I stood in line
to vote today.
The time went by
slow,
but I wasn't
alone.
God knows
who each of us voted for,
but at least
we showed up.
All of us want
to make America well,
so we stand in dull lines,
fill out tedious voter cards,
and finally, vote
in the hopes that democracy
would do its job,
amazing.
I'm a proud voter,
and I hope you are too.

The way you disappear
is by walking out that door
and never looking back.
Leaving the past behind
and going headlong
into the future.
Don't bother saying goodbye
because you're already
gone.

If I could meet myself 20 years from now,
hopefully, I'd say:
"Everything is going to be ok."
and
"Don't worry so much."

He gave
me
a bear
hug
to say
goodbye,
and I
wish
we didn't
have
to let
go
of each
other.

Today at
work,
I accomplished
more
then what
they
expected of
me ;

I'm glad
to
go above
and
beyond my
responsibilities.

Grandma bought me a box
of tissues today,
now I can start crying.
I've heard it said,
"Boys don't cry."
but sometimes I do.
Life gets too heavy  
and I need a release.
I always lock the door to my room,
to not sadden others.
I pull the blanket over my body
and my eyes start to water.
I bow my head as if to pray then I let
the most vulnerable part of myself
free through my teardrops.
For a few minutes  
I have no guard or shield
just tears.
When its over
I wipe away the pain
from my eyes
and start life
anew.

God sent me a cleaning
crew
to help tidy up my
apartment,
at first, I felt they
were
invading my privacy but I
can't
argue with the results my
place
feels like it did back
when
I moved in, a brand-new
home.

Today I
bought
a fresh outfit
because I was
finally ready
to tear-off
my tattered rags,
and try on
a brand new
me.

I'm healing now,
it's something I've
never
felt before.
It's this feeling of
being alone
in my room,
taking a walk
outside,
or sharing a beer
with my friends.
A calmness falls
over me,
I start to let
my guard down.
I enjoy
the moment.
My life is good,
not perfect,
but still
good.
I can feel
wounds healing,
and my life
changed.

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.

My uncle bought
me
so many chicken
wings
I had to
ask
for a doggie
bag;

he purchased my
lunch
and dinner at
once.

I've got bills
to
pay over the
phone,
and I'm not
looking
forward to it
but
I accept this
because
I'm an adult
now.

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 say you're not
perfect,
but you could've fooled
me.

I'm afraid to
make
the first move
with
a girl I
like
because I don't
want
this new possible
relationship
to turn out
poor
like the other
ones.

A writer's ultimate goal
is to be remembered
after he's gone,
immortalized
in the hearts of people
all over the world
long after he's
dead.

Will, he ever reach it,
who's to say,
writers die, but ideas live on
so write about what matters.

Don't we all stare
into the same night sky?
Hoping to be reunited again
like shooting stars.

She didn't ask
for
the candy I
gave
her, but that's
what
makes it a
gift
and not an
obligation.

I'm waiting
on the day
when I show up
for work,
and someone
tells me
I'm doing
a good job.
I never
understood
how thankless
this job is,
to everyone
punching the clock
I know
your loss.

Healing doesn't always feel
good,
yesterday during my procedure
I was uncomfortable
but had to
let the doctor
perform his duty,
and because I withstood
I can smile again
having been healed.

I told my
Grandma,
"All happiness is
fleeting."
she replied saying,
"So
is all unhappiness
too."
She's never seemed
wiser.

I don't
know
why you
hang
out with
me
because all
we
do is
argue
with each
other.

Even though
I don't like you
anymore,
I still want to
please your
eyes.
Time after time
you draw me
back,
and I'm left
feeling absolutely
helpless.
All I want
is to hear you
say,
"I love you,
and I always
will."

I'll keep on
standing
up for myself
even
no one else
is
on my side
because
no matter what
I've
always got my
back.

I was
happy
to pay
for
our lunch
because
the food
tastes
better with
you.

My mother told me
that I deserve someone who
is better than you.

I was sleeping,
but
you woke me
up
early in the
morning
to deliver my
breakfast;

what a nice
way
to start my
day.

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.

Love reveals
itself
in little
ways
we take
for
granted every
day.

Here's to taking
a chance on yourself!
Here's to trusting
your instincts!
Here's to giving
everything you got!
Here's to discovering
your inner strength!
Here's to proving
haters wrong!
Here's to never looking
back!

My Dad told
me
when he left,
"Aaron,
you're the man
of
the house now."
Dad
I did my
best,
I hope you're
proud.

You're my first
kiss,
and no matter
how
far we drift
apart
Antony, you'll always
have
the first pair
of
lips I ever
tasted.

The landlord is
raising
my rent yet
again,

but as a
result
I'm gladly moving
out
of this place,
because

lately my apartment
has
felt like an
old
tomb instead of
home.

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

I apologized
to her even though I didn't
do anything wrong.

I almost walked
alone
in the pouring
rain,
but you gave
me
a ride home
still.

The gums
inside
of my
mouth
are swelling
like
a red
balloon,

I've lost
control
over my
body.

What you get
with a basic life:
College diplomas
to hang on the wall,
a full-time job
that lasts 40 years,
dating resulting in
marriage and maybe divorce,
children are born and stick around for at least
18 years,
retiring in your sixties then finally
death.
Are you bored yet?

On the walk
home
I called your
phone
at least ten
times,
but you didn't
pick-up;

I needed to
know
if you were
okay.

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

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

Inspiration strikes like a match
lighting the fire of creation,
all it takes is one little spark
to create something beautiful,
so keep fanning the flame
because once it goes out
art remains.

Mincing words left and right,
I might cry tonight,
Can you call me,
Before I sleep,
When darkness gnaws on my feet,
Tell of better things,
New songs to be sung,
Old memories and having fun,
They roll one by one,
Off the comforter,
Down the sheets,
Through the mattress,
To the floor,
Tears of blue pour more and more,
Like riptides inside my chest,
I need desperately to get some rest,
...please call soon...

My little black cat
lies at the foot of my bed;
as I sleep at night.

A teacher of mine
once told the class,
"Never live in the past,
keep moving forward."
He told us that after dwelling
on painful regret,
he took his trophies
and set them ablaze.
Leaving the past behind
in a bed of ashes.

I hope that our love
lasts longer than the ash off
of her cigarette.

I want to hear
her siren's call,
after years
at sea
I've grown
deaf,
though she's
death,
I'd rather be
beckoned
with her
sweet song,
and crash on
the rocks
if
I can hear
her voice
one last time.

I’ll wait for
him
while he's in
rehab,
however long it
takes
for him to
become
a sober man
again.

Once I felt so sad
that I wanted to take
my own life, and I made
a plan to do it.
I was going to slit my wrists,
lay in the bathtub, and bleed out.
Something deep inside me said,
"No." That night was not my last.
I dialed the hotline and got
locked away for three days.
In those 72 hours, I understood
the most important aspect
of my life is love.
No matter what you never let go
of the people who mean the most to you.
I walked out a free man knowing the love
my mother has for me, and I will never forget that.