I've seen

I've seen places
that I've only dreamed
and realised their beauty
felt their love
and known what they meant to those that were
before them
before me

I've seen wonders
that have left me breathless
and through living
I've found me
a person I thought I'd lost
and rediscovered
hiding beneath all the layers

I've seen pain
that I wish never to see again
gut wrenching
heart bleeding
senseless
debilitating pain
that leaves a hollow shell

I've seen it all

This is Life

Ah life
when you were ready for me
what was I doing
sitting in the dark
thinking this was it
it wasn't all about me
I swore that part was true
you knocked—
not once
or twice
you were insistent
that I answer you
and when I put my hands over my ears
to block you out
block everything out
you sat behind my door
through the night
and into the next morning
you weren't going to leave
until I answered—
did I
this is life
I did.

Love, in bundles

I took the chance
a gamble
on life—
expected nothing
everything else was a bonus
love
in bundles
exceeding my expectations
took me to a higher place
death
the cloud
that hovered
came one sunny day—
left me weak
defeated
and lost
birth of something
bigger than you
and me
and all of us put together
came on a day
that was yet to be determined
but it was there
cause I took the chance.

I am a somnambulate

I am lonely
understood by no one
sometimes lost
feel at ease
pretense so much a part of me
I don't know what's real anymore
too much pressure
leaves me tired
weak
confused
I am a somnambulate
day is night is day
and back again
and again
when will I wake—
from this nightmare

For you, sweet

Sunny smile
sparkling eyes—
glitter and shine
to fill a room with your presence
a party a party
only when you're near
love in abundance—
memories
our memories are treasured
in a vault deep
courageous girl
how you shone
odds against you
falter; not
fought with every breath
Then—
taken suddenly
to rest
in a better place
when it all got to much
somewhere far—
tears aplenty
what we would do
to have you back
until tomorrow,
or when that time decided
sweet love
we wish you
peace
love
and eternal rest

Red flag, White flag

He waved his red flag
and from the opposite side
he waved his white  flag
and somewhere in the middle
they met with tripadtion
and a fear that they would not let the other see
puffed out their chests
splayed their legs
and kept their hands in their
pockets to hid the trembling
spoke in loud gruff voices
words they did not understand
but sounded intelligent
wordly
and knowledgeable
all to disguise the nervousness
and lack of information
they really had
and put forward their case
glancing
always glancing
under beaded eye
whether it was
accepted
or rejected
and in haste they'd clamour
as they sought cover
flags at the ready
to meet just once more

Rude awakenings

So, you took what was not yours
and claimed it your own
for greed
you did not consider the journey made
from someone else
the sacrifices to get where they were—
where you could just step in and will it to be yours
you did not take anything into account
how naive
ignorant
or just plain rude are you
the sweat of others
the suffering of those who invested
not money—
that is nothing
but time
time, a
precious commodity
time away from family
all so you could
take it all away
wake up
your time will come
rude awakenings
will soon put things right
watch
wait
life as you know it has just changed