"This one's a little out of my comfort zone and a longer read, but I'd love your feedback."


The *building was a bit run down
a few windows had been cracked
but the neon lights still lit the street
and the parking lot was packed

Some people thought the place
was just a little ******
but others knew the drinks were cheap
which made conversation easy

Every eye stared me down
as I walked across the floor
it had been quite some time
since I'd set foot through the door

I passed by all their faces
and kept my head held high
something brought me back to town
and I had to find out why

The room felt unfamiliar
as I pulled up to the bar
I turned my head to look around
and saw his old guitar

This had been our place
where we spent most friday nights
he'd play a set with the guys
then we'd dance under the lights

"Now, what can I get a girl like you?"
the bartender broke my train of thought
I took a deep breath in and said,
"How about a ***** shot?"

The drink went down like water
so I asked for just one more
then my shoulder felt a familiar touch
and he asked what I was here for

That voice had torn my world apart
when he told me we were through
he said he'd changed his mind
and he knew what he had to do

I remembered how he held me
and he told me we would last
how "she" never made him feel like this
and she was in the past

We had talked about our future
dreaming of the day
when we could leave this town behind
and make our get-a-way

There was a great big world out there
that we both would get to see
no one else could understand
why we wanted to be free

This town held people captive
some others chose to stay
but if you were born and raised here
it was hard to see a different way

Now that I look back on things
I think I know where I went wrong
I was the one who wanted out
and he just played along

Deep down he felt at home
in this broken down old town
and all the things we talked about
would have turned his world around

So he made his choice and left
for the comfort of her bed
I begged him to come with me
he didn't hear a word I said

It seems that people talked
as they do in towns like this
and he had been convinced
that this place is what he'd miss

So, I packed up all my things
and made my way out west
I built a life from scratch
and tried to forget about the rest

There's a new man in my life
and he loves me to the core
my future could be with him
but I just needed to be sure

I replied that he's what brought me back
to the town that I came from
I needed to see his face
and maybe hear that guitar strum

I asked him, if I'd changed my mind
and had kept my life right here
would I be happy in his arms
and be the one that he holds near

He looked at me and smiled
and said, "You needed space to grow
I knew this town was just too small
so I had to let you go."

His answer wasn't what I needed
I knew my urge to roam.
still, there were times I questioned
if this should have stayed my home

I looked him in his deep blue eyes
and struggled through my tears.
he knew he was in my heart
even after all these years.

We wished it had been different
he said I'd always be the one
that he loved but pushed away
for it needed to be done

Deep down I knew that he was right
as I took just one more shot
he was happy living here
I most certainly would not

I remembered feeling trapped
and wanting to be free
needing something more
than this town could ever give me

So, I gathered up my purse
and headed out the door
letting go of the past
*for the life I wanted more

Just when she thought

 she had dug  

herself out of despair,

she stared down

at the freshly prepared grave

and noticed the soiled shovel 

in her hand.

I
     see
passion, where there was apathy
playfulness, where there was tragedy
beauty, where there was ugliness
pacification, where there was strife
acceptance, where there was rejection
strength, where there was weakness
elation, where there was sorrow
certainty, where there was doubt
honesty, where there was guile
devotion, where there was neglect
comfort, where there was suffering
peace, where there was bitterness
laughter, where there was despair
affection, where there was resentment
healing, where there was brokeness
pleasure, where there was pain
light, where there was darkness
and *most
           importantly
YOU*, where there was emptiness

Who
should I
expect today,
Doctor Jekyll
or Mister Hyde?

Tattered
     shreds
            of a life
strewn across
     the floor
              in need of mending

It has been said that we can be our own worst enemy.

This may be true.

Couldn't it also be said that we can be our own *best companion?

the words were engraved,
a tattoo on her skin.
as a sweet reminder,
of all that she believed in.

but as she sees it in the mirror,
staring boldly back at her.
she starts to question truth,
and the lines begin to blur.

is there really such a  love,
which accepts you with your faults,
that doesn't give you pain
or personal assaults?

the kind that lasts forever,
firmly built on trust.
that's willing to face problems,
and doesn't fade to dust.

the type that will protect,
but never keeps the score.
and is filled with passion,
that is felt down to the core.

where patience is its shadow,
and anger is thrown away.
kindness fills the air,
and no one ever strays.

she thought that love had found her,
and had swept her off her feet.
she poured out her heart and soul,
but sadly felt defeat.

turning back at her reflection,
reading True Love Never Fails.
she feared that she had lost all faith,
in her treasured fairy tale.

I was often
envious
of those that knew which road to choose,
walking it like a familiar memory,
while I would stumble and fall.

I blindly moved forward.
Sometimes taking too long,
to pick myself up,
bruised and scraped
backtracking
wandering
and
making up for lost time
in both lightness  
and
overwhelming darkness

I would pray for a sign,
a compass
to give me direction,
as the sun and moon
exchanged glances

But somewhere along my journey,
envy went missing
and
now I often pass by those
that knew their way-
voraciously attempting
to trace their steps
back to the road they came from

Searching
for the wrong turn they made
ragged
blinded
by
their mistakes

As I look back at the view
of my trail
from where I have risen
after every fall
and I see my bruises and scrapes
that created a map

I notice its key
identifying pitfalls and battlegrounds
mountaintops
valleys
and  
rivers that flow effortlessly

and I find myself
at peace.