She smiled like April

Breaking out of winter gloom;

She laughed with the fervor

Of a sudden shower in June.

Just like the moonflower, I too, wilt at dawn’s first breath.

A black bird sits on my windowsill.

Mocking me with its unlaboured loyalty to the present moment.

I wonder if it remembers all the valleys it flew over, all the food it pecked on.

I yearn to know all the birds it must have known.

What it felt like to feel the wind under its wings for the first time?

Does it remember?

A black bird stands behind the windowsill.

Mocked and dawned with the task of laboured living.

The feeling under

your fingertips

was still true.

From sun up

to sun

down

just as long.

Normality was

a quiet

that you've never known

and

hooves,

manual labor,

the smell,

wood and stone.

They didn't know

that kings were, too,

uncomfortable.



When you imagine

them, remember:

the world was still

in color.

The snow set in the barn,
Where the horses once laid
On a cold night, ice spiraled
We tossed,turned, all packed

The troops tamed to acquiesce
Rifles silenced, bullets sacked 
Stocks in deficit, awaiting ambush
Sores overturned and edged in holes

Our nerves dead in the silent night
Risking an aching machine, a body
Pushing to extremities, thrill seeking
My mind numb, body ignited in dumb

Left, right… series audibly recurred
Halting to reflect the extreme valour
A salute to quench and honor a reality
For I once sacrificed my "liberties" for "others"

from a somber whisper to a roll of thunder
the gods have awakened from their slumber
the dream that they collectively believed
was a long range message to receive
in an effort to relieve us from machines
and the labels that they place on every thing
it's a fable a facade a safe place be to a sheep
so when all the other great ones were asleep
and a couple went astray it made them think
that they would have to start war to make some peace

their logic is dependent on limits so when we bend it
they'll befriend it for the moment for a minute just to get it
just to get an edge
just to get ahead
meanwhile, the earth bound spirits get stronger living dead

Maybe they don't care,
Because I'm always,
Lying through my teeth,
Every time they ask,
If I'm okay,
The words come quick,
Because they're programmed,
Behind my lips,
I always say,
I'm doing just fine,
But my fake smile,
Hides my constant denial,
The lies shown on my face,
The words so mechanic,
Driven just the right way,
Always make them think,
I'm okay.