wanting

Comfort escapes me as night falls

I have nothing left to give

My self is trembling on the shelf

Bare, having lost its wherewithal

Fractured walls, left open doors, exposed

Tracing the trail of hope 

This catalyst of chemical reaction

Hold my battered beautiful heart

I set it on the doorstep of your home

Like an orphaned child waiting in the rain

The wind whips and takes its toll

Cold and damp has taken hold

The sun promises to shine

But it keeps on hiding behind the clouds

Joy must be waiting on the other side 

beautiful pain

Looking through glass: Henrietta, Texas

going to school
learning to write your name
scratching little squiggles on the page
not knowing who is your friend
does anyone like you
realizing not everyone will
or does

bearing children
watching them grow
taking their first steps
having to let go
hearing that first no and every no
that signal you are not alone
you cannot always have a say

growing up
seeing yourself become so much
wondering if it will ever be enough
living with your heart on your sleeve
in slow motion as the years go by
crushed with knowing how the world works
devastated by rejection and loss

looking ahead
reaching for goals
hoping that someone wants to join you
doing it alone because you can and must
until your beautifully painful humanity
is recognized as something wonderful
and the rubble becomes treasure beyond price

hop the fence

Spring winter spring

This is a thing

Buds do blossom

Frostbite sets in

Yet somehow

With love and care

And a splash of magic

Spring sets in again

Beckoning summer

An endless gorgeous summer

To settle in on the other side of yesterday 

Forever

night's black and white

Shannon, Texas

Take me with you 

I wished upon a star

Take me where you always are

Let us loose 

I pleaded with the night

Hand me over to my muse

Let him cherish me in the light

As we paint our arid landscape new 

balm

Mercy 

Empathy

Compassion

Alleviate 

Trials

Pain

Faith 

Opens

Hearts

Opportunities

Learning

Growth

Healing

Individually

Showing 

Souls

Understanding

Affection

Care

loving expressions

Sharing food, photographs, self

Making time despite a lack thereof

Finding sweet and fun, thoughtful things to give 

Creating wondrous space in this life we live

Handing out encouragement like candy
Sending smiles along the wires ever fondly

Taking it all in gladly

glad garden

Roses bloom in this glad garden

Smiling reds and purple passions

Soak up the sun in all its grand glory

Friendship for a soil

Kindness, sweetness, cheerful chatter

Feed the roots and force their smile

steady love

Seek the quiet good

Beseech my fair soul

Meet me along the frayed edge of separate

Peek at this wonderful us until you're sure

Teach me what you know

Beat a rhythm of love only I can hear
Bespeak all favors
Reach outside of self
Complete loving trust, darling, with affection

invariable

Your light invariably bright 

Came midst my dank night

I shrank at first sight 

Until the warmth of its delight

Carried me further and henceforth 

Toward your precious heart

That sends me 

To a happiness I have yet to touch

Breaking this streak of bleak 

Black upon the horizon

Never to look back on the cave 

That once held me captive