I’ve learned to dance in the rain
To embrace each drop as it falls
Glistening in teardrop perfection
Caressing the windows and walls

I allow my child free rein
As I splash in puddles with glee
Nothing left that holds me back
I am running wild and free

Lightening rips across the sky
Crackling and spitting bright sparks
Silver and gold in confusion
No corner is kept in the dark

The drum beat on the slate rooftops
Echoes the rhythm of my heart
Present only in this moment
I wait for the thunder to start

Once I would have danced all alone
Coveting each inch of my space
But today through the downpour
I catch a brief glimpse of your face

A sudden stillness surrounds me
I have found my eye of the storm
Love weathers the darkness united
Dancing together until dawn

Never again will I say "I love you,"
Feeble was the passion returned;
But I swear by heaven above you,
I'll regard this as a lesson learned

Maybe I will miss him from time to time,
But he'll never hear it from me;
Perhaps I'll cry at the midnight chime
For this pipe dream that could never be

But for a brief time I flaunted a smile
Dismissing those dark hours of tears;
Happiness walked with me for a while,
Erasing the pain of lonely years

Why do hearts engage in such foolish games?
When someone wins, someone must lose;
And when our dreams have gone up in flames,
Self-reproach comes to collect its dues

Then Hope raised its head and spoke to my heart:
"If you don't play, how can you win?
Forget the past and make a fresh start . . . "
Oh, what the hell, let the games begin!

two leaders once met in Helsinki
for talks that looked somewhat *****
as it turns out
                still nobody knows
what they were talking about
and that indeed smells rather stinky

Staring out of the window
My head pressed against the glass
Alive and yet not quite aware
As the countryside flies past

The faint smell of filter coffee
Drifts to me from a paper cup
Reminding me to drink it
In the effort to wake myself up

Green fields blend into grey houses
With poppies for red punctuation
Brakes screech like orphan seagulls
Doors open in anticipation

People off then people on
In near perfect orchestration
Madly scrambling for a seat
As the train departs the station

Time to seek some brief comfort
Behind mobile screen or book
Face that says leave me alone
If anyone chooses to look

Glad that I’m not standing up
Trying to find space in the crowd
To keep the world at a distance
No interaction allowed

I endure the morning torture
That’s known as a daily commute
But living life this way
Seriously does not compute

I’d rather stand by the ocean
Feeling the wind caress my face
Toes in the water sun on my back
I am happy in this place

In that moment of peace
Freedom stretches out a hand
And I walk towards the sunset
Leaving only footprints in the sand

Tear down the walls of your guilt
You weren't the one who told lies
He charmed you and deceived you
He came like a wolf in disguise

Tear down the walls of your grief
Yes what he did was a shock
But time can be a great healer
You can not turn back the clock

Tear down the walls of your rage
Don’t let your anger back in
That stuff can drive you crazy
That’s how he thinks he can win

Tear down the walls of your hate
It’s time to learn to forgive
You are only hurting yourself
And that is no way to live

Tear down the walls of your doubt
Try to find some self belief
Take back the self assurance
That he took like a cruel thief

Tear down the walls of your pride
Admit that you made a mistake
After all you’re an adult
And that choice was yours to make

Tear down the walls of your pain
Even though he ground you to dust
Not everyone will betray you
Go find someone you can trust

Tear down the walls of your fear
And look everyone in the face
Find the courage to get out there
The world is a beautiful place

Nobody fancies the drummer
The lead singer steals all the hearts
There at the front of the stage
In the limelight playing the part

I am the one in the background
Where the spotlight does not shine
Just playing as part of the team
And nobody thinks that I mind

Why on earth would they bother
I am always there trying to please
Around to bail people out
When they are in a tight squeeze

My place is to support and soothe
Iron the differences out
The cog that keeps it all turning
When others scream and shout

Content to take no credit
Even though maybe I should
But I have little confidence
I can not believe I’m that good

Perhaps I learned as a child
That my place was at the back
Not destined for adulation
Or to be leader of the pack

That my opinions were worthless
Others knew much better than me
I buried my hurt deep inside
In a darkness no one could see

But one day the light will find me
Giving my self esteem birth
I will love who I see in the mirror
I will know and celebrate my worth

Nobody fancies the drummer
The lead singer steals all the hearts
There at the front of the stage
In the limelight playing the part

But sometimes it’s worth pausing
To take a much closer look
You may find that a fancy cover
Doesn’t mean you get a great book

Can you come a little closer?
Let me undress your wounds
And let your wounds bleed and bleed
Let me help you find some release

I know you’re not used to
Letting others sit in your cult of pain
But I feel your pain too
Please let me feel it with you

Don’t push your pain to the shadow of your mind
Embrace it, reveal it, you deserve to feel it
Please stop smiling with your misty eyes
Please don’t cover your wounds with bandaid lies

Be
Friendly
With the sunset

Disappointment
Will never fall upon your mood

You asked me why I like you
But I didn’t want to tell
Some of my reasons are cheesy...
But here is why I fell

I love the way your lips curve
When I make you smile
It makes me want to pull you close
And kiss you for awhile

I love the way your eyes twinkle
When you talk about things you love
I truely believe
You are a gift from above

I love that you are compassionate
You have such a big heart
That was the first thing I noticed
Right from the start

I love the way it feels
When you hold me tight
I finally feel safe
Like I could sleep through the night

I love that you don’t judge me
For my less than perfect self
That is more attractive
Than any amount of wealth

There are so many more reasons
But I’ll start with just this few
Maybe someday
I’ll give this poem to you

:)

all I ask of you,
don't buy me flowers.
take me to a garden.
for I get sad when they die.
when they are ripped
from their roots
in the ground.
their time for
growing is up.
they can no longer
have conversations
with the sun
or the grass
or the rain
as it kisses them
so softly.