You know it doesn't belong to you
Obviously you didn't think it through
Stealing is a sin you know
You only let the good side show

You act like you're here to help
But the only one you're helping is yourself
You shouldn't say things that you don't mean
And stop the actions that you know is obscene

But what goes around, comes around
And what goes up must come down
You can't fly forever, your bound to hit the ground
without a whimper, not even a sound

But we will miss you and pray for your soul
And hope to god your heart was whole
We all know, your the one who did it
Things can change if you'd just admit it.

Tell me that all hope is gone,
Show me that I have no one,

Chain and lock my body here,
Torture me with hate and fear,

Break my mind to gain control,
Take my heart to reach my soul,

Though you may take all I feel,
Never will you make this real,

Safe beyond all mortal pain,
In the end this love will reign.

Would you miss me
if I was no longer here
would you notice I was missing
would you even shed a tear

Would you think back
to all the things you never said
would you find time to write that letter
would you wish it had been read

Would you follow me
or try to find out where I'd gone
would you wish you'd made the effort
would you admit you got it wrong

Would you wish now
that you'd decided not to wait
Would you read this in the future
and curse you were too late?

With special thanks to George Ella Lyon*

I am from crumbling brick
(red, dusty, smelling of musk).
I am from aluminum siding
and triple-deckers,
tall, strong, unmovable.

Hailing from the city on about seventy hills.
From Grandfathers and photo albums,
cigar ash salad and pinecone wars.
From "use your imagination" and "go play in the street".

I am from a whirlwind of faith,
belief from non-believers.

From schoolyards, playgrounds, and crawlspaces
come these faces, and these memories
are worth more to me, than anything.

You are
delicious
And I am
greedy.
You are
generous
And I am
needy.
You are
experienced
And I am
learning.
You are
flammable
And I am
burning.