When a heart gets broken

it seldom splits in two.

It shatters into many pieces

and you slump, hands clutching a bottle of glue.

We’ll Manage Somehow

You can laugh

or you can cry,

You can learn

to say good bye,

We'll manage somehow.

You can scream

or you can shout,

You can try

to figure it out,

We’ll manage somehow.

You can ignore

or go quiet,

You can leave

for the Hyatt,

We’ll manage somehow.

You can criticize

or you can accuse,

You can blame

do what you choose,

We’ll manage somehow.

You can take

all the time

You think you need,

And you can test

all your theories,

ignore my plead.

You can think

all you want,

You can act

nonchalant.

You keep trying

to convince me

that I’m wrong.

You keep lying

to your own self,

normally so strong.

It’s okay.

It’s all

I can say.

We’ll manage somehow.

No Winning

When you write from the heart
a heart gets broken.
When you write from the head
you leave things unspoken.

When you're quiet and listen
you hear problems being born.
When you speak out of turn
a new orifice is torn.

When you seek to bring humor
only scowls prevail.
And when you seek to clarify
your sequestered and jailed.

When you search for happiness
in a late summer breeze;
you find yourself stumbling
toward a swarm of angry bees.

When you advocate for your needs
your desires and wishes;
your accused of being selfish,
uncaring or malicious.

And when you close your mouth
and decide to turn the other way,
you're compelled by a force
that implores you to stay.

Fight all you want.
Deny what you must.
Such is the curse
found between true love and lust.

Superheroes Need Not Apply

No need for kings or angels or spirits
high with righteous zeal.
No need for magicians or wizards
or super men, who can turn on a heel.

No one asked for your help.
No one needs your saving.
No one cares if you can fly,
we got all that we need.
Superheroes need not apply.

It's not like there's no problems
that need to be solved.
Or broken things that need mending,
but we're all too self involved.

So it's great that you've got answers,
and awesome that you've got a plan,
but I didn't asked to be rescued,
I don't need no superman.

Frustrated hero
no one needs saving.
Lots are in agony,
and lots have a craving.

And there are things this hero
could do to ease the pain.
Just waiting for the hotline
to start ringing again.

It's not like people are living
the best that they could.
Not like a little hero help
couldn't do them some good.

But they're not crying for heroes
things aren't the same.
People don't like being rescued
they prefer finding someone to blame.

No one asked for your saving.
Sorry if it makes your plans go awry,
But we got all that we need.
Superheroes need not apply.

They Tell Me There Are Angels

So they tell me there are angels
devoted to me
charged with guidance
and peace and safety.

So maybe there’s a new crew
fresh with their young wings
because I’m not feeling guided
or peaceful, or any other things.

So welcome, dear rookies
I hope you enjoy your new post;
been challenging times
more troubling than most.

I’m a big talker
and will call on you often
with time I’m sure
my heart you will soften

It’s breaking right now
too much to bear
I trust you’ll help stitch it together
it’s due for repair.

Humid Night

Humid night,

the kind that makes you aware that you're wearing a shirt

but wish you weren't.

Perched atop a concrete pier on the edge of a continent.

The ocean further back than it normally is during these reflective moments

yet it inches closer, ever closer

with each curl of foamy waves,

visiable only because of ambient light,

the calming glow of a crescent moon,

a single line of stars and planets above

and the bobbing spotlights of fishing boats beyond.

A nascent breeze I pretend to be cool.

Cool soothes me better.

A paper cup brimming with hot coffee

is my only companion.

I drink it despite the humidity and heat

out of habit or comfort perhaps.

Its’ caffeine destroys my headache.

The snapping and popping of fireworks go off behind me

though obscured from view.

I walked along the waters’ edge earlier,

to see if I could find a chill and contemplate the evil

that I'm told lurks and surrounds.

Thought too of who

would jump in and swim,

if they were here.

Blind to the dolphins and seals

and the things that pursue them.

And I thought for a moment

about joining the waves

in hopes of finding my soul.

Foolish perhaps.

I may still be carrying it.

Or it could be buried

a treasure amongst the rocks and mica speckled sand.

Such great fortune.

So aware of divine gifts

yet shackled by my own devices

or by an unseen but well known nemesis.

Angels surround me, of that I'm sure

but they're limits may be tested.

Their wings weary from flight.

‘Tis I who now must stand,

and fly and fight.

Hello there evil, come from the shadows

you needn’t lurk anymore

for I now know you and will defeat you

today and evermore.

I Hate What You Do to Me

Such sweet words, such sweet times

can’t be sure which ones are just lines

to keep me here at bay

while you wonder your time away

Lots of stars in evening skies

but one true light that sees me through

not always there the way I wish

but you’ve got a gift with the things you do.

And though the love can’t be denied

the proclamations do subside.

Not a fan of boundaries or control.

Like my yes’s more than no’s.

But you cross each line

that you make me draw.

And leave me to wonder,

what the hell did I draw that for?

You build me up

when I need it most.

Then you kick me down

and start to boast.

Proud of how independent you are

and proud to be an adult

with your selfish ways.

Guess you think love is a net

that catches you when you fall.

But you spread it out in a way that tangles me

and holds me down.

Never remember the conversations that we’ve had.

The times I tell you when some things make me feel bad

“Opps I’m sorry I never knew,

it’s just a thing I’m going through.”

And you know I’ll be here forever

and you know my love is strong

and you know my heart goes racing

every time you go off and do something wrong.

And you hate how I may judge you.

You’ve a different point of view.

But you fail to see

how you affect me

in everything you do.

Wonder when things will settle?

No, I know they won’t be the same.

Can’t go back to what was.

But can’t take anymore of this game.

Do I count at all for anything?

Does it matter not to you?

Am I just the security blanket to soothe

or a window you only look through?

Can’t you see how it destroys me?

Can’t feel the pain it brings?

You say you didn’t invite it

but you answer ever phone that rings.

You scream that I must trust you

as you feel your way through.

But your judgement has been broken

so what am I supposed to do?

Do a stand here idling

as you travel through your dreams?

Grin through the burden,

while I burst at the seam?

Then you ask me if I’m angry

for you really don’t understand me at all.

And I ask and plead and cough ‘till I bleed,

then say, “No, go ahead dear, have a ball”.

Failure

Failure

seems to come so easily.

Around each corner

it teases me.

Tests your spirit

tests your soul

makes you question

every goal.

Can you handle more?

Take swing.

Keep on trying.

You can't hit a thing.

Hear the screams?

Hear the cries?

Growing tired

of tear filled eyes.

Feels like your writing

a Book of Job yourself

tested and tested, waiting and waiting

for a trophy to sit upon your shelf.

For faith and hope and yes some love

may be all that remains of the day.

But faith and hope and yes some love

are what keeps failure from leading you astray.

This Way to the Rubicon

What are these feelings?

Why are they here?

They're magical

and fill me with fear.

New again.

Renewed and then,

It's lovely to be wanted.

Hard for me not to flaunt it.

Deeper and deeper

these choices aren't wise.

Convincing myself our knot is tight.

Still, I loosen up the ties.

A heart that's abundant.

I've plenty to share.

It's not all for you,

that doesn't mean I don't care.

Fair's not always equal

and other excuses you make.

Can't deny the burning and yearning.

Won't predict how long this will take.

Could let it run it's course

like the blood racing through my veins.

Could end it in a flash

Sever everything but the pain.

Never asked for all this

but I guess, maybe I did.

Thought I'd have the best of both worlds

not have to chose which one to rid.

Fear of the rejection

the regrets and eyes that resent.

Fear of hurting so many people.

Temptation's not only a serpent.

And it's not fair to lose all the joy

the beaming faces,

imagined romantic places,

and the seduction that's been employed.

Answers should be easy,

but the questions make me queasy,

and I don't want to think anymore.

I just want to be with the one I adore.

Airport Rendezvous

I am a weary traveler

Been in the air all night.

Gathered up my carry on;

Had to wait for another flight.

Sat in the terminal

with a coffee in my hand.

Noticed one guy I was flying with,

his face was kind of bland.

Now the place was pretty empty.

No crowds. No noise. How rare.

Felt like I could die

and no one would really care.

The bland guy with the glasses

really looked a wreck.

I couldn’t believe what he was doing;

Putting a tie around his neck.

This guy stood taller with each moment.

He re-tucked his shirt and pulled lint from his coat.

Pulled a card from his briefcase;

Wish I saw what he had wrote.

He scanned the crowd intently

and wandered from the gate.

I’d seen that look before,

like a man waiting for his date.

As if on cue he began to beam

all blandness had left his face.

It took only an instant but in that instant

he was transformed to another place.

I followed the direction of his gaze.

She too was radiant in her boots and black knit dress;

and a smile that competed with the rays of dawn.

“Is that you?” he asked, and she cried out, “Yes!”

They tangled themselves into an embrace

that lasted longer than the flight, it seemed.

Then they kissed, without remorse and I heard him whisper,

“You’re everything I’ve dreamed.”

Now I’m a weary traveler

but I only think of you.

And like that guy,

I dream of an airport rendezvous.

That's entirely up to you

Look how you glow

there’s a smile, you know

etched across your face.

It’s been quite awhile

since you wore that gorgeous smile

so lightly all over the place.

Up ‘til the wee morning hours

sometimes even later.

Chatting to him across the miles

your affection grows greater.

There’s flattery and charm.

You laugh together, so at ease

With flirtatious skills he does disarm

and you handover those emotion filled keys.

You love it all

Yet it all seems a bit wrong.

You feel bad

but the feeling’s so strong.

So unexpected

So thrilling and new.

A race of emotions.

You don’t know what to do.

The speed of your connection

leaves you breathless

and in awe.

And none of it takes away the feelings

you still have for another,

but you can’t quite withdraw.

This is too new and exciting

and his words,

so inviting.

To be swept off your feet

what was missing

suddenly feels complete.

Not long now before one of you

declares your love for the other.

You’ll be shaken

and feel strange,

become restless

with pangs.

You’ll justify

that it’s only a crush.

and question

the need to rush.

How can this seduction

just linger?

You’ll dream of his arms wrapped around you

caressing your cheek with his finger.

You’ll feel anxious and fright

as you anticipate each night

until the time he’s not there.

Then despondent, you’ll swear

And then you’ll try to repair

the distance that’s grown with another.

Then that will be great,

but it will be too late,

for he’ll approach you again

with sorry’s so grand

and promises and wishes to meet in the Fall

and with words that enrapture and simply enthrall.

He’ll send you a gift

and notes of affection.

Will complement your taste

and congratulate you on your selection.

He’ll offer to help

and your frowns will end.

You’ll wonder how you got so lucky

to have such a good friend.

And friend will become code

as you embark down a road

and shudder to think what could come next.

And again in your bliss

you’ll feel the feelings you missed

And you won’t be shy to tell him so.

Then he’ll ask you for more

and tell you how much he adores

the time he spends only with you.

Then he’ll press you a bit

to figure out where he now fits

and that’s when you’ll decide.

What’s worth more to you,

what you have

or what you have not?

What you know

or discovering what you know not?

What will you do?

That’s entirely up to you.