a dream

To burn all my words
What a dream that would be
A dream and a tragedy

To love without fear
What a world that would be
A dream sans reality

To live in moments
What a life that would be
A dream that can be costly

To write honest love
What a treat that would be
A dream I taste while writing

To burn up this heart
What a shame that would be
A dream without clarity

To care, just care
What a simple thing that can be
A dream I want to achieve

anointing oil

I wonder where to turn for peace
When the waves keep crashing down
I turn to look toward heaven, and I see Him
Anointing my head with oil

Day to day, I find myself up and down
And up again
Surprisingly, the lows keep me trying as I see Him
Anointing my head with oil

Taking moments to breathe it all in to capture joy,
Then to let it flow despite the onslaught of trouble
Because He is always there, I see Him
Anointing my head with oil

Turning for peace toward the One who saves
As He daily anoints my head with oil

gifts

Gifts fly in on paper wings
Left on the shelf by someone acting like they don't care
Paper airplanes, notes, candy, always candy

They act one way but think another
You can never tell who admires you
Or secretly hates you

In middle school, actions speak differently than words
They don't even understand why they do some things
So you can't judge any books by their covers at this age

When those smiling girls end up detesting your very breath
And the boys who tell everyone how much they hate you
Actually are the ones who leave a trail

I watch for the gifts—small ones, almost imperceivable
To let me know when a teenage soul values me

shelter

The wind blew in today, like most days really, chilling and brisk
It pushed down freezing rain in blinding sheets
Sending the world with me in it scattering, clambering for shelter

I felt so cold from my toes to my nose
Standing alone for so long, I hardly even noticed
How harsh the weather was, how harsh the world had become

And then you were there, sheltering me as we stood
Holding onto one another with hearts in our hands
My face in your hands as I realized what a gift you are

Your presence made the storm seem like almost nothing
The wind still blew; the rain still was driven, but
Because you sheltered me without a second thought

Calm made a home within my heart
Quiet began to settle in within my chest
Gratitude made a mark I won't ever forget

Even if it's only for a day, my darling
You shelter me more than I could hope
And my heart is warmed by the fire of your soul

it yearns

You help me look toward the sun
Again, for me
Not in words so much but
In the way you envelope
My heart with so much love

You have become my friend and lover
Quietly, for me
The steadiness of your pace is
An open door encouraging
My heart to grow once more

You shine your light upon the earth
Again, for me
Even though you did not mean to
Or in the way you perceived
My heart would receive yours

You have changed my heart
Again,
And I cannot see in front of me
Again,
For my heart yearns for yours