

from now
on
I want
to
be a
gentleman.

When I'm around
you
I don't miss
my
old beau as
much
as I used
too.

I keep one
memento
of our time
together,
and I won't
throw
it away because
that
reminds me of
you.

The new grocery
store
opened in our
town,
exploring it with
you
was an utter
delight,
not because we
bought
any specific items
but,

instead, I shared
in
the excitement you
felt.

My best friend
thought
to send me
funny
videos from our
favorite
t.v. show; three
states
away we can
still
share a laugh
together.

On the car
ride
to work this
morning
my Mom promised
she’d
do better by
me,
and I believe
her.

Do you ever question
whether people love you
or not?
I do all the time.
Not trusting others
is my specialty.
I ask myself:
"Would they be better off
without me?
Yes or no?"
I say,
"Maybe?"

I was
worrying
about him
when
he didn’t
answer
back any
of
my text
messages,

I fretted
that
the worst
happened.

His teeth are stained
from
smoking crystal ****, but
I
still, want to kiss
him.

I never
get tired
of looking
over my
shoulder,
seeing you
there, and
saying that,
"I'm not
alone."

I'm simply a man
who wants to believe
God loves him,
and that as long as he
tried his best in life
then that means he's
assured a place in
heaven.

Why does this
have to be so
complicated?

The best part
of any workday
is the
end of it.
Feeling the numbness
radiating down my legs,
after standing on my feet for hours,
remarkable.
Knowing after working hard
that I'm finally clear
to go about life
as I see fit,
that's
what I call
true
freedom.

I don't miss
him
as my lover,
but
as my only
friend.

You realize how much
you miss home
when you can't go
back.
Stuck in a place
that is not your own
and there is no way
out.
No matter
how bad it was
there is no place like
home.

The best thing to do
after a long hard day
is going to sleep.
Just shut your eyes,
count imaginary sheep,
and let the world
pass away.

Do everything you can
to forget the day,
that's what its
all about.
True?

He shuffled through the door
and pulled up a chair at the table.
His name was Eddie,
he's from New Hampshire.
He'd traveled down the east coast
to Georgia,
and was looking for a spear part
to his car.
His clothes were *****, old, and worn-out,
evidence of his vagabond life.
A tv cable kept his pants up
instead of a belt.
Eddie's eyes were heavy from sleepless nights
spent on the road,
and  he wore a cross around his neck
because he lived on a prayer;
I don't know where he's going
or why he pulled up that chair
all I know is that for a few minutes
he was my friend
and I was his too.

It wasn't my idea,
but I did it anyway.
I read my poem aloud
for everyone to hear.
I started out slow
but rushed at the end.
I wonder if they understood
my words,
did they ponder
the message?
Will, I become
immortal?

Disappointment feels just
like
a ballon that's
deflating
it's own helium,

but
when this happens
you
shouldn't try grasping
back
for the thin
air.

If I asked
you
to runaway with
me,
would you leave
behind
your old life
and
follow the road
where
ever it takes
us?

I rock my baby back and
forth
all night long to calm his
nerves.

The first dollar I made
off writing
came from a friend.
He gave me four dollars
in the hopes, that soon I'd be able
to publish my poems in real ink.
Accepting this gift,
I made a promise to myself that
I'd spend this on my dream.

You listened to
me
talk about my
life,
and you didn't
once
judge me for
anything
I said to
you.

Life is all about
learning
to swim with the
tides.

Tonight I
fried
a dinner
of
cheese quesadillas,
then
my taste
buds
thanked me
for
learning to
cook
a new
food.

I want to lie down
in a hot bath and let the
water soothe my soul.

I'm a ******,
there I said it.
I'm not ashamed,
but I'm not proud either.
I don't know why I am this way,
it just hasn't happened to me yet.
I want to though,
with someone who truly cares about me.
I fit the image of the stubborn ******,
who wants his first time to be "special."
I want to look back on it
with no regrets,
doesn't everyone
feel that way?

Creating art
is
the closest
experience
I've felt
to
a spiritual
awakening.

Seeing his face
again
after all these
months
is the best
gift
I can ask
for.

Children
you are never too big
to be scared of the dark.

Shadows
disappear into the night.
Only the dead can see.

The way I look at it:
Everybody is good at
something.
Find out
what it
is.
Once you do
you'll blow people away.
Don't do something
your bad at
then get angry
when other people
are better at it
than you.
Stick with your strengths
and watch the accolades
come pouring in.

You're sweeter than a
piece
of Halloween candy, I'd
go
trick or treating for
you!

Hope is quite,
It comes late at night,
When the screaming stops,
all you can hear is silence.

Hope is quick,
It lasts for a moment,
After you've finally given up,
And need a second chance.

Hope is bright,
It's a shooting star,
As you walk through the dark,
Illuminating the path before you.

Hope is everything,
Becuase it's all,
We truly need.