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in perfect rhapsody

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for miles and miles

nothing but blue,

my glassy reflection

cast by the fair moon

let me swim your depths

befriend the whales,

ride the stoic waves

set to sail

as though i had wings

spun of golden light

and all in the world

is allright

no more sorrow,

save delight

i’m warmed by a canopy

of scattered stars and night

sing with me world,

sing of ocean’s majesty

united together

in perfect rhapsody

Hymn by Karl Jenkins, sung by a female chorus and from the album Adiemus-Songs of Sanctuary. The whole album is absolutely beautiful. I thought this piece caught the spirit of this poem. It takes you to a whole different world. Enjoy.

Photo by guille pozzi on Unsplash

shades of gray

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shades of gray
this month of May
when all things are blooming,
sweet buds perfuming
surrounded by shadows and despair
is there something toxic in the air?
pressure to please
like a weighted vest,
faces that bleed,
where is my best?
beyond my reach
dear soul i do beseech
a moment of rest
to find the brightest
star in the sky
to remind me that
there is light
may dawn restore
and once again ignite
starry dreams to be yet cast
a life in full bloom at long last

Sirius, aka the Dog Star, or Sirius A, is the brightest star in our night sky. It means “glowing” in Greek. My closest friends know that I have a special relationship with Sirius. Only a few planets, the full moon, and the International Space Station outshine this groovy star. A companion star, Sirius B, was discovered by astronomers in 1862. The star we can see with the naked eye, though, is Sirius A, otherwise known as just Sirius. How I do wish I had a powerful telescope to look at the night sky.

Photo by Unsplash in collaboration with Allec Gomes

waning gibbous

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Good afternoon or evening wherever you may be. We’re heading into a new month very soon. I have some wishes for May that I hope come to pass. We shall see.

I’ve been struggling with hyper-fatigue for the past couple of months. It’s worsened and become more difficult in the last month to do anything other than make it in to work and back home. I boxed yesterday and felt really tired afterward. Usually, boxing energizes me, but yesterday, I needed to take several little breaks during class. I have very stiff, sore muscles today, as it’s been nearly 3 weeks since I last boxed due to fatigue. Stretching is in order, but there is a part of me that wants to do more strenuous exercise, like boxing. I miss it. The weekends are just not long enough for restoration, and most days, I wish I could just stay in bed and do nothing. As such, I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like to. Just no energy to think or for creativity. I’m hoping that by Fall, my schedule has changed so that I’ll have more time away from work, particularly summer, winter, and spring recesses. At times, I feel angry that work takes the better part of my day and energy, and yet one has to make a living. So, I do my best at self-care, although I eat way too much ice cream, lol.

We’re also in the first phase after a Full Moon, the Waning Gibbous phase. The moon’s energy is decreasing, and it’s a good time to focus inward. The waning period is associated with letting go of that which does not serve you, e.g., self-limiting beliefs or fears that are holding you back, changing one’s schedule! There will be a New Moon on May 8th. I love New Moons and like to set new intentions in the hopes that with focus, time, and energy, my intentions have come to fruition by the time the Full Moon arrives, or are at least heading in that direction. I journal my intentions to help me commit and map out necessary steps toward achieving them. A Full Moon arrives every 29.5 days roughly. Our next Full Moon is on May 23rd, and it’s known as the Flower Moon – it coincides with the blooming of many flowers in the northern hemisphere. But first things first – focusing inward and letting go of things that no longer serve. Can you tell that I love talking about the moon? There are some things I’m working on letting go of in order to conserve my energy. Unfortunately, socializing is one of them. So less time with groups of people. Solitude is restorative – another reason I avoided the gym, or perhaps an excuse not to go???

Wherever you are in the world, I’m wishing you a very good and healthful week. Thanks again for following/subscribing to my blog. May you look inward and let go of that which no longer serves 🙂 🌖 🌕 🌔

Photo by Guillermo Ferla on Unsplash

songbird

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is the answer no?
how can i change your mind if so?
where is the space to feel again,
fly free, dream,
nevermore penned in
like a caged bird whose wings
have been clipped,
a songbird unable to sing
show me a glimmer
where all is bright and shimmers
where my bones no longer rattle
there are no systems to battle
the kindness of a smile,
a twinkle in the eye
would set the world aright

Songbird, Fleetwood Mac. Do you have a favorite Fleetwood Mac song? I actually didn’t like this song previously, but have grown to love it. The 1977 Live version is even more lovely. I thought the song went well with the tenor of this poem. It’s one of those times in life in which I just have to keep pushing through. It’s not how I wish to live, a temporary hold before there can be light.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

beneath the silver disco ball

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strumming on my Taylor
beneath the silver disco ball
putting words to paper
tales of shrooms and alcohol
knowing you knowing me
we made it to the other side
ABBA on old vinyl
it’s been a hella crazy ride
how i pined for what’s his name
i was always cryin’
you said, he’s not worth it, babe
my eyes you took to dryin’
you’re like the king
to my dancing queen
dance the nights away
beneath the silver disco ball
more days to dream and slay!

This poem was written in jest, seriously, except I do have a disco ball hanging from the ceiling in my tiny living room space and a Taylor guitar. And, I do also appreciate my good friends. This is about having that friend you troll around with, the one who always has your back, especially when you’ve had a few too many 😂 Cheers to ABBA and friendship. Take a Chance On Me, by ABBA. Never gets old!

Photo by Harry Grout on Unsplash

toward hope

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hit the snooze at half past six
another insane morning
early to bed by nine o’clock
god, i’m so boring
eyes are bleary, body weary
can’t get outta bed
blast some heavy metal,
but still feel like a ton of lead
slingin’ mud,
wade through the muck
movin’ in slow motion,
you’d think i’d have a rhythm down
instead of this commotion
yet, drowning never felt so brutish
am i at my edge?
or being far too shallow
to which shall i allege?
i gather up my strength
defy this bullet to my head
look to my sweet angels above
toward hope may i be led

More by The Warning. Thanks Fox Reviews Rock for introducing me to this great band, a Mexican-born sister trio, and their new album! I dig girl bands, and metal, too ❤ Will be jamming to more of their music. 

Do you ever try singing your poetry? I changed the poem around a bit after singing it so it sounded more metrical or rhythmic. It goes really well with the beat of this song, LOL.

Photo by Aryan Dhiman on Unsplash

dream me a dream

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dream me a dream
where peaceful waters flow
wading barefoot through the ripples,
time moving slow

dream me a dream
of misty painted raindrops
leaving stains upon my skin
like white velvet polka dots

dream me a dream
of wind whistling through the pines
the scent of green lingers,
and drowsy clouds sigh

Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

web of magick

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had me wrapped around your little finger

couldn’t help but wanna linger

upon each encounter that we shared

blind to how little you cared

hypnotized by all your charms

despite my gut sounding loudly the alarm

i can see now that you played me

deception hidden oh so masterfully

none the wiser was i

ignoring your mindless alibi

it’s now my turn to quickly vanish

those memories of you

have quite been banished

and now i laugh at the days to come

web of magick has been spun

Wrapped Around Your Finger, Rufus Wainwright with Sting. A classic, right? I love this cover, a gem. Rufus never sounded better, and so cool that Sing was on bass and background vocals. Lyrics here.

Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash

the weeping willow

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listen to the soughing of
the weeping willow tree
bending gently with the wind,
swaying as she pleases

sallow leaves drift elegantly
velvet twigs of green and brown
sweeping always, bending low
to kiss the earthy ground

she stands with pride, fluidity
a brave, bold soul is she
can stand against the strongest wind
yet give pollen to the bees

let us honor her in stillness,
her beauty give us breath
may she dwell beside the mossy pond
her crown to always bloometh

Dance of the North by Joanne Shenandoah, who was of the Oneida Indian Nation. This song was played during a music therapy conference I attended today. It was played in a training using Guided Imagery & Music, a specific type of music therapy. I fell in love with the song, which inspired this poem.

We had a beautiful weeping willow tree in our backyard when I was a kid. I watched it grow until its crown grew to be beautiful and full. It gave me much joy and wonder over the years.

Photo by Fran on Unsplash

under the moon

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light the candles one by one

flickering in dark,

like some ghostly phantom 

cast the spell with chalcedony,

a magickal uncrossing

with leaf of agrimony

wicked splendor under the moon

we’ll sing with the wolves

in the sultry heat of June

i swear to you that i’ll be true

by the sanguine stars and hypnotic lune

let the spell that’s cast never be broken,

for magick abounds, wishes unspoken 

enchanted by the roots of Mother Nature

may Divine Love ever be in our favor

Moonlit and Devious by Allie Crow Buckley. This is just a very cool song. Can’t stop listening to it. Lyrics here.

Photo by Adrian Regeci on Unsplash

jump the highest bridge

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my dear,

i would not love you any less

if your life turned out a giant mess

i would take you in my arms

and cover you in kisses,

let the rain pour down

for you, i’ll go the distance

to make you smile for miles and miles,

jump the highest bridge

for you, dear, i am fearless,

and all your doubts are meaningless,

may they float away on the nearest cloud,

for surely you can do without

the vexing chatter in your head

may they be drowned out by the sweet whisper

of promise and my hand upon your heart,

to always protect, to always guard

two imperfect humans on this journey are we,

finding our way through life’s little miseries

striving to be light, fighting to be free

one thing is true and will forever be,

you, my dear, have always

an undying love in me

This poem was inspired by a song, Keep Breathing, by Ingrid Michaelson. I haven’t stopped listening to it since MyGenXerLife posted an article featuring the song. There’s something about the contour of the melody, the lyricism, that catches my breath.

Photo by Sean Pierce on Unsplash

freedom comes at a price

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it seems that freedom comes at a price,

a privilege rather than individual right

how i’ve fought for freedom

forever and a day,

free to feel exactly how i say

without restraint, without complaint

from those who judge my particular state

no longer shackled by doubts and fear

i’ve declared this my year

to come home to me

my hopes and dreams shall come to be

never lose myself in another human

or some other dubious, grand illusion

for as surely as trust cost me freedom

i chose a higher path;

i refuse to be beaten

Freedom 90, George Michael. Lyrics here. So much about this video that I love, like how everyone is moving their body, dancing. George Michael was such a great dancer. He’s so into the music. I’m listening to his tunes from the 80s and 90s. Forgotten how good it is. Freedom is precious. I’m grateful everyday to be free and autonomous and hope to never take it for granted.

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

music rocks

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Good Sunday to you! No new poem today, well maybe later 🙂 I’ve been in a music therapy conference all day on strengths-based improvisation. The conference is all week – gotta earn those continuing ed credits. It was a blast. I haven’t connected with other music therapists in eons, so although it was virtual, it was a lovely experience to meet with other musicians/music therapists online. We did some improvising on whatever instruments we had on hand. I played my djembe, a couple of frame drums and my new e-piano, which sadly, I don’t play often enough. I feel so lucky to be a musician and to have had the opportunities I’ve had to study music. And I very much love sharing music with others.

Drumming is so near and dear to my heart. I enjoy it almost as much as playing the piano. When I studied piano performance, I was terrible at improvising- literally froze. But when I studied music therapy, I learned that I could improvise (on keyboard mostly), play by ear, and read lead sheets pretty easily after I built some skill. I took drum facilitator trainings through HealthRhythms and am starting a healing drum circles program at work next academic year – was awarded a small grant to buy more drums. All of this to say that I love music so much. I cannot imagine this life without it. There is a song or a piece for nearly every emotion, mood, occasion, event, even if to just dance around to in the privacy of your own space.

It would be a dream to conduct an orchestra. I took conducting in undergrad, but have absolutely no experience, except practicing in class. I remember my professor telling some of us we looked like we were stirring pudding, lol! I especially love watching female conductors because – well, they’re just so badass. There’s a female conductor and violinist, Karina Canellakis, to guest conduct the LA Philharmonic later this month. I’d like to go, but traffic is always such a pain to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I hate the traffic! One of my favorite female conductors is Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla . We have the same birthday! Another is Elisabeth Fuchs. I linked a YouTube video of Fuchs conducting the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir Zvjezdice. The performance features cello soloist, HAUSER, performing Benedictus from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins (Hendon Music Inc BMI) at his classical solo concert, which was held at Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb (October 2017). I literally cried the first time I heard this piece, it’s so beautiful. I hope you give it a listen and enjoy it.

This is also Coachella week, so been tuning into YouTube Coachella 2024 Live! Loved The Last Dinner Party and Bleachers last night. Cheers to music and more of it! Thanks for reading this little blurb about my deep love of music.

Hauser performing Benedictus from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Karl Jenkins. Conductor, Elisabeth Fuchs. Lyrics here.

Photo by Andrea Zanenga on Unsplash

a fireside lullaby

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sing to me a lullaby

of peace and joy and loves gone by

take my hand and let’s get high

on fragrant blooms, the midnight sky

dance with the wind to our hearts content

at home with the redwoods, my dearest friends

nature beckons promising solace

for she is divine and perfectly flawless

want to be like the angels as i journey forth

seeking truth, giving love,

wings to fly evermore North

The Rising, Essie Jain. A beautiful, poetic piece. 

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

grace, a beat and a song

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thought i saw you
on the metro this morning
flooded by flashbacks
that came without warning

felt your hand
on the small of my back
as though someone hit replay
on that old, weary soundtrack

for a moment in time
wearing rose colored glasses
now nothing left between us
except dust and ashes

i miss you, it’s true
can’t stand to say it
took a piece of my heart,
love, it’s so overrated

starting to question,
does it even exist,
or is it merely
some ill-gotten, fragmented myth?

i shall raise a glass
to solace in solitude
let me bathe in the sun,
the earth, stars, and moon

for that is where i find
my heart rightly belongs
abounding in grace,
a beat and a song

Not Strong Enough, boygenius. Lyrics here. It’s threatening rain in LA. Just waiting for the downpour any minute. Good morning to write about shitty feelings. I revised this poem so many times. Words have a mind and will of their own.

Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

rise to the moon

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time, friend or foe?

i most certainly do not know,

except it is fleeting;

is it cheating me?

lest i be the consummate late bloomer,

late to the game and no sooner

did time pass like a flash

of lightning in the sky

terribly frightening,

i’m second to last

dying to my past

and grieving what i missed,

falling behind as though misaligned

if only i knew how to stop

time from slipping away

shall i make the most of every day

within the walls of this present life?

rise to the moon,

and soon, very soon

i’ll catch a dream,

perhaps even in you

down a crooked path i went

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when i think of time gone by,
all the things i’ve missed
hopes and dreams
and visions,
the love that i so wished
would somehow save me from myself,
take away the ache
yet down a crooked path i went,
at times I thought i’d break
should have listened to my gut
oh so young and trusting
learned the hard way, cut by cut
that i’d be left with nothing
sold my soul to lies, got lost
still, in the end was found
my soul emerged, sought the light
turns out light would win
and here am i on a new path
paved with life’s experiences
though not what i set out for,
it’s made all the difference

It’s All Happening Now, BAERD. Full lyrics here. Life really is all happening now, around me everywhere. So many changes in the past several months. I’m not sure when I’ll land…

Photo by Levi Bare on Unsplash

total eclipse of the sun

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the moon decided to eclipse today
the fair sun along its merry way
between the earth and brightest star
a path predestined from afar
a phenomenal sight to behold
another not to occur for years, I’m told
though not on the path of totality
awed nonetheless by our Celestial Galaxy
a time to awaken, heal and expand
set your intentions, expect the grand
life is too short, we have only today
live with intention, live to play
for work is a necessity, will always be there
but a life well lived, truly one cannot spare

All right, so this is not the best poem, but i felt moved to honor the solar eclipse today. And, I wrote it during my lunch break, lol. I went for a walk at 11:11am, the peak of the eclipse in my area, and there was a couple sitting on the curb, trying to catch a glimpse of the eclipse with a metal strainer. They were talking with a stranger, who just so happened to have eclipse glasses. He let each of us borrow them. I saw the eclipse, and it was the coolest thing ever! I’ve never seen any eclipse in real time, and this will probably be the only solar eclipse I see in my lifetime, as the next one won’t occur until 2044 or 2045. So it was really special! Cheers! I hope you were able to enjoy the solar eclipse.

Photo by Unsplash in collaboration with Alex Shuper

lay down your armour

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what i wouldn’t give
for a moment with you again
go back in time,
to a time back when
life was nothing more than innocence
long before i learned to abandon penitence
blowing dandelions in a single breath
watching clouds drift by as the sun set
wanted nothing more than
to chase butterflies
through roaming fields of clover
under baby blue skies
i would tell you i love you just as you are
let your light shine like the North Star
lay down your armour,
for the battle you’ve won
there is nothing more for you to overcome
you feel now like your light is dimming,
a longing fulfilled seems endlessly missing
look to your soul, it yet knows its purpose
from there light and love
will most assuredly surface

A love note to my inner child. 

Photo by Victoria Medvedeva on Unsplash

love you for all eternity

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how can i be more for you,
calm all of your fears?
i long so desperately
to wipe away all your tears
you left in the dark,
a whirl of emotion
i felt it immediately,
though no words were spoken
want nothing more than
you to feel free
for the world
to see your authenticity
your beautiful soul, may it take flight
may the burdens you carry
disappear into night
may you feel the depth of my love,
despite my mistakes
may you always remember I’m here
when your heart breaks
bound by soul and maternally
i will love you here and for all eternity

Make You Feel My Love by the one and only Adele. I’m not a huge fan of Adele or pop, though she is certainly a diva. I do love this song, however, and feel it so deeply. This poem was written for my daughter. If we only had a magic wand to make things better.

Photo by J W on Unsplash

forever shimmering

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may my heart always be open
no matter how broken
sail through to the light
on the other side
may i be like the tides
take each challenge in stride
ebb and flow to the beat of my own drum
when i feel like i’m failing
bad decisions i’m making
may i be determined to fight, not flee
despite feeling cheated
occasionally defeated
there’s a fire inside,
a courage that guides
when hope seems to have disappeared
may i be like the ocean
though perpetually in motion
forever shimmering reflectively

Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash

in my bones

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gentle breezes tease
through the rolled-down window of my car
feel it through my teeth
and long for something so much more
let the cool air chill me,
makes me feel alive
dulls the hankering to exit
long before the clock strikes five
how the summer wind is beckoning,
feel it in my bones
i am surely reckoning,
chasing the unknown
enough of these old skeletons
that shackle me in dark
send them off to neverland
none too soon to depart
for the winds of change are whispering
feel it in my bones
take me to my soul’s past
a place that i called home

Photo by Alexandra Leru on Unsplash

look to the evening sky

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look to the evening sky due west,
a blazing orangescape
gloriously sketched,
a still frame of fire
and gauzy clouds that
enshrouds Mother Earth
she spins in time,
never skipping a beat
scattered light
across heaven’s deep,
i am bedazzled,
no longer frazzled by
the prattle of the day
crimson and amber
chase my worries away
no longer to doubt
what i am about
finding peace,
rest in ease 
all is well within
and with the world

Faith’s Hymn by Beautiful Chorus ❤ This poem has gone through some revisions since initial post.

Photo by João Costa on Unsplash

wild ride in your little red corvette

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take a wild ride down PCH
in your little red corvette
all our worries we’ll assuage
as we race against the wind
top down, radio booming
taste the salty air
the smile on your lips
makes me high
must forgive me if i stare
you reach and take
my hand in yours,
the other’s on the wheel
those steely blues
gazing into mine
always make me reel
takin’ a wild ride down PCH
in your little red corvette
time spent with you, babe,
never shall i regret

Bioluminescence by Goth Babe. This is such a fun, happy song, and the video is stunning. Let’s make for the ocean!

Photo by Nicole Herrero on Unsplash

jarble in my head

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it’s a chilly monday morning,
and i can’t get out of bed
all kinds of mixed up jarble
running through my thick head
pay the rent, do the laundry
all the things i dread
but i can’t move a damn muscle
‘cuz my body feels like lead
perhaps i’ll spend the day
doing absolutely nothing
lie in wait between the sheets,
banish all the rushing,
but then the jarble in my head
might tell me i’m a loser
guess it’s perfectly okay
to have a day that’s
less than mediocre

Sunshine by Transviolet. It’s one of those days, the kind where doing nothing feels really good. Today’s a holiday, so I’m enjoying a 3-day weekend. It’s a small miracle!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

till the last light fades

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from sea to sea
and across the miles
i’d follow you anywhere,
stardust in my eyes

across a lavender painted sky
to the farthest horizon
casting magic amid the stars,
follow our hearts to Orion

take me with you
on your gallant galaxy quest
follow you to the moon
of this i’ve surely dreamt

till the last light fades away
and we ride this hallowed earth
follow you always, my love
across the universe

Bewitched, by Laufey. This is one talented young woman…dreamy song and vocals 🙂 

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

meant to be?

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wondering if this
is meant to be?
don’t know whether
to walk or plead
keep going round
and round in circles
trying to read
all your non-verbals
perhaps i’m misreading
between the lines
of course it’s too
presumptuous to think 
you’d be mine
can’t help but wonder
why so complicated?
feels like i’m forever fated
to be last in line,
never the right time
to catch feelings
how my heart gets
tired of beating for you
i should let it go
but it’s so hard, you know
just a silly little game we play,
and no one’s to blame but me

Sad to Breathe, The Japanese House. Full lyrics here. It’s a good day to write and cozy up indoors. It’s raining steadily here in LA. Looks like we’ll have rain all weekend. 

Photo by Gahan N Rao on Unsplash

fly free

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just when i feel like
i know where i’m going
the wind knocks me over,
and i’m left blindly groping
stumbling through the dark,
falling miserably short of the mark
days when the tired runs so deep
no amount of sleep can beat it,
and i feel defeated
angry that this i must suffer
seeking protection,
a thing that might buffer
day after day, pour myself out
while mending, on the rebound
need a minute to catch my breath
i am drowning, 
and now i am sounding
a whole lotta crazy
in truth longing to fly free,
leave the tired behind
tell myself, it’s only a matter of time
lock away the light
catch my dream, hang on tight
it’s just within sight

Exhausted by Foo Fighters. Can it be the weekend, please? Work has been draining. I wish it weren’t so. I’m venting, but also jamming to the song below 🙂 The poem has been revised since I first posted. I think I was so tired when I initially wrote it, it didn’t flow the way I wanted it to. I’m done with the revisions now. And I’m also done with my work week. Woo fuckin’ hoo!

Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash

more than a flicker

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you and i are

more than a moment,

more than a flicker

in a world getting sicker and sicker

when one wonders if anyone cares

and life seems shitty, unfair

you, darling, are one in a million

in a sky filled with a billion

wicked stars in the sky

perpetually evolving, you and i

reaching high for our zenith,

a connection shared between us

on me you can always rely,

a trustful ally

holding up a light

when no longer you can fight

the hurt you hide inside

fall into me,

can i help you see that you are

more than just a moment,

more than just a flicker

i see in you all that glitters

Inspired by Linkin Park’s One More Light. Full lyrics here. After reading Fox Reviews Rock post on Friendly Fire, another song I love, I spent the day listening to Linkin Park. I’ve loved this band for a long time. It made me think, are we all not looking to be seen in this big, bad world? So, I wish for you the following:

May you feel seen and heard. May you be peaceful and happy. And may you be safe and free.

Photo by Muhammad Ali on Unsplash

dreaming in black and white

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there’s a cold, empty space
where once you laid,
nothing left now
‘cept this silent, heavy weight
the scent of you
has all but disappeared,
how i desperately miss
the scratchy feel of your beard
strangely, my dreams
have lost all their color
long past, the handsome boy
i met last summer
and now i’m left,
a love story to rewrite
of him i only dream
in black and white

Before We Disappear, Chris Cornell. What can I say. This is such a great song. Chris Cornell, amazing songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. So very missed. RIP. Thought the lyrics fit this poem. Full lyrics here.

Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash

at my edge

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beyond the edge
of human emotion
time stands still,
like magic in moments frozen
lost in such luminosity
consumed by an insatiable curiosity
and wanting more
body, mind, soul and spirit
held in most brilliant of light
angels sing over me in quiet delight
whispering a chorus in my ear
you need not fear, all is well
forever and gladly under your spell
i get lost, leave behind this world
when life’s fury lets loose and unfurls
confusion, the illusion that 
i’m falling, falling and overwhelmed
I am held up by you,
and in your arms i breathe
knowing i am always seen
for where you are, nothing ever fails
the veil is lifted
breathe into me
for then i am surely free

Music will always be my first love ❤ It is the great unifier when we cannot come together around anything else. I have listened to this song a million and one times. It never grows old and is one of my all-time favorites. And Lindsey Buckingham is hot, LOL.

Photo by Julia Kadel on Unsplash

a holiday

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standing in the middle
things don’t seem so bad
perhaps eases an ounce of sad
do you ever feel like you don’t wanna deal,
stuck at the top of a ferris wheel?

wanna turn off this emotion
wanna mute the commotion
’cause i’m feelin’ kinda sick
need some ben and jerry’s quick

leaning into what you say
can barely hear with all the adversity at play
said you’d be a shoulder to lean on?
must tell you haven’t cried in an eon
sorry! didn’t mean to freak you out
it’s true, i very rarely pout!

well, that was a gas
i’m now done with this rant
wish i could stay, but most certainly can’t
gotta split, run and put out more fires
good heavens, no wonder
i’m nothing but tired!
made it to the end of the day
damn, i really need a holiday!

Holiday by Turnstile off their 2021 album, Glow On. Love this album. Cool bass and guitar, how they double up on the chorus and verses, but in the intro and post-chorus, the bass goes up a 4th. I love the drums, too. My favorite Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is Salted Caramel Brownie. What’s yours???

Photo by Nirmal Rajendharkumar on Unsplash

let them live

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untamed and free,
thousands living in the wild
hoofbeats resounding mile after mile
a thunderous rhythm
across wilderness and plains,
wind weaving through
fierce mane and tail
you only want what you deserve
to live freely, unharmed
among your sacred herd
yet threatened by inhumanity
savage humans cause you suffering,
mercilessly separated from your families
immoral men bring upon you calamity
where’s the compassion, justice
and humanity?
save the wild mustangs,
let them live
such brutality,
i cannot forgive

Last year, 20,370 American horses were shipped out of the country to be slaughtered. Most sent to slaughter are in good condition, according to a USDA study. They include an unknown number of mustangs that once roamed freely across our public lands. These horses endure terror, trauma, and pain in crowded trailers without food, water or rest. This will continue day after day, until Congress finally stops it. Urge Congress to support the SAFE Act to end horse slaughter – Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation

Take Action for Wild and Domestic Horses and Burros

Wild horses, mustangs, and burros suffer year after year because the Bureau of Land Management wants to control their population in the most brutal way. These animals are chased by helicopter for miles, separated from their families, rounded up and then sent on to be slaughtered. Horses, like humans, build strong familial bonds/friendships within their herds. Some are rescued at auctions by organizations like Return to Freedom, and Skydog Sanctuary; others are not so fortunate. Please urge your Congresspeople to support the SAFE Act.

Photo by Michael Anfang on Unsplash

anthem of the trees

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Mother Earth, you are not yet lost
your rivers, oceans, mountains, and trees
raise their voice in desperate plea
a call to all beings,
an anthem of freedom
that cannot be ignored
feel the pulse of the land
steady now as ever before
listen, listen to its command
to all peoples everywhere
bear witness to the hand
of careless humans
who’ve lost the way,
blinded by a lust for gain
what will they say when all is lost,
beauty, purity carelessly tossed?
we weep oceans in grief
our souls in grave disbelief
can’t you hear the trees sing?
songs of peace they mightily ring,
they will not be enslaved to those depraved
life is sacred,
we are connected,
raise the collective must we

Cantus Iteratus by Karl Jenkins from Adiemus-Songs of Sanctuary. Cantus iteratus in Latin means “repeated song.” I’m living in this album. If you read my last post, I’ve been lost in this music lately. It’s truly breathtaking. Thank you, Karl Jenkins, for this masterpiece. I was drawn to the steady pulse of the percussion and lower strings and the beautiful chorus of female voices in this piece. I thought it truly conveyed the spirit of the poem. It sounds like an anthem, march-like and jubilant, and it steadily grows and grows until the end when the music softly trails away, much like the beginning. So clever and enlightened, I think. Our earth is being destroyed, and it deeply saddens me. I wanted that to be present in the poem, but also hope that we can make changes collectively. I think the music brings that to life. The piece reminds me a little of Treebeard and the Ents in Lord of the Rings. I hope you give it a listen as you read this poem. I wrote it at work yesterday during breaks, lol! Oh, and full lyrics to the piece are here.

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash

the stars sigh

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there is a certain kind of peace i get
when i look up at the night sky
the stars sigh, yet never lie
on them i can depend
that though this world may fall apart
when feeling low, down in heart
their wonder and their mystery
keep me stirred and wistfully
i dream of things i wish to be
a restoration of humanity,
an end to the insanity
all beings are at peace
when I gaze upon a starry night
it feels like possibility
i rest and introspectively delight

Karl Jenkins: Palladio – 1. Allegretto. If you’re into strings, you’ll love this piece ❤ It’s beautiful. I don’t know why, but I think it has a fierceness to it that I love. 

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

away we’ll steal

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out the door, late again
got you on my mind,
virtue or sin?
your kiss still burning
on my lips
the feel of you
against my hips
feeling quite buzzed,
all because
got you in my system
god knows i should listen
to that small voice
droning in my head
proceed with caution, girl,
look ahead
but you’re so good,
so easy to be with
it’s friday night
we’re feelin’ kinda foolish
i’ll reach for you,
plant a kiss on your neck
we’ll stroll down Ocean
and watch the fiery sunset
let time stand still 
tell me this is real
and away we’ll steal
again and again

Live performance of Sweet by Cigarettes After Sex. I think it’s my favorite song by them. They’ll be on tour in LA in October performing at Kia Forum.

Spring has officially arrived! The first day of Spring was yesterday. The Spring Equinox occurred a day earlier than usual because it’s a Leap Year. Evenings have been so beautiful, and walking at the beach near Ocean Blvd is always a nice way to end the day ❤

Photo by Rachel Cook on Unsplash

chasing after the wind

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loving him is like chasing the wind
never quite sure the direction he’s headed in
she gets caught in a flurry,
can’t help but worry
that just like the wind, he’ll blow over
yet she’s willing to risk overexposure
to a love that’s unreal just to get the feels
the warmth of his embrace
she could live in for days
and when the fair wind decides to turn
her love he leaves unabashedly to spurn
she will pretend that it didn’t mean more
hold in heart all the days before,
silently missing him to the depth of her core

How Can I Love You (Without Breaking Your Heart) by Brit band, The Struts. Catchy tune about not breaking someone’s heart, lol! Thanks so much for visiting!

Photo by Marc Kleen on Unsplash

player

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if i told you my name
would it change
how you play the game
would you say i’m to blame
for being certifiably insane?
follow me downtown into the dark
shadows dancing,
pink lights entrancing
going out on a lark
down the avenue of right or wrong
pick your poison
give battle or belong
take the path of least resistance
when lights go dim,
you’ve been outdistanced
down the curious rabbit hole
hold onto yourself,
stay in control
down on your knees,
trying to please
are you brave enough
to break free?
go ahead, call me crazy
i’ll remain nameless
sensible, sane, hard, and blameless
end to end,
don’t wanna be judged
only enlightened
way done being frightened
hey i’m a player, too

In the spirit of The Hand That Feeds, by NIN. 

Photo by Victor Rodriguez on Unsplash

hit it

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take a deep dive with me
into the madness
i promise,
won’t leave empty-handed
kick off your shoes, stay awhile
we’ll run barefoot,
take a day trip,
roamin’ freestyle
do cartwheels and hot wheels
and blissfully land in
adventures and play
with quite the abandon
wear our shiny crowns,
can you dig it?
blazin’ this lazy town
like we’re moonlit
are you along for the ride,
feeling committed?
follow me, babe,
let’s go,
and we’ll hit it

This is a short, nonsensical poem, just for the sheer fun of it. Fun to play with words, an adventure in and of itself.

Be Yourself, Audioslave – 2005 album, Out of Exile, debuted number one on Billboard. Be Yourself went to the top of the charts. Though the song is moody, I thought the name of it, Be Yourself, fit the spirit of this poem. I’ve taken a deep dive this weekend into Audioslave. Chris Cornell, I think, has one of the best male voices in the grunge movement. RIP.

Photo by Olivia Bauso on Unsplash

bad habit

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the first night we met
at that little cafe
i was shivering, cold
you offered your jacket

i remember your eyes
behind the dark rimmed glasses
you said i was pretty
drank it like a shot of whiskey
and that, oh that was the first mistake
had me twisting inside, a whole lotta dizzy

you looked so cool, so fucking attractive
was certain i’d need a strong antacid
cuz boys like you like girls like me
but in the end, it’s just misery

i’m drawn to you
like a goddamn magnet
but you’re not true,
wear me like your faded suede jacket
i’m afflicted, so addicted
what am i to do?
gotta quit you like a really bad habit

but oh, it’s too late
is this just fate?
i’m lost in you, down and out stranded

Someone asked me if my poems are about anybody in particular. Yes, and no. There may be a few things that are real, like an idea or detail that sparks something, and it goes from there. But mostly, it’s just poetry, like song lyrics that shine a spotlight on random stuff, heartache, love, and other lyrical nonsense 🙂

Photo by Krzysztof Hepner on Unsplash

sink into me

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when you feel your world is tumbling down
at water’s edge, about to drown
i’ll be near, will carry your fears
sink into me, love,
and all will be well

when you’re overwhelmed and tired of this living
fading fast, surely slipping
don’t you fret or ever regret
sink into me, love,
and all will be well

don’t you know i’d do anything
go crawling to the brink
catch the moon and stars
hold you in my arms
for a million years to come,
a million years to come

you never have to doubt
what i am about
take all of me you need
for you i’d truly bleed
sink into me, love,
and all will be well

Photo by Ananthu Ajayan on Unsplash

over you, or something like that

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thought i’d gotten over you

wiped the slate clean

then that fucking song came on

and i quite wanted to scream

it played out on all my emotions

words and thoughts left unspoken

and all the shades of dark returned

though i left it alone, undisturbed

don’t worry, as if you would,

i’m really quite well

no longer naive, under your spell

it’s just now and then, you come up again

when i hear that song,

fans the flame within

ironically, what a surprise

that you,

you brought me back to life

when light was scarce,

couldn’t see for miles

but before you get off, get too vain

and think this poem is about you

it’s more about me, the discovery

that i don’t need you or anyone else,

my heart is mine,

belongs to me

The Hardest Part by Bre Kennedy & Hadley Kennary

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

merry go round

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tuesday flew by, now it’s wednesday
chasing tomorrow and the blues away
hoping to catch a hint of glimmer
‘stead of feeling low, mildly triggered

life is bemusing, a merry go round
spinning fast, am i losing ground?
just when i think it might slow down
it’s just a hoax, some sick joke
somebody wake me up, oh please
‘cuz man oh man, something’s broke

pick it up, girl, just meditate
change the course of this seeming fate
just short of chaos, 
what’s a few raindrops
raining down on your parade?

well, pardon me, m’am
if i’d rather be
sipping a drink by the sea
that’s right,
you guessed it
writing prose and poetry 🙂

No Place Like Home by Vacations. Music makes the daily grind much more bearable ❤ 

Photo by Unsplash in collaboration with Alexander Mills

gambit

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ruby red nails

and silver lipstick

she wears her platform heels

three inches high just for kicks

with each sway of her hips

studded chains round her wrists

you wonder what she’s made of

when push comes to shove

she holds her head high

when others walk by

feeling their stares and wandering eyes

she just tosses her head

and with a swoosh of her blue hair

smiles amusingly and meets every stare

knowing all that matters

is her own kind of sexy

the kind that’s humble

and when things get messy

she wears kindness

like her black leather jacket

her very best defense,

favorite gambit

Photo by pawel szvmanski on Unsplash

sail away

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this morning you greeted me with a kiss

twelve o’clock noon

and i reminisce

my faded t-shirt still smells of you

i’m hopeless, a romantic

don’t mean to be pedantic,

but i know every curve of your gorgeous face

this afternoon we sailed Marina Del Rey

though the skies began threatening gray

not a worry or care,

your hand brushed back my hair

as the wind whipped through the sails

this evening we strolled under a strawberry moon

warm seabreezes, jasmine’s sugared bloom

you said, “let’s swim,” with a playful grin

and into the waves we dove

Photo by Bobby Stevenson on Unsplash

dream a little dream

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catch you on

the next moonbeam

ride the constellations

away downstream

wallow in the deep

dream a little dream

as we dance among

the shimmering stars

towards neon light,

the night is ours!

Photo by David Becker on Unsplash

foolish roulette

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here am i

a breath and a sigh

away from you

you and i were going places

feeling safe, like homeostasis

then you left without a word

no promises did we make

yet to be erased,

left to wonder, was i replaced?

such a silly thing

to fall so hard for you

ignored the signs, this is what you do

lesson learned, no regrets

i’ll behave, still left to guess

you’ve moved on

lest i forget

get tangled up in love, a foolish roulette

Foo Fighters, “Stranger Things Have Happened”


Photo by Lenstravelier on Unsplash

velvet daydream

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tell me more about you

got me so curious

dressed head to toe in black

said your moon’s in aquarius

where do you come from,

where are you now?

stay a little while

let’s go another round

you’re not just anyone

you gotta past

life seemed to happen

too hard, too fast

let me be a shelter,

be your shooting star

fall apart on me

I’ll meet you where you are

you smile at me

and i see moonbeams

meet me at the corner

of this velvet daydream

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

ain’t no way

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left on an early weekend morn
despite the pity
and the scorn
the sun shone brightly
belied tears cried nightly
because of you
left a houseful of memories,
my dog, baby grand
no one could stop me,
what I had planned
weeks, months in the dark
alone in the crazy,
had i missed the mark?
running and faded
beyond jaded
part of me died
lucky i survived
free me, i will take my stand
free me, this i demand
to walk away, i knew i’d pay
for my sanity
embraced the gravity
to be free
no way in hell
can you stop me
free me, i will take my stand
free me, this i demand
beginning to end
on this i depend
that i will be free
ain’t no way
can you take it away 

“Free Me” by Foo Fighters. This song has been on repeat. I’ve been listening to their earlier stuff as well as their latest album. It takes time to live in each song, learn the lyrics, and feel the vibe. This is one of those songs that so clearly resonates. I’ve worked hard to earn free.

Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash

keeps me sane

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didn’t think the day would ever end
soul weary, tired and spent
feeling distorted,
body contorted
pushed too far
pretty sure i missed my star
keep looking for my pot of gold
at the end of the rainbow
someone please let the light in
miss the warmth of your touch
on my skin
thoughts of seeing you again
the only thing that keeps me sane

Yesterday was a tough day. You know, the kind where you have to grind it out. I hate wishing for time to pass, but it’s been a long week. Halfway through. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for play.

Photo by Filipp Romanovski on Unsplash