pure as dove white.

he’s radiating.

the more i see of you.

the brighter it gets.

 

the sun on cloudy days.

the moon in darkness.

something comforting.

someone pinch me.

 

you’re a light.

that never goes out.

the pressure and privilege.

is mine.

 

can’t deny the truth.

you can do anything.

already living proof.

continue to illuminate.

 

hold me like a fire.

the warmth of your touch.

your heart, makes me feel alive.

like the flame of your perseverance.

 

a blaze.

that thrills.

fit of sparks.

whimsically electric.

 

connected currents.

burning golden.

like the flare.

of the star.

 

those rays.

streaming in.

bouncing off the mirrors.

dancing in every room.

 

and that laugh.

oh, that laugh.

enlightens my soul.

my heart smiles.

 

you are luminous.

you are all and more.

let me be your, Lumière.

i’d sure like to give it to you.

“You, sir, are a ray of sunshine.” – Percy Jackson

 

you, like a ship.

with sails white and pure.

yet weathered and torn.

 

currently adrift.

anchorless.

 

proof of battle.

and storm scars.

a survivor.

 

ballast broken.

a new hurricane.

category six.

 

this vessel has endured.

everything.

another parlay.

 

high winds.

rogue waves.

pelting rain.

 

lost and confused.

sinking.

 

not ready to drown.

to the stern.

looking to rise.

 

the North Star spotted.

to the lee side.

unleash the buoys.

 

a new breath.

the strength and resiliency.

the other stars dance.

 

sailing by night.

gaining tenacity.

rising above the swell.

 

a flashing spectacle.

a lighthouse.

designed for the ship.

 

offers anchor.

sees the ship restored.

offering safe harbor.

 

like the tide.

storms come and go.

the safety of the pier, permanent.

 

“Much to cast down, much to build, much to restore.” – TS Eliot

the night is young.

the air warm.

the magic whimsical.

alignment destined.

 

a Unicorn.

a true Unicorn.

blazing trails.

lucky Penny at his side.

 

it’s at the bridge.

a complete stop.

there’s a splash under.

a double take is done.

 

a merman appears.

or is it Aquaman?

nonetheless, he’s in awe.

this Unicorn is a myth.

 

one leans down.

one reaches up.

under the moon.

the middle of the bridge.

 

it’s electric.

two worlds.

two creatures.

transformation.

 

the Unicorn.

now a warrior.

with rainbow armor.

quite striking.

 

he is kind.

he is patient.

he is thoughtful.

he is beautiful.

 

the mermaid.

also a warrior.

with scale-like protection.

he’s glistening.

 

one with a scar down his back.

a previous battle wound.

the other with an internal scar.

roar of the riptide.

 

each with eyes.

like pools you could drown in.

their lips together.

creating currents.

 

it’s magic.

it’s natural.

a fairytale?

two myths, one existence.

“Dance with Fairies. Ride a Unicorn. Swim with Mermaids. Chase Rainbows.” – Unknown

it had to have been those eyes.

had my accelerator going.

at full speed.

 

speedometer maxed.

lyrics loud.

storms ahead.

 

no warning.

no sirens.

only rhythm.

 

a joyous ride.

reached a dead end.

it’s gloomy.

 

no tunes.

the record skips.

it’s broken.

 

it wasn’t always.

it couldn’t have been.

it sang, beautifully.

 

the field is clear.

minimal debris.

twisters are gone.

 

sky isn’t clear yet.

the sun will rise.

music will begin.

 

until then.

listening.

sky gazing.

 

round and round.

now seems like a tale.

i know it was magic.

 

hold you close.

wish you well.

the long goodbye.

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama

a surprise encounter.

delighted i went.

fortunate you were there.

ten words exchanged.

 

you found me.

what courage.

the move is mine.

i make it.

 

the respect.

the politeness.

you’re beautiful.

simply the best.

 

i’m in a whirlwind.

it’s like a tornado.

this is a new experience.

unlike anything i’ve felt.

 

i’d been packing ice around my heart.

for so long.

i didn’t know how to make it melt.

your midwestern heat.

 

you continue to surprise me.

it’s time to two-step.

or is this one a three-step.

the record plays Tulsa Time.

 

the feelings you’ve ignited.

i’ve never known.

how to process.

keep leaning in.

 

one moment.

twenty moments.

feels like a thousand moments.

i’m hopeless.

 

you take my breath away.

i’m in awe.

you didn’t mean to.

and i didn’t mean to fall.

 

it’s ridiculous.

what is this feeling.

how did it happen.

and so fast.

 

the fire is burning.

the ice has melted.

swept in the twister.

blinded.

 

it’s as if time stopped.

the fire went out.

the record stopped playing.

dancing on my own.

 

another new experience.

unfamiliar feeling.

melancholy.

downward spiral.

 

uncertainty.

what changed.

questions remain.

some stay the same.

 

our rhythm.

simple pleasures.

our gaze.

shall we runaway?

“Pleasure of love lasts but a minute. Pain of love lasts a lifetime.” – Bette Davis

trigger a memory.

living in the live capital.

every note.

 

instant escape.

normally under table.

keeping me stable.

 

i keep you on.

cuts me deep.

patches me up.

 

knock me down.

bring me up.

the beat has saved me.

 

i turn to you.

blast the amp.

one heart beat.

 

hanging by a string.

pound the key.

pulls me.

 

that voice.

gives me a choice.

hang on longer.

 

begin in the valley.

sit or stand.

praise at the peak.

 

rises and sets.

over and over.

over and over.

“The true beauty of music is that it connects people.” – Roy Ayers

hidden.

behind closed doors.

blinds shut.

lights off.

 

why?

why can’t we?

others can.

it isn’t fair.

 

holding hands.

a kiss

in public.

spotted.

 

berated.

beaten.

savagery.

for being us.

 

nothing is done.

this is the world.

this is life.

it isn’t right.

 

recovery.

different for everyone.

external healing.

internal struggles.

 

nightmares.

repeat.

safety?

normalcy?

 

we’re people.

we have feeling.

we love.

like everyone else.

 

we deserve.

affection.

love.

public displays.

 

without opposition.

without assault.

without a second glance.

… one day.

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Nelson Mandela

i see you.

everywhere i go.

your face on others.

 

at the grocery store.

at the gym.

at concerts.

 

your height.

your hair color.

your face shape.

 

it stops me.

dead in my steps.

knocks the wind out my lungs.

 

this is my narrative.

i am brave.

i own this outcome.

 

i still cannot stop it.

the fear.

always looking over my shoulder.

 

what you did.

what you took from me.

years ago.

 

that day haunts me.

every suggestion for healing.

boxes checked.

 

will it ever go away?

i guess i should move.

seems unfair.

 

others catch my stares.

when i am looking.

i briefly saw you.

 

how are you everyone?

go away.

so many faces.

 

i have to know.

when will the last time i see you.

be the last time?

 

“If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds.” – Jesse Jackson

 

dive in.

life.

swim.

float.

 

the waves.

pushing down.

struggling.

drowning.

 

sinking.

 

i can see.

the light.

i can’t reach it.

i can’t swim up.

 

pressure.

wave after wave.

losing hope.

rescue me.

 

sinking.

 

thank you, Logic.

the line was hot.

ready?

i think not.

 

swim.

upward.

i’m a fighter.

prove it.

 

ascend.

it’s a struggle.

it’s up to me.

swim.

 

pull myself up.

find that strength.

no one else will.

do it for myself.

 

rise.

 

i see the light.

encouragement.

pull my resources.

i’ve got a breath left.

 

work.

the current.

shifting.

restoring.

 

rise.

 

reach the surface.

gasp for life.

i can do this.

float.

 

swim to shore.

reinvent.

feel.

be better.

 

continue to rise.

 

“In spite of everything, I shall rise again.” – Vincent van Gogh

a reunion.

i knew it would be awkward.

our history.

dates back nearly a decade.

 

i was prepared.

keep it cordial.

give space.

it is only a weekend.

 

history lesson.

you were a bully.

you weren’t comfortable in your own skin.

maybe you hated yourself.

 

you projected that on me.

and more.

you could tell or maybe you knew.

my secret.

 

our course.

could have been so different.

so, widely different.

instead.

 

you spread rumors.

and facts.

that weren’t yours to share.

you stole that from me.

 

friendships dissolved.

because of it.

what was the point?

of any of it?

 

fast forward.

last year.

you send me an apology message.

surface level.

 

a mutual friend.

brought it all to your attention.

i wonder.

would you have realized on your own?

 

this month.

currently.

reunion.

weekend together.

 

i’m friendly.

that was always the plan.

i learn later.

you think it’s awkward and tense.

 

that night.

you pull friends aside.

to talk and figure out.

how to make it right.

 

the next day.

this effort increases.

and accelerates.

over it.

 

not the time.

not the place.

truthfully.

i don’t need an apology.

 

if you need to apologize.

for clear conscience.

since clarity comes.

after each talk with a friend.

 

i will accept it.

and listen.

and appreciate it.

reality.

 

we live in different states.

we see each other every couple of years.

it needs to be in person.

what are the chances of this?

 

years of ridiculous.

we could have been friends.

treat others with kindness.

love yourself.

 

“we cannot become what we want, by remaining what we are.” – Max Depree