Roses are red
Violets are blue
These feels, unfamiliar
And they’re all due to you
They stay when you’re gone
Long after you’ve left
I fear I’m a victim
Of some sort of thought-theft
Though despite the discomfort
And these feelings, so new
‘Tis the first time in forever
I’ve felt that they’re true
Please grasp the importance
Of these verses I write
So much more than mere words, you see
They’re my heart’s deepest insight
So sorely do we wish to find
A person who’s just like our kind
Someone who’s just as weird as us
That we can know and love and trust
A person that just lets us be
And even when we disagree
They know that we’re still meant for them
And do not argue and condemn
Because when love is tried and true
It is not only about you
It is a union that you share
A contract, where you’re both aware
That life is meant for everyone
And when our time is gone and done
You’ll find that what we all should do
Is live it not with one, but two
A raindrop has one chance to fall
To land where it might fulfill all
As do dandelions sway
They, just once, will drift away
Breeze will carry, gently now
The seeds of life that they endow
No second chances, no regrets
One life is what each person gets
Do not be nervous
Feel not afraid
Destroy doubt’s wall
And barricade
Live your life as you want to
Do the things you want to do
Boldly tell the one you love
You’re meant to be and not scared of
Embrace the world as you see fit
For time, we don’t get much of it
Make the most of what you’ve got
Live and laugh and love, a lot
I want you to know that you aren’t all alone
I want you to know I’m here too
I want you to see all the struggles in me
And I want you to know I love you
There’s nothing at all that could push me away
Though I know it’s not easy to do
It’s not easy to shed all the walls we put up
It’s not easy to face what is true
Out of all the things that you thought I would care
I’m telling you, matter they don’t
There’s no history or torn tattered family tree
That would make me leave you, ‘cause I won’t
I want to know everything, the good and the bad
The person you actually are
I care not for feelings that truth might bring out
I care about chasing this star
All of us, love, have things we regret
Things we’d change, if only we could
But we can’t, so tonight let me say unto you
Let’s move forward, not stand where we stood
You ask me why I’m like this
I’ll tell you best I can
Some things have happened in my life
That made me who I am
I used to see things one way
But that way got turned to two
And then I started seeing things
From all these points of view
Everything around me changed
◦ ‘Twas different than before
The world revealed itself to me
As it drug me ‘cross the floor
It showed me everything it made
It showed me that I’m lost
It showed me that there’s many more
Who feel the same exhaust
Then, it softly spoke to me
It told me to be strong
And if you let your weakness win
You’re right where you belong
◦
Tell me what you’re feeling cause my heart just started healing and I’ve poured my very soul into the words on this page
I need to understand you because I don’t want to go through all the things that locked my heart into a cold, dark cage
I’ve tried so many times and I have witnessed all love’s crimes and I don’t want to start the war my shattered heart might wage
The only thing I ask is to make honesty our task to get past each other’s pasts and make it into old age
Please tell me what you’re thinking I can’t let our love start sinking just pull back all of the curtains see, this world is our stage
A lovey dame was so offended
At this ball I just attended
Because her partner had extended
A most presumptuous invite
Apart for almost that whole party
She was angry he’d been tardy
When leaving I had laughed so hard, she
Made a fool of him tonight
He ignored his lateness, tried to play nice
She didn’t buy it, only danced twice
But champagne causes men to roll dice
That should never see the light
He shouted as he hailed a carriage
“You’re all invited to our marriage!”
As we all watched that dame disparage
And slap with all her might
She must have fought before, had training
For when his balance was regaining
She gave us the most entertaining
Show: a one round fight
It lasted less than one full second
Likely killed him, we all reckoned
With one right hook, as recommended
She sent him on his final flight
Applause erupted, I was beguiled
For then she looked at me and smiled
Now here I lay, our clothes all piled
My new damsel’s more a Knight
New to me, these feelings are
I thought these thoughts all dwelled afar
For years they have alluded me
Now here, tonight, my soul’s set free
Comparison: the theif of joy
I’ve longed for this since just a boy
I’ve watched, observed, the ones who love
And always wished I’d rise above
Such reservations I have had
Since yesteryear and just a lad
Now here, tonight, under these stars
It feels like this whole world is ours
And as we dance under moonlight
Those eyes of yours, they shine so bright
Such luck it was that I found you
Let’s live this life, as we’re meant to
Hello ma’am, I have for you
A query I need answers to
You see, I was across the bar
Seated, writing, mind afar
But then a shimmer caught my eye
It was your gaze as you walked by
And so I was compelled to think
Would this girl join me for a drink?
Now here we are; sappy, I know
I am not Edgar Allen Poe
My pen does not Tell Tales of Heart
But every story has a start
What if this was both yours and mine?
My dear, you’re looking mighty fine
What better way to introduce
Our journey than with this Chartreuse?
Let me politely fill your glass
That dress tells me you have such class
Let’s talk and see where things might go
That smile says you’d like to know
What is it that you’re thinking while you’re looking at me blinking as you’re struggling with every thought and word?
I’m here before you standing and your silence is demanding all you want is to be seen and to be heard
Babe just take a breath, you’re hands are trembling to death, I’ll be right here until you want to go
Say the things you came to but when everything’s been talked through there’s just one thing that you and I both need to know
Its taken years for us to get here
There’s not a thing that we should fear
We’ve been through every twist and every single turn
So just say what’s on your mind
It could be hate or could be kind
If there’s parts that I don’t know, I want to learn
My mind is torn to tatters but the only thing that matters is to weather through the storm coming our way
This fight will come to pass and when we’ve said our peace at last you know I’ll be here waiting every day
So just get it off your chest because you know I’m not the best at this I won’t come back for seconds or for thirds
Tell me what’s up there, I’m not going anywhere, I love you and I’ll listen to your words
A damsel in distress she’s not, though nights are all besot with her
Affection widely chased more than even gold, frankincense and myrrh
Aged better than Venetian wine, smoother than a fine liqueur
Treat her as the Queen she is: this maiden we call Literature
Sought by many, caught by few, to court her is a Fool’s Errand
Exceptions only granted when one’s dedication’s apparent
Gentle, patient one must be; to nothing she can come second
For absolute commitment is the quality of all legends
Everybody’s knocking but the owner just turns out the light
Fight to find a way inside and find the lock is far too tight
I smile as I watch them shout and beg her for one night’s invite
Because this pen unlocks the pad where Writing lays her head at night
So intimate we’ve grown to be, forever I’ll be in her debt
For it was I who was distressed, and she who saved me from regret
Sincerely now I thank her for becoming my one true duet
Eternity I’d wait for her: this love who was so hard to get
Unforgiving, relentless, cruel
More sour than lemon or lime
Yielded by Life, this emotionless tool
Deals pain that’s inevitable: Time
No matter the love or the laughter it sees
It strikes without warning or sign
Its flame turns to smolder the most peaceful of trees
All beginnings, it ends by design
Why, all too often, is it the trivial, mundane
That seems to be our sole focus and care?
It takes moments like these, meant for family; not pain
The harshest reminder – her cold, empty chair
How fickle it is that this Life seems to be
Just a path we all struggle to cross
It’s proven by Time, regardless how desperate the plea
That if you ever know Love…you’ll know Loss
Friday night, bars are closing
I don’t know why I’m here
Feelings hit me deep inside, stepping in this Uber ride
It’s loneliness I fear
Every time, inside my head
I say that she’s the one
Naïveté and ignorance have got me acting with no sense
So why oh why do I keep saying this is pointless and I’m done?
Finally things are going well
But like every other time
The real comes out and causes doubt
I cant stand the paradigm
I don’t think I’m wrong but
You don’t think I’m right why
Can’t we get along and
Not do this every night
I’m tired of the fighting, and
I’m tired of the arguin’
This only causes breakups and
Makes people want to live in sin
I wish more than anything
To find someone who’s struggling
Someone who sees the world like me
Who doesn’t judge and lives freely
A person who embraces flaws
Instead of these unspoken laws
Who’d rather sit and talk with me
Than go out for a shallow drink
Sadness sweeps so subtly
The more I think of you and me
I wish this world was different, see
Filled with love, and yet sadly
It’s superficiality
That guides our actions, you agree?
I beg your pardon, woe is me
This world is just…melancholy
The sand, the dirt, the grass, the trees
The sticks, the stones, the light, the breeze
The things this world has made for me
Have warmed my heart and set me free
I look at the stars as I rest on my knee
They twinkle and spark, this light that I see
I gaze at them wondering, what could they be?
As I listen to waves hit the rocks under me
So calm it all is, out here with the leaves
No fear of the world, or it’s warriors and thieves
My mind is at rest, this feeling I’ve sought
A needed reprieve from the torment I’ve thought
The darkness within isn’t something I share
I keep it behind the false mask that I wear
It’s not that I’ve feigned, and not that I’ve lied
I just don’t want to release all the pain that’s inside
I want to be happy
I just want to live
Her death, it has gripped me
And it’s hold will not give
My words carry weight
Of this, I know
But now I see nothing
Through her bedroom’s window
It used to be filled
With her smile, her love
As she watched us all playing
With a ball and a glove
Those days are all gone now
And it hurts me so much
Please take this away, God
Please heal me, your touch
I don’t care if they read this
It’s my only escape
These pages have saved me
From a much harsher fate
I beg you, my Father
If you truly are there
To take this away
And heal my despair
These words that I’m writing
They’re the realest I’ve penned
I beg of you, God
Will I see her again?
My dearest Lilliana,
Not a day goes by without my thoughts eventually falling upon you. Those carefree, restless nights spent together I always think of as I sit here in the trenches, covered in the grit and dirt that this advance has cast over me. Every day we are inching forward, further and further as we push back the filth who see this world in a way that our loving God surely wishes to admonish.
Your last letter struck the deepest chords of my heart. I long for nothing more than the knowledge to tell you I shall be returning soon, and yet I fear there are many more battles to come. The officers have assured us that this war will come to a swift end, but many of us withhold our doubts. There is even talk that things are growing so perilous that the Americans will be giving their support in the way of rations and arms. The men say that it would be better if they would send their troops, but it seems as they are careful not to get themselves directly involved in the atrocities that the sons of Europe have been forced to bear witness to.
I cannot say I blame them, much as we would welcome their aide. No God fearing man on this Earth should be forced to shoulder the burdens this war has created.
I so hope that I shall see you before long, my love. This tiny locket I carry does not do justice to the image of you I dream of each time I lay down for the night.
Pray for me, my Lilliana. God willing, I will hold you in my arms soon.
Forever with you,
Your Braden
My love. My all. Such memories do we share. Memories such as the times we’d awaken to the sun’s shimmering rays darting through the window, on those soft linen sheets as you’d rollover, greeting me with the morning’s first kiss. Memories of your fingers gently gliding, cusping the back of my neck, holding me as if you’d never let go.
I so long for these moments. I cannot help but wonder where you are and what dangers lie ahead. Each day, without exception, I sit gazing out this window at the calm beach and its soothing waves; the soft sound of the salted water drifting to the shore. I think of us, my love, walking along that cool, flawlessly smooth sand with our hands clasped tightly together, enjoying the warm breeze as it passes through us without a care in the world.
The days are proving harder, my love. Each day without you further shatters my soul, as my thoughts are imprisoned by the uncertainty of your welfare. I miss you every waking second of the day, and am greeted by your embrace only in my most deepest of dreams.
Tell me you will be returning soon. I cannot bear the thought of going through this every day. I miss you, my Braden. I hope my letter finds you well.
Please come home to me.
With everlasting love,
Your Lilliana
Vulnerability.
It seems like something most despise
So let me be frank; I’ll tell no lies
Truth is, I’m quite conflicted
About something often on my mind
I suppose I’ll just be candid
Bluntly share this struggle of mine
Relationships.
Yes that’s right. Which may come as a surprise
After all, I love to socialize, whether with a girl or with the guys
But every time, without fail
When it seems like things are getting real
I tuck my tail, turn, and fold the hand my feelings deal
You see, its not commitment that deters me
No, one love’s enough for me
Rather, the fear of failing
Is what keeps me cowered, on my knees
You all know what I’m planning
What I’m doing with my time
I’ve poured out my intentions
On so many poems and lines
I know myself, my actions
That if I gave myself to one
This path I’ve laid before me
Will fade; get overrun
And this, quite simply, explains
Why I shut myself off; reserve
I hate the thought of dating
If I can’t give what they deserve
At times, I envy others
Who can date without concern
Selfishly quenching that emotional need
To feel wanted, loved, and yearned
But as I look at my own past
(Details, for now I won’t share)
I witnessed, intimately, a woman spend her life
More than earning something that just simply…wasn’t there
These words, right now, I am writing
Aren’t inscribed in hope that you’ll read
I mean this with absolute sincerity
It’s this act of writing that I need
It’s my outlet of expression
To be vulnerable, as said before
It helms the ship I’m sailing
Behind my jaded, lonely door
So I hope this answers that question
I get so often – these words are real
There’s one, very simple, explanation
It’s that I’m just sadly…afraid to feel
It’s times such as these
When you want to say please
What more can I do?
What else will appease?
All you want is a pat
Maybe “Hey, way to go”
Or “I’m proud of you, son”
“It’s hard work, that I know”
But none of it fits
Beyond all my wits
I can’t do what is right
Im up thinking at night
I just don’t understand
I just don’t comprehend
I just want to be proud
I just want to fit in
The people I’ve met
Who never I’ve seen
They’re beautiful, dancing
All over round me
My family ties
And this, I detest
They’re toxic to me
Will be, till I rest
Why is it so hard?
Why can’t you support?
I’ve written alone
My mind is my fort
For blood isn’t born
Its gained and it’s yearned
And true family ties
Cut deepest, when earned
Some time ago, there came to be, a gorgeous dame, just twenty-three
Beauty she was, in entirety, with eyes so blue, as deepest sea
Kind and gentle, she cared for all, the rich, the poor, the short, the tall
A heart of gold, her charm enthralled, she loved the big, adored the small
But something was hiding, behind her bright smile, a thing she that she longed for, a love to beguile
She watched all around her, all of the while, dreamed of her own day, to walk down the aisle
Despite her perfection, the kindest of soul, her father was evil, forbidding that stroll
His eyes never left her, he took a hard toll, his heart was pure hatred, and blacker than coal
He feared all the others, and made the decree, no one shall wed her; she’ll stay here with me
He assumed that all men, they all thought like he; and viewed other women, as their property
A day fine’ly came, and much to her joy, a kind man arrived, a respectable boy
But sadly the dad, became quite annoyed, the kind man he shunned, the girl’s dream destroyed
Fearing him not, the man formed a plan, to save this fine lady, to win her fine hand,
To free the fair maiden, from father and land, to give her a life, where she’s in command
So off the ‘gent went, partook in this quest, to find the solution, he puffed out his chest
He saddled his horse, he put on his vest, in love he believed, in armor he dressed
He rode through the night, through thick and through thin, the hot and the cold, still air, and the wind
He fought many battles, when chances were slim, passion would guide him, love always would win
At last the day came, to fight for the girl, and meet eye to eye, the father, this Earl
And as their blades clashed, the swish and the swirl, the maiden came out, her hand clasped a pearl
She shouted to them, “Please, just get along!”, and “Why”, to the father, “What is so wrong?”
“Why say you hate him, he doesn’t belong? Why can’t you see how our love is so strong?”
And as the girl cried, she fell to her knees, she begged for her father, to put doubt at ease
To let his grip go, to fine’ly appease, she begged it be so, with passion, and “please”
As the damsel distressed, the dad heard her cry, he turned and he faced her, a tear in his eye
“My dear I’m so sorry, for all of this time, I’ve missed your poor mother, I’ve needed respite”
Hearing these words, the kind man dropped his sword, he hugged the poor father, whose words had struck chord
“Forgive me”, Dad said, “I’ve been a bad ward, your life is your own, to live and go ‘ford”
And so on that day, the girl fine’ly found, the love that she’d dreamed of, her chains were unbound
All men can change, when truth is abound, remember this story, when tough times come around
Hello my friend!
Please lend an ear
A tale have I
For you to hear
Once upon
A timely time
A maiden lived
Who loved to rhyme
She’d sit outside
As sun shined bright
Observe the world
And write and write
Her rhymes were filled
With love and fear
And all the things
From there to here
And so it was
For years and years
This scribbling damsel
Laughs and tears
Until one day
There came about
A trav’ling minstrel
Passed her house
Pinned outside
As he passed along
A wondrous rhyme
So fit for song
And so the man
He went inside
Said “Please Miss Scribbler,
Become my bride”
The two were wed
Grand lives they had
The moral here
Is clear, dear lad
Love will come
The wait, while long
You’ll find the words
That fit your song
