My sis is in the Navy
And I couldn't be more proud
Of the person she's become

She chose her own way
And stuck to it
Never once giving up

She was afraid at times
That she wouldn't be enough
But I always knew better

I'm the older one
But it doesn't matter at all
I still look up to her

She paved her own way
Something I'd be afraid to do
Leaving all for a uniform

I went to college
The more traditional route
She opened my eyes to more

More than the typical life
Though it was right for me
For I'm not as brave as her

She's my hero
My little sis
And I'm proud to say it

Through the tides
High and low
She's been my anchor

She thinks she needs me
I hope she does
For I know I need her more

Sis, I hope someday
When I have kids
That they'll look up to you

When they write their paper
On someone brave
I'll be proud if you're the hero

There's more than one way
To become accomplished
To fill an important role

I'll want my kids to know that
To believe in what they can do
Because of your example

I love you sis
I super do
You're my little Navy Sailor

Sleeping in I never liked
When I was a spirited kid

I was too anxious for the day
For new memories to begin

Now I look back and wonder
How sleep became my solace

When did it all change?
When did I learn to fear?

It used to be the unconsious trap
That I wished I could avoid

Now I yearn daily for it
I'm addicted to its silent comfort

To take a break from it all
Believing morning will bring change

There are chances of new memories
Ones that aren't so happy, that I fear

I don't want them
I don't want them stuck with me

I can handle my life now
But I'm afraid of what may come

When my past catches  up
Fulfilling the possibilities I've denied

Too many thoughts swirling in my head
It's exhausting

Sleep, please come rescue me
Keep me okay for now

A summer of cruising
Making my way to the ocean's side

A summer of sunshine
Making the world more vivid

A summer of opportunity
Making me decide what I want to discover

A summer of laughing
Making me remember what it's all about

A summer of memories
Making new reasons to live for more

A summer of feelings
Making me cherish my life for all it is

A summer of blue skies
Making me forget about the old grey days

A summer of adventure
Making me yearn to live while I can

A summer of smiles
Making the difference in a day

A summer of loving you
Making me hope summer never ends

Filtered photographs
Edited to please

Creating perfect memories
Showing how life's been timely seized

To remember the good
And put away the bad

Capturing the life we wish
Never had anything sad

These depicted moments
Of a happier time

Save pieces of us inside them
For when it feels too hard to climb

To help us remember
Who we've always been

And why we  keep on living life:
To find good memories again

I think there are some things
Of which a child should not be warned

Why place in them a mortal fear
That they need not yet learn

I remember the summer vacations
Spent at the ocean's side

Where I danced, splashed and dove
Never once thinking that it was cold

Now I return to the beach
And long for the good old fun

But I am held back
By the fear of believing it's too cold

I yearn to start over
To learn again in time

To live without fear
Of the small things that ruin me now

I want to run barefoot through the grass
But I can't let myself do so

I know too much
Of the dangers that may hide

These fears I have are often of situations
That probably won't happen

Yet I can't bring myself past
What I've been told that I now know

So don't ruin the kids
Let their wonder take control

Keep the world magical
Keep the fears at bay

For the one who held me tight
And told me my freckles were angel kisses

For the one who said she'd always be there
And that she'd never tell my fears

For the one who cried with me
And understood what I was missing

For the one who sets aside time to share
And thinks of me more like a sister

For the one who's always wondering
And keeping me in thoughts and prayers

For the one who gives the quiet, sincere hugs
And doesn't let distance separate our bond

For the one who makes laughing inevitable
And knows it's because I really need it

For the one who helps me keep perspective
And reminds me of how strong I can be

For all of my aunts who have stepped in
And grandmas who have always loved me

Thank you.

I'll fully admit it
I'm not an open book
Even if I wanted to be,
Some of the pages are glued shut

Those stuck pages
With the words forever hidden inside
Contain old secrets
Of the things that I can't share

Some of the pages I slathered with glue myself
Others were spilled on by the hurt of someone else
And I couldn't dry them fast enough
To save that bit of me

Other pages still are unreadable
Simply because they are no longer there
My unconscious ripped them out
In efforts to make my past seem better

Is it better though, to leave out some of the pain?
I can't get back the pages glued together
So should I keep all the rest I can?
Can a lack of painful memories lead to emptiness?

It gets harder to understand yourself
When you're not sure what's been lost,
To know why you are the way you are
When you can't even open you up to yourself