.
• p-                                                                
eople do                                                              
not see past                                                               
her   makeover•                                                               
•only  traded snea-                                                               
kers for heels beyond                                                             
her years• starkness of                                                         
change, her  before and                                                   
•••after•only constants                                                 
•••are her darkness and                                             
•••••fears•happily ever                                          
•••      after is a dream so                                     
•••         far•when sickness                                  
•••          consumed her caregi-                           
   •••           vers old•hides these away                    
  •••              as she approaches the stationary      
        •••                  car •  only her stilettos know... of her
         •••                     ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
      •••                       ••••••••••••••••••••••••


*story untold•

.
•i've depleted my font,
my creative well•for each
day passed, with a story to tell
•staining white and barren land-
scapes•by sculpting my words into
myriad shapes•from factory fumes to
a wedding ring•an ominous tombstone
to a flash of lightning•an hourglass to track
elapsing time•the untold story behind a loved
                   nursery rhyme•            |  
                   with this i conc-             |  
                lude my 30 day run          o  
•it's been quite a stretch but
all in good fun•rest assured that
more will come when the time is
right•for now i'll turn off my
bedside lamp and bid
you all a goodnight•

.

Dear Self,

When hurt and broken down,
sadness and depression take over,
thoughts become suicidal,
life doesn't seem fair.

You don't seem worthy,
of the things in your life...
Family, lover, friends...
you're worthless.

Dear Self,

When laughing and smiling,
happiness takes over,
those suicidal thoughts,
are gone away.

You have so much to live for,
and have much support,
from family, lover, and friends.
You are priceless.

Dear Self...
Please stay smiling and happy,
Laugh... just to say all is ok,
Remember, life is worth living.

.
•a long time
ago in a galaxy far away
•the saga continues with fancy
new droids•characters in outland-
ish costumes put on display•impo-
ssible new crafts that  dart and slice
through vacuumed voids•armed to
■■■■   the teeth with impressive weapons•   ■■■■
■■■■■   spectacular battles between gargan-   ■■■■■
■■■■■   tuan cruisers• never ending fight b-   ■■■■■
■■■■■   etween opposing factions•where d-   ■■■■■
■■■■■   ark and light wield fantastic sabers•   ■■■■■
■■■■■   oh i love it... i love it!  the day draws   ■■■■■
■■■■■   near • where my childhood pangs...   ■■■■■
■■■■■   would begin to smart•in a week, the   ■■■■■
■■■■■   long anticipated day would be here•   ■■■■■
■■■■■   where the sith in my veins meets the   ■■■■■
■■■■■                     jedi in my heart•                     ■■■■■
■■■■■                                                      ­                  ■■■■■
■■■■■■                                   ­                                  ■■■■■■
■■■■■■■                                                                   ■■■■■■■
IIIIIIIIIIIIIII             ­                                             IIIIIIIIIIIIIII
.

I was once told
A girl like me
Cannot hope to succeed.

I was once told
A depressed girl
Never finds love in the world.

I was once told
A dream to travel
Will make me unravel.

I was once told
A child's every thought
Should always be taught.

But

My mother once told me
A girl like me
Will often succeed.

My mother once told me
A depressed girl
Can find love in the world.

My mother once told me
A dream to travel
Makes nightmares unravel.

My mother once told me
A childs every thought
Should be their own; never taught.

-ARI