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LIFELINE

Life is killing you softly
And yes parts of you have already died
The man in the mirror doesn't resemble you
And regardless of how hard you try
You just can't figure out why
But remember the butterfly
Creature of dazzling beauty and grace
Now riding the wind
But once dwelled in another place
Born a strong and determined caterpillar
It learned and it grew
Other caterpillars came to love and depend on him
As other people lean and depend on you
The caterpillar reach its full size
But still had much growing to do
So against his will, Life wrapped him into a cocoon
It squeezed his very essence until it was just too much
Death was sure to come from the cocoon's next touch
But as the end drew near, he noticed tiny wings had begun to appear
The wings were made out of the parts of him that had been squeezed
So instead of bracing himself for the next hit
The caterpillar embraced the blow
Allowed it to transform him, and what do you know?
It wasn't long before he learned to manipulate the blows
And as Life squeezed harder, the more his wings began to grow
In the beginning, it seemed life would kill him
But instead of taking direct hits
He let life push the hard cocoon inside of him
But he didn't hold the painful cocoon inside to long
He learned from it and pushed the cocoon back out
As a frame for his wings, a frame that was very strong
As he pushed the frame out, parts of him came out too
These parts became his wings
And the same is happening to you
Sometimes it takes Life's hardest hits to reveal the beauty we have inside
But once this beauty is revealed it becomes the means by which we fly

Rev. Demeterius Smith © demetes@clemson.edu 

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                   Almost...

Once you were and still as you will always be, my, Almost…
Once you were not yet mine, but just as you will ever not be mine, though,
Almost...

Then the movement was interrupted, the symphony unfinished.
Then the moment was gone, the dream deferred, our promises unkept, but
Almost...

There is a place and time when even atoms collide, so still do we, well
encircled by circumstance and serendipity eyes meet and tumble averted 
from the unpleasant thing, us, now called, Almost...

Masked indifference dashes the truth against the rocks of my hardened pride
yet still my sorrow washes ashore on the beaches that lay along the memories
of my, Almost...

What is this then and who are you now to me?…

I'll tell you, I'll tell you, Lemme!  Tell!  You!……

You! are my, Almost; the unknowing sole inhabitant of the desert island
called my forgiveness, the ill-timed punch line to the bad joke I sometimes
play on myself called love.

You! are my, Almost; the deafening sound that as I listen to who is not and
could never hope to be my almost, the deafening sound that swims up, in and
around, all her verbal emissions, the scent that rains, pours and thunders
in my senses as I struggle to regain my equilibrium, my concentration on
my, "Mine"…

"Huh, oh, what did you say honey?  I'm sorry baby, I didn't catch that, guh
head"…….

Damn!!!!???

Almost, Almost, Almost…


Bree © Truth98@email.msn.com

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smoke screen

visions of the days you and I
I and you
you and I
smiles
gentle laughs
energy between
you and I
foreign lands we traveled together
packed your bags and place them unto my heart
my soul
mesmerized in your eyes
we suffered through
cold days and nights
many decisions we tucked out of sight
dreams are for dreamers
and life is for lovers
shall we dream
while our love is undercover
how long will this day end?
until the night brings you my friend
destiny is my friend
wake me if you do not share my dream
and don't think of me as a love feign.
drama drama drama
with you your kids and their mama(s)
I accepted your invitation
the fantasy of a missed love in my mind
didn't know then I would be wasting precious time
same ole
same ole
thought that I would be the one to change this guy
it's time to wake from my hidden dream
of love and life and life with love
how could I let your kind of love blind my spirit
and why was I so flexible
willing to give in
in a desperate zone
feelin all alone
what ever happened to
you and I
I and you
see what you put me through

Taheba "Sunshine" Byrd © taheba.byrd@lmco.com

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FACES, PEOPLE AND PLACES

First, it was the teenagers with their beer.
I was always impressed and tried to stay near.

Then the bikers, they were next.
Most would do their best to stay clear, but not I.
I wanted to be there.

The husband, the father, I wanted to be.
The homeowner, the businessman, don't you see.
All these things I wanted to be.

Then the gambler, the gangster, the dope dealer, 
the loan shark, the thief.
Believe it or not, I wanted to be.
And sooner than later they all became me.

Well, many a night has past since those early days.
If you met me now you'd surely know I've changed my ways.

At times I miss them.
At times I don't.
If I had the chance to go back, I'd have to say I won't.

It was a different time.
It was a different place.
I was a different person.
I even wore a different face.

Today, the masks are few and far between.
I have little need to wear them.
I'm comfortable with how I'm seen.

So my life goes on in this other place in time.
And I know there is a plan for me.
But, this time, it won't be mine.

Roy Solomon © RSBS1111@aol.com

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POCKET IN MY HEART

I have a pocket in my heart that has been empty for sometime,
Empty by choice because it hurt too much to feel,
So like a sour lemon, I put it to pine,
Until YOU, the one that I cannot believe is real.

Your words are like a little bit of heaven,
My pocket peeling open bright as sunshine,
And baby I did not find you at Seven 11,
But I think I found YOU just in time.

I keep YOU safely in the pocket of my heart,
Afraid not to feel no more,
Because you gave me your heart,
I have opened my heart’s door.

I cannot explain it, this openness I feel,
But I know deep down inside my heart, a growth you did start,
Emotions pent up I let you steal,
For darling your love touched my soul not just my heart.

My heart has a pocket that only YOU share,
Your gentle ways, your laughter and the love you too hid away,
My darling I love when we frolick and play but most of all I love YOU,
Please do not ever go away.

Leilani High © LLo9228134@aol.com

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RELEASE ME

Why do you want to continue to take
Why not move on passed the mistakes
Let me go, allow me be free
Let me start again to discover me

Don't use the kids, the money, the house
How could I have married such a louse?
We all get lost and lose our way
But tomorrow can be a brand new day

So move along and let me move too
Hold your head high and start anew
Find the strength to love again
Then open your heart to the one you call friend

Do what it takes to get passed it all
Time, patience starts out with a crawl
However you do it, just let it happen please
let me have back my life and some sort of ease

Sue Christiansen © sue@transaver.com