Ruined
spent
smeared
breathless
bent
Tainted
drawn
gagged
shaken
caught
Lost
pained
whipped
inside
bound
Damaged
licked
bled
taken
gone
the other side
I had to hurry
the trees were curling inwards
threatening to cover the trail
I could barely keep ahead of the destruction
dark pines were dappled with amber light
the smell of smoke pervaded
I still wasn’t sure if this was even real
there was no slowing down
even around the sharp curve
my feet pressed to go faster, further
memories of other escapes assailed me
I could taste the terror
the metallic flavor of fear
I was making my way through the tumult
expecting the hills to fall down around me
but finding a path, though it grew smaller
darkness settled in
eventually comforting me
as it halted the flow of disturbing images
other senses took over
but somehow became skewed
to my own version of reality
was it what I hoped
or what I feared
or was it the truth
any questions I had I held in check
as I realized that though there had to be others
I was in fact alone in this
after traveling far
whether by time or distance, I’m still not sure
a glimmer arose in the horizon
and I knew I was on the other side
Richer With You
your arms wrap around me like a cozy sweater
your warmth seeps into my cold bones
let the wind whip all around us
a dream is withstanding this storm
my dreams were not big enough
my scope not nearly as wide as could be
so many unexpected delights
there’s so much more we’ve found
exploring, finding comfort
expressing, needing kindness
touching, feeding the fires within
thinking, sharing ideas
tasting, traveling with senses
escaping, shutting out the world instead of time eroding the magic
rather than routine wearing away at the shine
the years that pass just seem too fast
it gets better and richer with you every time
Infinite Coil
stepping through the infinite coil
careful not to be shredded
there’s no softness on this plane
nowhere to rest your head
tears fall as dust here
laughter rings solemnly
lonely voices sound of discord
wading through dark waters
gauging depth with your toes
no reaction on your face
as you sink deeper and deeper
sleek walls -hard to find purchase
yet grasping and climbing are inevitable
gaining any distance becomes a focus
rather than staying stagnant
forming words is easy
making sense impossible
there’s no kindness here
no one to smooth your brow
ideas flow like a cut vein
until they hemorrhage
lovely lines in harmony
Move
slipping away is too easy
they’ll look behind the billowing curtains
so no hiding
the road for retreat is crowded
too many give up daydreaming too soon
so keep imagining
you can’t claw your way back into the womb
so plant your feet and grow a spine
the dance is short and the music loud
you may have to speak up
trying is the best part
the chances are there to be taken
wring every drop from yourself
you have their attention
they’re not not waiting for you so move
