I was angry, I needed someone to take the fall for my insecurities,
Unable to hide behind the naked truth, that it wasn’t you who made me feel this way, but I,
I needed a scapegoat for this emotional cycle that has been tormenting me for years,
“Is he cheating on me?”
“Is he attracted to her?”
All of these questions stemming from my poor decisions and bad relationships,
I had to put the blame on you in order for me not to feel the poison that has been slowly killing me,
Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw each woman,
Her eyes, her face, her nose, her lips, smiling back at me, laughing at my brokenness, 
Mocking the fact that he chose her over me, 
I hated myself for being too weak to leave when I had the chance,
I punished myself each day I stayed and welcomed those infidelities and betrayals, 
But now I have you, an innocent bystander, 
Struck by my emotional bullets of distrust, paranoia, and bitterness,
I watch through my rearview mirror of pain, as you lay there slowly bleeding out, 
Calling for help, but no one will come to save you, 
I drive off, adrenaline coursing through my veins,
Unable to shake the fact that I put a hit out on your heart, 
Every shot fired screaming at you for what he did, 
I’m scared because those bullets of bad decisions, regret, and hurt were not meant for you, but for him, 
You were in the wrong place at the right time, but unfortunately time wasn’t on your side,
I’m on the run now, evading the imprisonment that is waiting for me, 
Afraid to pull over and turn myself in for this horrible crime against you, 
There were no witnesses to identify what I had done to you, 
Only you would be able to point me out in the line up of broken women, 
Women who’ve stayed one second, one minute, one hour and one day too long in bad relationships, 
Sadly, you were the one put on trial and found guilty for other men’s crimes, 
Sentenced to a lifetime of fixing mistakes, reassuring insecurities, and building back walls of trust, 
But, it’s too late for you, you’ve been thrown into an empty cell,
With nothing but bad memories, unanswered questions, and regret from every broken heart you couldn’t repair, 
And now your innocence has become my guilt

What it means to be a Veteran is far beyond what meets the eye,
Soldiers giving up their lives to fight a war for you and I,
What it means to be a Veteran not too many will ever know,
The price they paid with their blood, a debt this country will forever owe,
What it means to be a Veteran, a honorable act of sacrifice,
Trading their shoes for helmets and guns, freedom was the highest price,
What it means to be a Veteran leaving their families all behind,
Fighting daily to keep our country free and safe for all of mankind,
What it means to be a Veteran how they stared death in its face,
Losing companions during the fight, lives that cannot be replaced,  
What it means to be a Veteran terrors of war keeping them awake,
Dodging bullets and enemy fire, praying death was not their fate,
What is means to be a Veteran how the war made some depressed,
Some took their very own lives to finally have some peace and rest,
What it means to be a Veteran some disabled and could not work,
Turning to prescription drugs to fill that void and ease the hurt,
What it means to be a Veteran bruises fade, but scars remain,
Fighting for red, white, and blue, liberty was the ultimate gain,
What it means to be a Veteran is more than just a holiday,
Because they chose to protect and serve we are all here today!

Blank pages mean full minds,
Minds that long to tell stories,
Stories of love, sadness, disappointments and triumphs,
Blank pages mean untold secrets,
Secrets that are hidden behind walls of distrust and agony,
Agony from broken promises that were once welcomed with gentle kisses,
Kisses that were laced with poisoned lips and deceitful tongues,
Blank pages mean guarded hearts,
Hearts that are held captive by fear of being broken,
Now lie shattered on the cold, hard ground,
Blank pages mean silenced voices,
Voices that are screaming to be heard,
Heard by listening ears on familiar faces,
Faces that once hid from ugly truths and beautiful lies,
Blank pages mean nothing unless you are willing to write your story
Stories that have never been told or heard of

As I bask in your rays, beads of perspiration slowly form on my brow,

Your warmth is ever so inviting to my mahogany colored skin,

Digging my toes into the heated sand, I discover the cool earth underneath,

I take slow satisfying sips of tequila spiked lemonade,

Allowing the gentle breeze to caress my sun- kissed face,

You smile as your perfect reflection beams off of the ocean’s mirror,

Dolphins and fish swim freely beneath you, taking in your glory,

Trails of starfish and coral decorate the ocean floor,

Hollow sea shells crunch under care-free children’s feet as they fill empty buckets with water,

The fragrance of salt and seaweed dance in the air,

Intoxicating me with the reality that vacation has begun

The night is dark and still, eerie jack-o’-lanterns illuminate porches of decrepit houses,

Footsteps of mischievous teenagers echo in the distance, seeking the next house to vandalize,

Costumed children parade the streets eager to fill plastic buckets with candy,

As the moon reflects its pale, grim face over the night’s canvas,

A faint howl resurrects other silenced muzzles hidden in the darkness,

Uncertain knocks dance on wooden doors alarming hosts,

“Trick or treat” greets their ears as hands with empty buckets impose on their doorstep,

Handfuls of chocolates, candies and treats now occupy once vacant containers,

Satisfied youth scurry home for baths and bed as porch lights flicker off in unison,

Anticipation of next year’s Halloween night soothes them to sleep as parents kiss them good night.

I’m at war within,
Chaos circles around me,
Daring me to run

My words and thoughts pour out from you,
Carefully displaying my inner true self,

You record my truths unapologetically
Delivering each stroke with purpose,

There are no judgements being cast down,
Your key unlocks my mind from imprisonment,

Exposed and open, I dare not hide my vulnerability,
I’m protected from misconstrued speculations,

Thoughts that were once trapped by other’s misunderstandings,
Now flow freely from your reserve,

New doors open with every detail written,
Empowering me through each deliberate word,

My voice that was once silenced, now screams bravely through you,
Confessing insecurities, desires, and fears,

Our bond has always been unbreakable, you are my deepest reflection,
And we will always remain as one until the ink runs dry.