Release - Truth II

She spoke without a trace of regret

With a back upright and strong

Staring straight ahead

Without any contempt or scorn

Her lips were slightly upturned

In neither a smirk nor a smile

Her lips simply fell upwards

As if all had been reconciled

“There’s nothing more you can to do me,

I have truth on my side.”

“It’s not about the truth”, they stated.

“That’s the truth that liars lie.”

“The truth is not a variable,

It’s not something you can squeeze and turn.”

“It’s not about the truth”, they stated.

“That’s how lies are often born.”

Her voice remained a river

In neither a swell nor in a drought

Her voice was clear and crystal

And spoke without any doubt

Her mind was cleared of burden

Like an oxen released from its yoke

Free to roam and seize the day

And decipher the fire from the smoke

“There’s nothing more I need to hear,

I have learned what is true.”

“It’s not about the truth”, they stated.

“That’s what separates me from you.”

“I wish you well, in all you try,

I hope truth will set you free.”

“It’s not about the truth”, they stated.

“That’s what separates you from me.”

Illusion

The fantasy of love

Is not love

The idea of happiness

Is not happiness

Fantasies are not

Reality

Ideas are not

Truths

They’re mirrored houses

Reflecting only what you want to see

Reflecting only what you want others to know

Truth

Write your dime store penny romance verse

Filled with cheap cliches

And covered lamp shades

Bask in the glow of a flashing cursor

Believing it’s true love

From a false muse from above

Profess your undying love once more

To someone not near

But at least on your shores

Pretend the fates have brought you together

Yet keep you apart

A pathetic pattern from the start

Your ways are old

Time worn and cold

There’s no magic in your dance

A manufactured romance

Look at it close

With eyes that are wide

A man who can’t love

And a woman with no pride

If you’re going to stab me in the back

At least look me in the eye

You’ve got more demons to fight

Then your made up lies

Have some charm. Have some grace

Admit your faults. Save some face

Your innocence is a mere disguise

Full of holes and alibis

Photo Shoot

Within a magazine

I saw high heels and blue jeans

Smiles as you please

Boots upon some knees

They smiled until it hurt

They grinned until it’s sore

They laughed upon the click

Until the photo was finished

Groups stood arm in arm

With toothpaste and with charm

Unable to discern

A simple lesson to be learned

They tried until they failed

They cried until it’s bleak

They held on to the last

Until the age was breached

She

She isn’t one that you would know

Yet you know her just the same

A beautiful soul and graceful charm

Like a moth drawn to a flame

She isn’t one that you would know

Yet she is always near

Dancing with a smiling face

And hiding a few tears

She isn’t one that you would know

Though her presence is always felt

Consoling those who need a hand

Keeping what life has dealt

She isn’t one that you would know

Yet you would be so proud

To call her name and thank her heart

And to speak her name out loud

Did You Hear?

It’s been awhile since we last spoke

But not so long, as things go

Did you hear that I scaled a mountain?

No. I’m sure you didn’t know

It feels like ages since I saw your face

Then again, only yesterday

Did you hear that I broke the record?

No.  I’m sure not yet today

My hair has grown three inches

My smile is almost right

The scars that I have caused

Are healing up quite nice

There are cobwebs on the game boards

And dust upon the shelves

As if people left a living place

Running to save themselves

It’s been awhile since we called our names

But not so long, as time drifts past

Did you hear that I won the whole thing?

No.  I’m sure you haven’t asked

It feels like ages since we laughed together

Then again, a slight moment in time

Did you hear that I climbed the ladder?

No.  I’m sure you’re doing fine

My hair has grown three inches

My smile is almost right

The scars that I have caused

Are healing up quite nice

There are cobwebs on the game boards

And dust upon the shelves

As if people left a living place

Running to save themselves

Protest

Tip Toe Tip Toe
Look beyond your sight
Tip Toe Tip Toe
Shrouded wolves posses the night

Tip Toe Tip Toe
They're hiding in the dark
Tip Toe Tip Toe
Their bites precede their bark

Hush Hush
Keep it quiet, keep it to yourself
Hush Hush
Speak not of it, your voice up on the shelf

Hush Hush
Choices made, out in the open air
Hush Hush
Keep your tongue, while flaunted without care

Silent Silent
Listen beyond the sound
Silent Silent
Mendacity all around

Silent Silent
It should have all been clear
Silent Silent
Can't heed what you can't hear

Loudly!  Loudly!
Pontificating upon love and upon life
Loudly!  Loudly!
Hypocrisy, considering the back and bloody knife

Loudly!  Loudly!
Declaring "I give nothing but love and gentle touch"
Loudly!  Loudly!
Methinks, perhaps, thou protest perhaps a bit too much

Shackled II

Bare foot lay sideways, cold against the floor

My right shoe; shackles where there were laces.

My hands reached out, begging to find the key

Searching the dark room, a needle in hay.

My hurt and fears bound to my bounded foot

My tears and hopes held by encrusted chains.

Crying, nothing but an echoing voice

Looped circles; a deathly merry go round.

The key could hear, I could feel its presence

Calling out.. mockingly?  It must be near!

My bonds kept me from earning salvation

How does one move forward, while in the past?

A twist of metal!  As one link gave way

As if unseen forces, recognized pain.

My reach was the same, though my spirit rose

I understood, what was needed of me.

My path had been rough, so I donned a mask

Locking out all the world and all its joys.

I now lay shackled to what I’ve become

Captive to the world of my own making.

I was kept in isolation by force

A masked shadow cooed and held my hand.

Now I knew what I should have known before

One must move forward, and unchain the past.

The shackle gave way;  the chain turned to dust

I remained seated on the ice cold slab.

I was free to go on, living in dark
Or give up my bonds, my mask, and my fears.

Shackled

I was shackled to my hurt and all my tears

Forced to reconcile all my hope and all my fears

The key to salvation lay at my unshoed feet

My arms outstretched, yet I could not seem to reach

My happiness was bound to sorrow and regret

I crawled and cried to those who seemed not to relent

The chance to fix it all appeared a bleak and hopeless task

For like myself, my captor wore nothing but a mask

Hurdles lay before me, like bones left of the dead

Inching forward on hands and knees, crawling to be fed

The blood lay cold. Pooled. Nothing. Stagnant ponds.

Black and thick, the evidence of players and of pawns

I was shackled to my hurt and to all of my tears

I reconciled my ignorance with all of my fears

The key to my salvation lay at my sawed off feet

My arms outstretched, yet they still could not be reached