For David

Today I remember a love lost.
The days of swing set dates and butterfly kisses over,
It's time to grow up.

And I'm not quite sure what really happened
as the years suddenly disappeared out from under us.
I guess the world really was bigger than us,
bigger than our hometown dreams.
Those dreams we packed away in baskets like children,
making a picnic of life, wide eyed and ready to dive.

Amnesia some call it,
well I call it vain;
I pushed you away.
And though I rarely think of you,
some five years down the line
I still sometimes wonder where we could have gone
had I decided, to hold on.

Practice, Practice, the art of Practice

I decided to stop smoking today. No--really. I decided to stop smoking today, after a week. Sort of.
I smoked black and milds, almost religiously, starting about two months ago. I want to say it was because I wanted to, because I liked them, and, yeah I did, but that's not why. I needed something. So, over the past 3 months, I've covered everything up with alcohol and black and milds. Something to do, something else to think about.

But after some recent events, good, amazing, and bad, I've really come to terms with who I'd become. I was raging, kicking and screaming -- I was out of control. So unlike me. SO unlike me. And so I've discovered that maybe I don't need the substitutes anymore, maybe --

I started smoking cigarettes just this week. And today when I bought another pack and smoked one after class, I realized that I was at a crucial point. This is the point where I'm wanting to smoke. This is the point where I'm just starting to get addicted. This is the point to get out.

So I am. Today I rounded up all my lighters, all 6 of them that I could find, and gave them along with the pack of cigs to Matt. I told him not to let me smoke anymore. "be mean" I said, and I hope he is, if he needs to be. I know he can do it. For me. He's good for me.

So wish me luck. I have 0% self control, always been that way. I want one right now, and yeah, I could go buy some. I want to. But more than that, I want to win. For once, I want to fucking win. I never put up a fight, ever, for anything. But this is it, this is the first, and this I will win. So wish me luck...

The Dare

Tell me where this ends.
Where the lines crossed stop running blurred
Tell me just how far you believe we can bend
attempting to blend our realities into one.

We paint the days like we paint a wall -
constantly moving,
but never covering it all.
And you walk around like you've got it all figured out,
and you're covering well -- but not well enough.

So when you finally decide to come clean,
if that day ever comes,
think of me - but keep your distance.
You only want it again when you realized it's lost
but there's no coming back to this one --
we're done.

This is your closure, baby
and it ain't a pretty feeling,
but you really should have learned
to wear it well by now.

This is the end of the end.
Stand up -- take your bow.
Just try to win this crowd.

The Healer

I went way downhill, way too fast after the fall
Circling my doubts, recalling it all
every single rotten day from January
to July, only hearing his harshest words.

Each day was longer than the one that came before
and before too long I had nothing
but the bitter sweet substitutes and a closed door.
Walking away from everyone I walked right into you
and when our eyes met, that first fateful glance,
I saw you were lost too.

And of course I'll never forget that very first glimpse
as you danced and hid yourself away as I do
but I know you, I know you.

The distinction between sour and sweet meant nothing to me
As the room filled with water my heart ceased to beat.
I got carried away as the waves hit the wall
so lost without love, and praying to fall.
So when an opening came I took it with stride;
faced all the pain, and swallowed it whole
ignoring all hope, abandoning pride
I dove straight down, like the fish in the bowl.

And of course I’ll pray to forget that day
when I left myself behind, but kept going on my way
without any sense of direction, afraid to face reality,
and refusing to be okay.

And so we danced together.
Forgetting what hurt with everything else
and when the world reminded us as it always does,
of our half beating hearts and our unfinished loves
we simply held on to whatever we had
and when the room stopped spinning
we were always still there
messy hair and head, waking up in bed.

But the world becomes a little more focused
every time I watch you walk toward me.
The faint feeling of my heart becoming more than just routine
while the numbness, once overwhelming, gets lighter, serene.
So calculated, so sure, your cover coated well
but more and more each day it’s getting harder to tell.

We’re healing each other, a kiss at a time
sealing the deal as we’re waiting in line
We’ve decided to make the best of what we’re given
but considering it all, as I look you up and down,
I’ve wholly decided to keep you around;
my healer, my aspirin, my hold to solid ground.

You give me what I need
and I hope to give you yours
as we dance through life together
just pieces on the board.
You are the knight and I will be your queen,
forever moving with you, forever yours-healing.

Burn

I won't lie.
And I'll even say it to your face --
I miss you.

I know I did you wrong
and I know it's never enough
But it still cuts me everyday
as you remind me I've lost all your trust

Time and time again you take my call
leading me on, then letting me fall
We like to make believe we're okay
and we'll both be happy again one day
But we're still both broken people;
I broke you, and then you broke me

So here's how it is boy
either take it or quit
this game we're losing together
Cuz we both know we can't stand to see
our hearts burn even one more time.

So this is the last line.

Say, You love me?

I walked around and I heard the sounds
people, happy pass me by
Lost in confusion with nothing to prove
No one to share these lonely times

Then I was taken, taken away
by all the beauty that you display
Lost in our own, our own little world
Lonely no more and together still

No that I'm flying up this high
and it seems I touch the sky
I open my wings, wake up and sigh
The air up here is getting thin, and it seems like I can't win
I can't breathe, until you say you love me

Together with you I'll stay right here
Days turn to months, the month to years
Someday we'll slow down
Someday we'll slow way down
and watch the years pass us by
never looking back

No that I'm flying up this high
and it seems I touch the sky
I open my wings, wake up and sigh
The air up here is getting thin, and it seems like I can't win
I can't breathe, until you say you love me

So here we sit now all alone
I'm no longer on my own
You're right here and that's the truth
Together we will go so far
Across the sea and to the stars
me and you

No that I'm flying up this high
and it seems I touch the sky
I open my wings, wake up and sigh
The air up here is getting thin, and it seems like I can't win
I can't breathe, until you say you love me

Until you say you love me,
you love me
How hard can it be?

Tell you love me, tell me you do
tell me that you will always be true
Tell me that you will say you love me




A boy wrote that for me once. A boy I thought was a man.
He captured my heart and never let go
He showed me the world
and he never let go

But love it a lie; it never really exists
it flutters around, spreading joy with lies,
giving hope while whispering goodbyes
We glide around this world together, never quite alone
silently speaking false words, opening cracks
and slamming doors

And if this isn't real, what really is?
All those fairy tale dreams we live for,
and all those promises we'd die for.
There is no window to crawl through,
no secret to salvation from this travesty
because in the end we're all still painted blue.


--The room looks wrong. My bed won't fit. I cannot seem to operate, and you my love, are gone--

Secret Love

So we're leaving now. Everyone's got their coats and delicately woven scarves, and you're about to leave me wanting. We're about to take our leave, surrounded by those who don't know you love me. Our hands graze, here and there, keeping our secret safe to those other lost souls around us, but we know; we were meant to be.

Everything about us tells our story. From the jacket you've swapped with mine, to the Jones in my hand -- there is nothing like you and me.

Quick! Someone sees the way you're looking at me. The way I'm lost in your deep sienna eyes.
We have to say goodbye.

I'm walking away, wishing I had somewhere else to be. The Autumn leaves dance around me, taunting, and the sky threatens me with snow; the flurries are already falling. I'm lost in the scene before me when I hear my name.
You are calling for me.

I turn around slowly, already smiling, and there you are before me. Before I can speak you close my lips with yours, and everything looses focus. I can taste the anticipation on your lips and I'm weak at the knees before it's over...too soon.

you look deep into my eyes and I swear to God you can see my soul. Every inch of who I am.
You whisper "I love you," never taking your eyes off of mine. The moment is perfect and it never really ends.

You are the best part of me.