Once upon a time

Where there existed

You and me

A time of fairy tales

And make believe

Where there was only

You and me

Singing in the sunlight

Dancing in the rain

Singing our own love song

About you and me

Hiding in the forest

Playing in the trees

Our own hideaway

Just for you and me

Living our own fairy tale

Of make believe and gardens green

Hiding in a living dreams

Just for you and me

There was a place

There was a time

When you were mine

When there was only you and me

But we watched the castle crack

As winter witches swooped in

And took siege to your heart

No room for you and me

They cackled as they watched

As I cried and pleaded

Told you I needed

All of you and me

And I almost saved you

From their eager lies

I could see it in your eyes

It was only you and me

Until they brought out their prize

Beauty with sapphire eyes

And I lost us

Lost all of you and me

There was a place

There was a time

Where there existed

You and me

But beauty prevailed

With the witches cold

And nothing became

Of you and me

I watched you walk away

I watched disappear

Leaving behind the summer tale

Of only you and me

So I was left in the castle

Watched it take on weeds

As I lived on the disease

That was you and me

I watched the castle crumble

Watched the forest fall

Waiting for your return

With love for you and me

So, a little bit dark, a little bit shady, a little bit poetic. I have no idea what even inspired me to write this poem. I found myself at school opening up Word, and typing in the first four lines:”There was a place/Once upon a time/Where there existed/You and me.” And I wondered, once upon a time? Really? What can you write about princess and witches and princes without sounding too Disney. And, ahah! Heart-break. Perfect. 

I still find myself reading way too much into this poem, though. Did the prince come back? Did she wait until the castle around her completely crumbled before she gave up? Did she give up? Or did the prince finally come back after meeting with his blond-haired, blue eyed princess and apologize for leaving his fair lady waiting? Were they still young? Or were they both white haired and old? Did they still love each other?

The thing is I don’t want to write it. Secretly, I think I know what happened. Secretly, I know the ending. But I won’t let you know. You read into this, and you find the ending that suits what you think happened.

“In each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice. We’re each of us our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We’ve got to forgive ourselves that. I must remember to forgive myself. Because there is a lot of grey to work with. No one can live in the light all the time.”

-Libba Bray

Do nothing but be here

Right here in your arms

I wanna slow dance

Twirling, laughing, falling

Holdings hands

So close

I wanna slow dance

I wanna lay down

In this field of flowers

Right here in your arms

I wanna lay down

Under the old oak tree

Beside each other

So close

I wanna lay down

I wanna hear you breathe

While the sun goes down

Right here in your arms

I wanna hear you breathe

My head on your chest

Your hand in my hair

So close

I wanna hear you breathe

I wanna hear you whisper

Soft and slow as a sigh

Right here in your arms

I wanna hear you whisper

My name like a prayer

Your sweet breath on my cheek

So close

I wanna hear you whisper

I wanna kiss you

Under the summer sun

Right here in your arms

I wanna kiss you

Your lips on mine

Sweet, intoxicating

So close

I wanna kiss you

I wanna love you

Under the stars

Right here in your arms

I wanna love you

My heart against yours

Sweet and satisfying

So close

I wanna love you

I wanna be forever

In this moment, for now

Right here in your arms

I wanna be forever

In this time

Drunk on love

So close

I wanna be forever

Happy Valentines Day!!! ‘Tis the season for chick flicks, chocolate and candles. I hope you enjoy my contribution to the said candles, chocolate, and chick flicks, because this is as much as anybody is going to get out of me today. It’s billed as both the day of love and heartbreak, because girls always read into everything you do, boys. It’s just how we are, though I am by no means advocating how over the top some girls get.

  Anyways. I hope those of you who are with somebody special today enjoy it. Because, despite my sometimes cynical side comments, I do believe in love, and I do believe that forever can happen. My grandparents celebrated their 51st anniversary this year, and though sometimes things about each other drive the other crazy, they love each other and never gave up on that love.

Because love is more than ‘right now’ and a diamond ring; it’s loving each other through everything.  It’s being there for the other person. It’s truly for ever and always.

So enjoy those chick flicks about impossible love – it can happen. Scarf down those chocolates – they’re worth it. And snuggle up close to your sweetheart amid the candles – and say ‘I love you.’

A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.

-Grace Murray Hopper

A smile you can’t quit

And I’m hooked like a cigarette

He’s got eyes like the sea

And they’re trained all on me

A mix between lover and storm

He’s a fast car and freedom

A Garden of Eden

With everything I want right here

He’s got a bent smile

That goes on for miles

A mix between young boy and man

He’s all spirit and storm

Passion in free form

He keeps me coming back for more

He’s got hands that twine

That get tangled with mine

A mix between callused and soft

He’s a dirt road and sunset

Never a regret

Sitting on the hood of that car

He’s got romance and white wine

Sparking down my spine

A mix between lover and friend

He’s all fire and ice

My heart as the price

For love like a hurricane

He’s got lips like a flame

With a heart you can’t tame

A mix between bad boy and hero

He’s all man and all mine

By fate or design

Shooting stars and moonlight night

He’s got a heart that’s on fire

A love to inspire

A mix of fiction and love songs

He’s storm, fire and ice

I’ve thrown in the dice

Gambled for love

Because I can’t help but fall

For the man dark and tall

A mix of storm, fire, ice.

I’ve been in a creative mood this week, for no apparent reason. Maybe it’s the start of term two in school. Or perhaps it’s just one of those things. I find that my creativity comes and goes, ebbs and flows, all dependent on whatever mood or whatever I am doing that day. I might have to put this one onto the music I’ve been listening to lately, as I’ve found myself listening to the words more and more, and falling in love with the music. Hunter Hayes, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kira Isabella, I’m talking to you. And Kelly Clarkson, I like that new song she has out.

Anyway, this poem originally started out as a tentative song, and though I have not yet ruled that out, I rather like it in that form. I did move some verses around a bit to better find a rhythm, a story, and something to believe in.

I hope you enjoy it like I do, and perhaps an acoustic, updated version may be on the way.  

Modern glassy light

Like fire ‘cross the sky

Blocking out the night

Neon signs glare

Winking in the air

Like lighting by the street

As the people stare

Cars sailing by

Lighting up the sky

Like a rippling creek

Humming engines cry

Laughter and smiles

A hundred million styles

Like a rainbow dawning

Color for miles and miles

Couples dancing

Sweet romancing

Like a storm of roses

Lighting up the night

Downtown alive

Busy buzzing hive

Like a million bees

Dancing and alive

Clear city night

The lights all bright

Like a wildfire blowing

The city’s hot tonight

It occurs to me that a lot of my poetry has not been in favor of the city. Don’t get me wrong, the city is an awesome place to live, most of the time. It has it’s moments, where the dazzling displays of lights, sounds, and modern living all come together in a beautiful collage. We’ve all seen the black and white photos of downtown with car lights streaking by, and  seen the picture of the people dancing in the street while it rains. The city has its beautiful moments, it’s thrilling times. It’s always go go go in the city, and I think that that is why when I write poetry, I take a step back from the place where I’m always on the go seven days a week.

And some cities are truly thrilling. Like Las Vegas. I love it there, especially in the summer. The heat, the bustle, the extravagance of it all. I love that city, and love being on the boulevard at night when all the shows go, the Bellagio’s water show goes off, the lights flash and dance. It’s a thrill ride that reminds me that I do like cities, and I do enjoy their extravagance and in a strange way, their beauty.

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.

-Walt Disney

Than at the dark length of an alley

And laugh with the wind

As it brushes my hair

Round my grin

I would rather be on fire with desire

Than cool and cold as a liar

And know someone loves me

That I won’t be lonely

As long as they hold the key

To my heart

I want to laugh

And dance

And fly

I want to love

And chance

And cry

I want to be known

As someone who showed

Their heart from the very start

I would rather dance like a crazy girl

And let those patched sails unfurl

Let myself break form

And not worry about

The storm

I would rather go and dance in the rain

That be prim and constrained

To dance in a white dress

And know that I’ve truly

Been blessed

With someone I truly love

I want to live

And sigh

And bliss

I want to breathe

And kiss

And risk

I want to be known

As someone who wasn’t alone

And took the chance to love

Who wasn’t afraid

To believe in something insane

And find out that fairy tales do come true

I would rather stand at the edge of a valley

Than at the dark length of an alley

And laugh with the wind

As it brushes my hair

Round my grin

One of my cousins is engaged. She’s so happy, and it’s infectious to see her little smile whenever she looks down at the ring on her left hand. She’s truly happy, and it makes you wonder about one’s own love life – or lack thereof – and it reminds me of Hunter Hayes song “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me”.

Okay, so that’s a bit melodramatic, but its been true lately. I think everybody want’s somebody in their lives to love and risk with. It’s human nature, and I am no different than anybody else in that regard. For one, I recently bought my grad dress. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have somebody who cares for me bring me a corsage, other than my parents. I think this also stems from a couple of my friends with their boyfriends, and how happy they seem to be. I just want that same happiness that they have. I can only hope that I’ll find it someday. Because I would rather laugh, and dance, kiss, and risk.

It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

-George Elliot

Carries me far

To another day

On fairy wings I fly away

On sunset shadows

Of ending day

On the sun’s coattails I fly away

Sinking flame

Of shining stars

Through the night I fly away

Sliver stars

And slippery shadows

When the urge to come back down

Carries me home

To another day.

We’ve all had those moments, I suppose, when we wish we could just fly. When we could just jump, and escape from the day, from all our troubles. It’s not always easy to be the people who we are. And the days that we want to fly, we realize that we can…in our minds.