because of you,
i am a candle.
you lit my wick,
contaminated me with your love -
fiery
and passionate.
you watched as my layers of insecurity
melted away,
as my worries,
my sadness
melted away.
you dipped your fingers into the hot wax,
admired the parts of me
on your fingertips.
time and time again,
you loved me
without hesitation
until i sunk to the
bottom
and you burnt your finger.
you didn't mind, though,
said that it burnt my existence
into you,
made you feel my presence.
so i grew brighter
and brighter
and brighter.
but then you burnt yourself
one time too many.
it hurt too much.
it would hurt less to forget.
you forgot my flame,
put me out.
you have forgotten about me now
for far too long,
and i have begun to burn,
everything within me,
around me,
burning to the ground.
you were the oxygen that my flame needed
to burn.
and without you,
i cannot breath.

Hello everyone,

  I'm so very sorry … I feel horrible doing this, but I have no choice. You see, I have published my first book on Amazon/Kindle! This piece (and many others) had to be taken down because they do not allow published material to be available online for free. (Go figure) I wanted to leave the shell of the posts because I felt compelled to leave all your helpful and loving comments. (Silly sentimental, I know), but I also didn't want to just have the pieces disappear without an explanation. I feel bad enough as it is!

  I owe ALL of you so, SO much for all of your reads, love, and support. It was YOU that gave me the gumption to FINALLY get off my **** and publish! Thank you all for the warm comments, camaraderie, and encouragement! I will still be here, reading, uploading and just being the Rascal that I am. How could I EVER leave you guys?

  The book is called “The Way I See It – FictionPhilosophySoul Food” and it will be FREE for the first few days on Kindle Select, so watch for it, if you are interested. I hope that you go and grab it. If you do, I would also hope that you find it worthy, you would leave me a good review. That will help me get in the public eye! Soon afterward (2-3 days or so), it will be available in paperback.

Find the book(s) here: www.amazon.com/author/jeff.gaines

Or find the book(s), and all about me, here: www.JeffGaines.world

  Soon after, I also hope to have my first novel (a supernatural thriller), called “Wanderer” available as well!

  Wish me luck!
Big, Biggest Love,
        Jeff Gaines

Verse 1
Sneak peak at your future-is it warm and bright?
A flash foward that is only for tonight.
Ring a bell for every single sinner-
prepare the gold for our number one winner-
I see you're starved like a wolf without his dinner-
I'll pull out the guide "Assasins for Beginners"
Do you wanna know-Do you want to know
Is it yes or no-is it yes or no
Pull back every arrow
And shoot it through your bow.

Verse 2
I sip every ounce of the satin night.
Like a veil of memory washing out my sight.
Raise a heart for every single loser-
Burn a witch says ever accusor-
I sleep walk all the nights that I am dreamin-
I've got a little secret: my lover is a demon.
Do you wanna know-do you wanna know
Is it yes or no-is it yes or no
Pull back every arrow and shoot it through your bow.

Verse 3
Raise your glass-to the moonlight.
As if your last-no wrong or right.
Is it worth your story to have it all?
No more bruising glory, no more room to fall...
A dark love spell.

What does it mean to be me,
The soul of a brother,
In the light skin of another..
Mulatto.

That biracial boy with white walls
And white bars,
A prison of stolen identity.

White & Black/ Black & White
Day & Night/ Night & Day

I'm the gray and the dusk inbetween

I never can tell the high from the low
It’s almost like each time she starts to go
go from my heart slip from my hands
but when she gets back it’s all according to the plan
our friendship is glass
it can be glued back together but there are still cracks
Every loud scream turns to a whisper
She holds it all against her
No matter what I do
I’m always the bad guy to you