‪In the distance ahead ‬
‪Opportunities await ‬
‪Ones that are created  ‬
‪Not resigned to cryptic fate‬
‪The unknown, the igniter ‬
‪My will sparks the flame‬
‪The challenge, my survival‬
‪From the wars waged in my brain‬
‪The fight, it is endless‬
‪The battles ensue ‬
‪As I continue on searching ‬
‪For the next right thing to do‬
It’s my foresight, my vision
That I’ve become well aware
My purpose for living
To create art and share

They deny prying eyes
Built stern for their aim
The protectors of secrets
Of the unknown; unexplained
Crafted with purpose
To conceal what’s inside
Taking painstaking hours
Through hard work and pride
There’s no flaws that you’ll find
In its build or design
Or opportunity given
To see what’s behind
A key is their master
In command and control
The determining factor
Of what’s revealed or exposed
Without it, it’s hopeless
Left to ponder and stare
And wonder what ever happened
To the duplicate; spare

Why do I look up to the sky expecting to see what I do not?
From the kingdom in heaven
As I grow old and rot
I lay sick in bed
A new year has come
Lying under my covers
I’m indifferent; numb
To the bursts of the fireworks
To celebrations and toasts
To kisses under mistletoe
I’ve disengaged, I’m morose

I’m uninspired, undecided
By the options provided
To live or to die
I’m in the middle, divided
To step or to stop
I’m conflicted, misguided
My moral compass is broken
I’m in darkness, under my eyelids

Because when I open my eyes
I don’t like what I’m seeing
Face-to-face with mere mortals
We choose to call human beings
But what does that mean?
To be unheard and unseen?
Following made up dreams
Hoping to be saved or redeemed?

From the pain that we’ve caused
And all the pain felt within
A life filled with heartache
Committing sin after sin
To myself, and to my loved ones
Did I not know or not care?
It’s only one life that we’re given
We’re not provided a spare

So it’s make, or it’s break
Triumph, or despair
We’ve only got so many options
And none seem too fair
You can be bitter, or grateful
Be filled with pride, or compare
Yourself against others
Be mundane or add flair

But is it a conscious decision?
Is it pre designed or prepared?
Is it an unchangeable outcome?
Are we running circles in squares?
Are there solutions to problems?
That I’ve been missing; unaware?
I’m just a walking conundrum
Too afraid to be scared

Just gonna trust
The stars that align
If it’s my time, it’s my time
Who am I to undermine
A greater powers design
That remains hidden from eyes
Our entire lives

So, I go with the flow
Blend in and compose
My wandering mind
That leaves me exposed
But that’s how it goes

I thought of chasing comfort
To attain a cozy peace
Filling my life with empty purpose
Just to justify the means
Instead, I battle with my demons
And I pick apart their brains
To come to a conclusion
Of which one of them to blame

Blind leading the blind
A tale as old as time
Hate breads hate
We ourselves create
Because we welcome in the lies

He overcame a bout with psychosis
Betraying the brain in his skull
It drove him to fancy dying
It broke him, left nothing, null

He recovered and became famous
Through persistence, he made it all work
He’s now a hot rising artist
Who’s got fans that all go berserk

I’m a night owl, one that rarely hoots
A repeated self destructor
With no signs of resolute
I never followed a dream
Because of battles behind scenes
Raised by single parents
Since the ripe age of two
Only child, without a care or a clue
I grew to like all team sports
And I practiced; got good
But my emotions compounded
And I felt misunderstood
I was labeled disabled
From a very young age
And I used some poor judgment
At many a stage
I was always an odd ball
Never fitting quite in
I’d use humor as armor
To deflect and defend
I’m true to myself
I admit I’m no saint
But it’s been a really long time
Since I’ve heard a complaint
Or committed a crime
Now I’m giving and kind
I have a big heart
My compass wasn’t broken
But I still misread the charts
I use expression through writing and art
This is my pride and my passion
And a good place to start
I’ve procrastinated long enough
I’ve grown hungry over time
I’ve stood in my way long enough
For my glow not to shine
I’ll pick up my paintbrush
On my canvases; new
And I’ll pour out my emotions
So that I can share them with you

I want to be a positive force for good
I want my thoughts and my feelings to be understood
I want to express it so you can digest
How we can all grow, go forth, and progress
I want to live in a world
That accepts and provides
Where no one is hungry
And no one’s deprived
Where people are people
Not hand picked by God
Who’s only lead us astray
No matter how hard we ****
Yes, I’m a savior
But so are you, if you choose
Your voice is my equal
When we share the same views
A revolution is brewing
Smell the air, read a chart
It’s time for a change
Something new, a fresh start
I hope to capture that moment
Through emotion and art
For I too am loving
With a very big heart

I’m not in pursuit
Without goals, or motivation, impulse, or drive
No visions of grandeur
That I myself can contrive
My support’s without question
From my family and friends
But I can’t conquer the demons
In the war waged within
I strive to be good
To not look too out of place
Hidden in plain sight
With a smile on my face
As the years turn to decades
And people die and are born
I’m in the middle with stage fright
Too scared to perform
Without a direction
Not chasing a dream
I’ve become too complacent
With my story and theme

Nothing tickles my fancy
Or have I yet to be swept off my feet
I’m numb to loves notion
That’s filled with myth and mystique
No amount of money, or women
Can bring me relief
Or the clock that keeps ticking
Knowing my time here is brief
I go through the motions
I attempt and resist
And despite my own mindset
I’m still here; I exist
I sabotage my progression
I’m aware and concerned
I only write what I’m saying
To keep it stored and preserved
Or maybe until this curse is reversed
Then I can contribute to life
While I’m still here on earth
And I’ll be the envy of many
For having purpose; self worth
And justify my existence
As to why I’m still alive since my birth

Dotta swung and he missed
Time for him to cease and desist
After Ren went ballistic
Because he couldn’t resist
The allure of a battle
Using words like their fists
Landing blow after blow
Without a beat to assist

We witnessed a burial
An end to a reign
But all that king Dotta was..
Was a true royal pain
A husky, sad, clout chaser
Vanilla, quite plain
Who failed in his attempt
To perform; entertain

Ren showed his ferocity, his ability, his skills
He speared his first whale
Despite Dotta not having gills
But Ren gave him a lifeline
Without showing any ill will
Offering all he can eat
On a buffet filled with krill

One million subscribers
Sent to consume and digest
King Dotta’s music
Of which I’ve been unimpressed
But the message from Ren
Was really quite clear
As the words spilled from his lips
“A rising tide, lifts all ships”

I feel stagnant.
Like a stale cigarette.
Not sure where to put my energy
Without instant regret
So I freeze up and I don’t react
While keeping my mental health intact
But the days are slipping by
Clouds dimming out my shine
For what tomorrow brings
For us all as human beings
This weighs heavy on my chest
One more cause to feel depressed
Stuck with racing thoughts
Standing still without progress
Masking my distraught

I’m frozen in captivation
I can’t seem to comprehend
A force that’s to be reckoned with
Who goes by the name of Ren
As his tunes flow out of my speakers
The sounds ricochet in my brain
Playing percussion on my eardrums
Please insert it in my veins
From the melody, to the rhythm
To the words that paint a scene
He stirs up raw emotions
From the likes I’ve never seen
With his lyrics, there are meanings
Which hit so close to home
He expresses all his feelings
While hypnotic and intone
Dripping wet with talent
His greatness emanates like gold
Brighter than a lightning strike
A true sight to behold
I stare for my amusement
I dare not turn away
Because I’m mesmerized and blown away
Every time that I push play

I’m torn between his lyrics, and the bouncy reggae beat
As this Brighton bardcore lyricist, raps, and brings the heat
Taking on all challengers, those that claim to be elite
With catchy rhymes, and sick bass lines
To be played back on repeat

The song hits hard in every way
So hard, you’ll bruise and swell
Until your only wish, is to still exist
And be saved by the bell

Between his ra-ta-ta and his uppercuts
To his jabs that set the flow
He’ll size you up, then BOOM; erupt!
As he lands the knockout blow

They travel towards the sky
As expression of our mood
Explosive bits of joy, ascending
Past the full lit moon
An enormous color spectrum
Magnificent and loud
A demonstration of celebration
As we stand together, proud

A fascination with what’s to come
By any means of an escape
Allows the blind to see; posthumously
While embracing their own fate
The end is daunting and inevitable
It brings shivers from the cold
Though frail and weak
What we all seek
Is the light that shines like gold

The light that shines between us
During a sunset loves embrace
Diving deep into your ocean
From high in outer space
I’m immersed in who you are  
Like the sand between our feet
Grounded, looking back at you
Entrenched in my belief

It’s his bottle of light
That fills empty cups
It’s his melody that touches our souls
It’s the words that hit home
For the scared and alone
That leads them past the fiery coals
It’s a glimmer of hope
A pause in the scope
That allows us a moment to feel
To connect in a sense
Under no false pretense
To the sounds with a vast loved appeal
It’s his journey embarked
That we feel apart
Watching him grow and transform
In front of our eyes
His music revives
And shields us from the eye of the storm
From mainstream to obscure
His message is pure
He sings, and the audience hears
His guitar is his wand
That tightens the bond
To the things that we all hold most dear
And it’s artists like him
That keep us filled to the brim
With joy that they’re sharing their gift
With something to say
In a meaningful way
Through performances that shouldn’t be missed
He implements ideas
That brings crowds to tears
When evoking emotional tones
Or he’s quick with a pun
In lighthearted fun
Using beats that he made on his own
He’s a writer, producer
A linguistic abuser
Using rhymes that are multi-complex
His schemes are unreal
He’s got skill; the real deal
And he’s not shy to show you or flex
He’s a force on the scene
Far from routine
He’s got a voice that needs to be heard
He’s got an ear for his pitch
That’s melodic and rich
And he’s got talent that’s borderline absurd

Forged in their youth for rebellion
Through hardships of need versus want
They sweat and they bleed
For profit and greed
And they’re made to believe what they’re taught
A rebellion was a foregone conclusion
When everything is a made up illusion
Put in place to deceive
Their focus and dreams
With a filled head of lies and confusion
They don’t have a leg they can stand on
No leverage to balance control
Just a misguided youth
Without knowledge or truth
And can’t do anything, but do what they’re told

Where does inspiration lurk
When you’re trying hard to work
But the ideas won’t form inside your brain?
Where do you go to seek
An audience of sheep
Willing to flock together
To be entertained?
It’s no easy task
Reaching out to grasp
What little is left but somehow still remains
Without ideas there are no plans
Tempting to alienate your fans
Before becoming the man, the myth, the spark to light the flame
It’s not the bumblebee that stings
But the pendulum that swings
That sets the tone
On how things are the way they are despite the pain
And the more you fight the cause
The more often progress becomes paused
And the better the chances are
That all changes stay the same
I think stimulation’s key
Because the brain needs food to eat
Or you’ll undoubtedly starve it
If you don’t feed it what it craves
So just so it’s understood
There is no would, or should, or could
There’s only do or die with tears in eyes
While dancing in the rain

I stood still and I waited
I listened, I heard
A melodic symphony
Like a bird, but with words
The message was relayed
Acted out and portrayed
In an unusual manner
With clear genius displayed
It gave me the goosebumps
By what all was said
About massive struggles
To feel alive before dead
I was moved, but unwarned
For the performance at hand
To be swept away
By a young British man?
Captivating and impressive
With just his voice and a guitar
Shedding light on his illness
By exposing all of his scars
He’s a vessel to carry
Innovation; through tunes
Attacking each topic
That help heal opened wounds
Things in the present
Or through memories shared
Expressing raw emotion
When most would be scared
The talent oozing, exuding
With every pluck of each string
I’m immersed, baring witness
Watching an angel earn wings

A fluorescent pink sky
Dictates the mood
Serine, like a dream
Euphoric and smooth
The heavens reflection
An estranged interlude
Of angels and demons
Both seeking out truth
Boats in the boatyard
Made of skeleton crews
Succumb to the rhythm
When the tide sings the blues

Beaten and busted
Loved all the same
Fabric and cotton
With an obvious name
Teddy, the teddy bear
Had seen better days
He’d been through the ringer
He’s mangled in ways
But with a pure heart
Soft as could be
These memories
Have stood longest with me

The painting manifested
Into a work of art
Encompassing the beauty
That was envisioned from the start
Hummingbirds fly feverishly
Around emerald green sachets
Which drape over divinity
In the most complimentary of ways

I’m approaching a doorway
With the doors now ajar
That’s been protecting the contents
Of a once fallen star
They tried to contain it
But the bright light shone through
They were told not to enter  
But their curiosity grew  
A sacrifice, a martyr
With caution, subdued
They burnt into ashes
As if right on cue

I’ve come unraveled
I’ve come undone
I’ve been burned by more than just the sun
I’ve made mistakes
I’m not immune
My walking music’s out of tune
It’s as if I don’t know what to do
What it is, I want to pursue
So I dillydally, and wait my turn
I guess some people never learn
Thanks so much for your concern
But my urge is gone, set fire, burned
Extinguished for posterity
And sealed tightly with a kiss
In a hundred years
There’s not a chance
I’ll be remembered well or missed

There are few things that give me peace
Like the hesitation, just before release
Having comfort in my skin and home
The two places I spend my nights alone
What’s unbeknownst, will set me free
Instead of mulling over my misery
Filled with broken hearts, and catastrophe
Not trophies for my victories

I can’t get over our insignificance
What’s it all matter for?
What’s the purpose of our being?
Who’s tallying up the score?
What’s my motivation?
Why’s there rich and poor?
What’s inside Pandora’s box?
What lies behind each door?
A speck of dust on a speck of dust
On a speck of dust we are
In a universe containing
An immense amount of stars
The number is too lofty
The mind can’t hold a grip
Of the infinite amount of knowledge
We’re simply unequipped
We couldn’t fathom
Couldn’t grasp
The swarms of trillions
The size, the mass
And here we are on planet earth
The weak, the strong
A death, a birth
Evaluating what we’re worth
Until we’re buried under dirt
There are no answers for the questions
But someone has to ask
Nothing lasts forever
So let’s enjoy and have a blast!

The fear is severe
When the unknown’s unclear
Until we gather our gear  
Then ****, disappear  
Into the night
While traveling light
Solemn; contrite
Ill equipped for the fight
The battle of self
With poor mental health
A monopoly of wealth
For the pills that get dealt
Out of the cupboard  
And into our hands  
Along with the side effects  
And a list of demands
There may be reactions
They’ll come out in waves
Searching out healing
Or what the body most craves

Staring at a ticking clock
Wondering where the time has gone
Instead of living for each moment
And pretending to belong
The monkey looks
The stork rolls dice
The view around the room looks nice
I took two looks
I looked twice
Then fell in love and paid the price

Somewhere in the distance
The world comes to an end
Some call it a horizon
Some call it their only friend
Either way, the sun will set
The moon will rear its head
And gleam just like a lamppost light
Through the window on my bed

I’ve avoided the places that clutter my mind
While getting lost in the labyrinth
With walls too high to climb
A large maze of my thoughts
With shivers down my spine
In the cold early morning
When I feel most alive

‪A clock reminds us that time never stops ‬
‪Never forgoes it’s hold‬
‪So take time to read ‬
‪It may plant a seed‬
‪Of ideas that continue to grow ‬
‪There’s no time like the present ‬
‪Or a particular segment ‬
‪Of time to relinquish control ‬
‪So squeeze every minute ‬
‪While you’re still in it ‬
‪And you have some semblance of soul‬

There’s no one breaking down my door
Believe me, rest assured
That if they showed the current score
Your jaw would drop and hit the floor
It’s unfathomable to think
I could just see a shrink
For all of the many thoughts I have
That have me on the brink
The brink of destruction
The brink of despair
The brink of extinction
And I don’t even care
Broken and beaten
Unfit to fight
I’ll pour on the gas
And watch it ignite
Not to die as a martyr
Just to shed light
To a life without meaning
And a death out of spite

I caught a bit of a breeze
When I noticed shaking leaves
In the evening, before the sun went down
We were in for a cool night ahead
So, I wrapped myself up and laid in bed
With big blankets and pillows underneath
Cozy by the fire, until we fell asleep

I made a mistake
I trusted a snake
That slithered and hissed
Was conniving and fake
He reared and he bit
Uncoiled and spit
His venomous poison
Right where I sit
By what has transpired
The situation is dire
I need the anti-venom quite quickly
Before I expire

The words fly off the pages
The pages fly out of the book
Becoming doves towards heaven
At first glance or look
The sunlights on the water
The sailboat sets its sail
On to great adventures
That’ll someday turn to tales
About the fierce encounter
With the granddaddy of whales
🐳
Or the serpents in the water
The shark fins in plain sight
Then there’s the squid 🦑 with its long tentacles
That put up the biggest fight
These are tales that will be read
In books with written word
Then all will know first hand accounts
From the sailers that returned

You can lead a horse to water,
However, you can not make him read
Unless of course, that same horse
Joins a book stampede
With flamingos, turtles, monkeys, elephants, and geese
All carriers of literature
Carrying three, four books apiece
Ingrained in imagination
When nursery rhymes made sense
Hidden between the pages
Is where the situation’s best
The anticipation of conclusion
The ending of the tale
Will it be successful?
Or like so many others, fail?

The pages lift our conscious mind
Through stories that stand the test of time
Truth and tales can both be found
On pages that are leather bound
Imagination is in full effect
And is often how our time is spent
A holiday, or some time alone
Can inform with more knowledge known

I daydream in my daydreams
About the bright light up ahead
That’s even bright when my eyes are shut
Or just lying in my bed
I daydream on a colossal scale
Great goals to reach and more
But the light always shines its brightest when one is on the coastal shore

Time fades away
The wind blows the sand
Into forever
As the clock turns it’s hand
I stand alone in the silence
The tickings gone dim
It’s my quest for survival
And my chances are slim
I’ll take the odds
If it’s all the same
And live for each moment
While the moments remain

Two illuminated butterflies
Are dancing in the air
Giving off an orange glow
To which nothing else compares
Frolicking and fluttering
Around the humans hands
That are reaching out to touch them
Or to see if one will land

She walked in puddles
Under the willows in the rain
With an umbrella, for the weather
Walking down the lane
Her cottage around the bend
With chimney stacks; red
A short walk to reach comfort
For a hot meal and soft bed
She wore a simple yellow dress
Not dressed to impress
Because she knew the weather forecast for the day
She entered into her home
Made of mortar, bricks, and stone
An inviting home, in every sort of way
She settled down to rest
And wasn’t expecting any guests
When she heard a sudden knock ✊🏻 upon the door
She was startled quite a bit
The porch light wasn’t lit
So she couldn’t make out who it was for sure
She asked who it was out loud
But didn’t hear a sound
And that only made her concerned that much more
She turned on the porch light
There was nothing there in sight
But the knock was way too loud to ignore
So she went and got a knife
To fend off for her life
Or for whatever they had in mind or in store
Then came broken glass
A man was coming fast
Now that he had worked his way into the house back door
She screamed for all to hear
But her voice had disappeared
She was frozen in her fear
And quite as a mouse
🐭
He chased, she swung
They fought, he won
And now that man is sleeping soundly on the couch
He knew it wasn’t good
When she was lying in her own blood
When he woke up and saw what he had done the next day
He took some time to think
Had several high proof drinks
And decided to keep her as a conversation piece
ashtray


It’s sad when evils done
And even sadder when it wins
But now that story’s over
So a new one can begin

It was only for a moment
Less than a second of our lives
That our two paths crossed
In a place where love thrives
But the moment never lasts
As time does take it’s toll
When you grabbed me by the heart
Without ever letting go

There’s truth hidden below the dust
That’s gathered over time
There’s unspoken words that never need be said
There’s secrets covering lies
By spies who’ve centralized
That use metaphors
To send mixed signals to your head

I left her there in the dust
What I thought was love
was just lust
I believed only her I could trust
About intimate secrets discussed
But she sold me out for a price
What she said wasn’t very nice
Before I trust again, I’ll think twice
Too scared of rolling the dice

Feet touch down on brittle ground
Dried up from the drought
Waters scarce from scorching heat
No water from the spout
The sun is fierce without a cloud
To shade the light of day
Leading to the cracks in earth
Across the dirt and clay

Between the blades of grass
On a sun-rich day
Where flowers are done blooming
And the hare hop free in spades
There is an open meadow
Where memories are made
And magic tends to happen
In early June, late May

He gathered all his knowledge
Of what it means to be
The center of attraction
Without causing a scene
He wrestled with rejection
While still chasing his dreams
Crying for salvation
Unafraid to scream
He picked up all the pieces
While learning how to breathe
And upon further consideration
In a harsh reality
He shouted towards the heavens
Dropping to his knees
Begging and repeating
On just how much it means
To be dependent on the outcome
Of a long forgotten dream