A handshake
is never just
a handshake
between men
it's the true
sign of respect
looking another
man in the eye
and shaking his
hand lets him
know that you
mean business
that you work
hard everyday
of your life
to take care
of yourself
and others,

that's what
a handshake
means.

Don't show her
the person you
used to be
or the person you
want to be,
just show her
who you are
right now,
and if she's
right for you
her love
will turn coal
into diamonds.

The hard thing
about failing as
an adult is
you can't blame
anyone else for
your own mistakes.
When you're a
child, you can

blame your friends,
siblings, and parents,
but the second
you take a
step outside that
door, and go
out on your
own, that's it.

Your life is
your responsibility and
not anyone else's.
That's a hard
pill to swallow,
but we all
must do it.
Own your life.

There's nothing like
the first time
someone holds you
close to their
heart,

I was 19
in the hospital
getting ready to
be taken away
when,

she held me
so tight I
could hear her
heartbeat in my
ear,

how do I
describe a moment
like that without
tears in my
eyes,

I haven't seen
her since, but
I'm glad to
call her my
*****-friend.

You know
you look
you're most
beautiful when
you sleep,

on this
bus surrounded
by people
you're all
I see,

your dark
hair and
chiseled face
make you
quite handsome,

and I
promise as
we grow
old and
skin wrinkles,

that I
will never
grow tired
of seeing
your face.

I got diagnosed
when I was
13,
mild Asperger's syndrome
what a diagnosis,
eh?
It made sense
to everyone but,
me,

I never thought
of myself as
different,
I only have
a hard time
knowing
what other people
are thinking and
feeling.

I'm on the
spectrum and I
can't
change that but
if this makes
me
unique then I'm
glad to be
autistic.

Hey,
what do you say
if neither of us
is married by
the time we're 30,
then we get
hitched?

We
could have a
small ceremony
with only our
closest family
and friends in
attendance.

I'll
rent a fancy tux
you'll borrow
your mother's old
dress that looks
so beautiful on
you.

We'll
recite our vows
promising that
from this day
forward we'll
always be
together.

Then
the minister
will say, "You
may kiss the
bride." and I
promise not to
cry.

In
that moment
we'll embrace
each other like
never before and
we'll wish it lasted
forever.

Even
if we're not
meant to be,
why not take
a chance on love
with your best
friend?

Don't give up
on romance
just yet.
Reflect on
all the moments
of unrequited love
and believe
when you find
the one
they will
adore you
back.

I know
I have
good friends:
that when
we go
bowling and
I roll
a strike
they cheer.
Then when
I roll
a gutter
ball they
still, cheer.

Everybody
needs someone
to talk to
them.
Today
I met
someone who needed
help.
She
wore a
dress with *****
socks.
I
couldn't ignore
her cry for
attention,
so
I talked
to her about
life.
After
we spoke
she seemed quite
fine,
and
I could
tell she felt
heard.
Take
the time
to show everyone
notice.

A small ladybug
flew on my
kneck,
I felt her
creeping on my
flesh,
she was a
sign of good
luck.
I wish I'd
just set her
free,
but instead I
left her to
die.
Why do I
hurt things I
love?

I've spent
most of
my life
trying to
prove I
don't need
a parental
figure around.

Now I
realize that
a kid
needs someone
to show
them how
to really
grow up.

So when
they leave
the nest
they'll be
ready for
what life
has ahead
of them.

Love your
children as
much as
you can,
then maybe
their live's
won't be
as painful.

How strange
it is when
anyone
shows you
how valuable
you really
are.
I was 11
he was 14
we took classes
together and
he gave me
nothing but
affection.
He talked to me
every day,
we'd play
catch, and
he protected
me from the
bullies.
He then
gathered the
bravery to
ask me out
on a date,
but I wasn't
sure.
So he just
watched me
from afar,
his eyes longing
for me to
return his
love.
Danny
if you're reading
this poem
know that
deep down
I still like
you.

My favorite color is
pink.
I was born biologically a
boy,
but I don't
care.
I like what I
like.

When I was
little,
I played with
girls,
I loved to
gossip,
and had
girlfriends.

Then I got called
tomgirl,
and felt
embarrassed,
so I stopped having
fun;
and found myself all
alone.

Now I wear my
femininity
on my
sleeve
I love the color
pink,
and I don't care who
knows.

I'm thankful for
the cool breeze
blowing in air
through my dry
hair as I
walk back home.

I'm thankful for
those dead leaves
falling to the
ground covering my
feet when I
step under trees.

I'm thankful for
these fleeting days
that cover me
in the darkness
of night as
I lay asleep.

I'm thankful for
sweater weather that
allows me to
bundle up in
my favorite pieces
of warm clothing.

I'm thankful for
Thanksgiving leftovers which
stay in the
fridge till Chrismas
time once again;
still so delicious.

I'm thankful for
the ending of
the old year
and the start
of another one
filled with potential.

I'm waiting
on the day
when I show up
for work,
and someone
tells me
I'm doing
a good job.
I never
understood
how thankless
this job is,
to everyone
punching the clock
I know
your loss.

I want to meet
another person
who I can
stay up all night with
talking about our
dreams.
When it happened
the first time
I couldn't believe it
and I pleaded with God
to not let this twilight
end.
Ain't it how
luck works,
that when I'd
given up searching
I finally found
her.
Looking back
at this girl
I'm ashamed
to say that I
ended up breaking her
heart.
No one warns you
that when
you fall in love
you must care for
someone more than
yourself.
I regret hurting her,
but I don't regret
that night,
because it showed me
that true love
exists.

I'm simply a man
who wants to believe
God loves him,
and that as long as he
tried his best in life
then that means he's
assured a place in
heaven.

Why does this
have to be so
complicated?

Tomorrow
I'm going to do
something
I've never done
before.
I'm really
nervous,
what if I'm left
alone,
and call out for
help?
I understand to
grow
one must work
hard,
that's just a
fact.

Today
everything was
fine
because my
friends
prayed for
me.
It's never too
late
to ask for
help
from folks who
care.
God loves me
much,
so I'm not
afraid
to wait and
breathe.

My college
has dropped me
for lack of
payment.

Being a dropout
by my 21st birthday
was not part of the
plan.

Right now
I'm just a guy
with a dead-end
job.

I hope
you read this,
it's my cry for
help.

I sat down to dinner
and paid for a meal
with money I'd earned
working at Wendy's.

I drank ice-cold sweet
tea,
sipped savory cream
soup,
ate mouth-watering
lasagna,
and nibbled on fruity
cheesecake.

It was a nice meal,
then why did I have
such remorse when
the check came?

I enjoyed myself,
but I couldn't help
feeling like I wasted
my hard earned money.

I stood in line
to vote today.
The time went by
slow,
but I wasn't
alone.
God knows
who each of us voted for,
but at least
we showed up.
All of us want
to make America well,
so we stand in dull lines,
fill out tedious voter cards,
and finally, vote
in the hopes that democracy
would do its job,
amazing.
I'm a proud voter,
and I hope you are too.

Last night I
dreamt that
I loved
somebody
so much
that it
brought me
to tears
when I had
to wake up.


Why can't I
feel sincere
emotions
about the
people I
know in
real life?

I only love
as thru my
dreams.

Even though
I don't like you
anymore,
I still want to
please your
eyes.
Time after time
you draw me
back,
and I'm left
feeling absolutely
helpless.
All I want
is to hear you
say,
"I love you,
and I always
will."

I have realized
that for years
my mother has
gone to work
without so much
as a "thank
you" for all
her hard work.
I can't imagine
how difficult it
was proceeding to
strive every day,
with nobody noticing
she was on
the razor's edge.
In the future
I will strive
to honor her
and the sacrifices
she made in
order to give
my sister and
I a better
type of life.
I will learn
to work for
the good of
others and not
just toward myself.

I bought my first typewriter today
an old Sears Citation,
and I feel proud of myself
because I've taken a solemn step
in my journey to becoming an actual writer.

The keys click with every hit,
I delight in the ink impressing the page,
and I sense God is setting the scene
for when I write my first novel,
and leave the world changed in my wake.

I will take it by the handle
and carry it with through-out this world,
immortalizing people, places, things
anything I've ever seen or felt
will become part of my masterpiece.

Oh if I could imitate my heroes
Hemingway, Yeats, or Bukowski
I'd type away at the keys until
the bones in my fingers broke apart,
then I'd heal and do it all over again.

When I first saw this tool,
I thought it was too good to be true.
How could my dream be so close?
I spent almost every cent I had,
so one day you would remember my name.

I promised myself
after I left work
I'd go home
and take a nap.

That's what I got,
but when I woke up
I felt like I missed my time
and that the moment was gone
like I'd taken all that living
and flushed it down the drain,
if only I could get it back
I'd use this time.

Why I am a stranger to self-love,
and all too familiar with self-hate;
can't I take care of myself
every once in a while?

The best part
of any workday
is the
end of it.
Feeling the numbness
radiating down my legs,
after standing on my feet for hours,
remarkable.
Knowing after working hard
that I'm finally clear
to go about life
as I see fit,
that's
what I call
true
freedom.

It's important
to keep little moments for
composure.
Remembering to
take a beat and
calm oneself
may save the day.
At work,
I was sweeping the floor,
and it felt like
I couldn't get it right,
then I remembered
a song
I hadn't heard
in quite a while.
It's a sad song,
but it brought me joy.
For just a few seconds
I didn't care about
how weak I was
at sweeping,
it was just me
and the melody
moving side by side
like lovers intertwined.
For just a few seconds
the tension became
bearable.

If I could describe
my first day
at work
with one word
I'd say,
overwhelming.

Hopefully, I've made a good impression,
since I came in early,
and stayed later
then I originally planned,
moving quickly on my feet
with sweat on my brow.

There was much to learn
mostly new ways to clean,
I never thought about
how dirt can accumulate
on any surface;
still, I don't know.

My co-workers went about there work,
I did my best to stay out there way,
they did the same,
I think I might have made some friends,
but it's hard to tell
because everybody tells me what to do,

what I never forgot about was
outside the restaurant
there's a whole world still to experience,
and because I have a job
I can afford to live in it
better.

I'm going to keep pushing myself
until I've broken apart,
until I've proved myself,
until I've earned my keep,
this path is my own,
no turning back.

I'm a ******,
there I said it.
I'm not ashamed,
but I'm not proud either.
I don't know why I am this way,
it just hasn't happened to me yet.
I want to though,
with someone who truly cares about me.
I fit the image of the stubborn ******,
who wants his first time to be "special."
I want to look back on it
with no regrets,
doesn't everyone
feel that way?

I did something
selfish
today.
I made my grandma
buy me a 20$ book,
that I didn't need,
simply because
I wanted it.
She'd already
bought me
an expensive lunch,
and the only reason
we were in
the bookstore
was to find a gift
for someone else;
instead,
I made her
buy one for me.
I felt alarmed
at the cash register,
I knew I should of
left the book on the shelf,
that this trip shouldn't be about
me,
but
I did it anyway.
It's true
we all want things,
but sometimes
getting more than
we need,
turns people
into tools
for our use.

The first dollar I made
off writing
came from a friend.
He gave me four dollars
in the hopes, that soon I'd be able
to publish my poems in real ink.
Accepting this gift,
I made a promise to myself that
I'd spend this on my dream.

Going to a job interview
and I'm nervous.
I need this job,
and I need to keep it
this time.
I hope the manager doesn't
see through me,
and figure out
my last job
only lasted
two weeks.

Afterward, it all seemed
ok,
but I hope
this time
I can get
my
act together.

What should I do
with my life?
I don't know,
wish I did.
I'm like a little kid
in a toy store
who can't pick out
what he wants.
So many options
and so little time,
hope I decide
before its too late.

There is one person
in my life,
I wish I could say
these words to:
"Anything in the world
you need
come to me,
and I'll make sure
that you not go
unheard,
but promise
you'll never let
me
spend another night
alone."

What's beautiful
about our
relationship,
is that we're
just
friends,
and I'm
fine with
that,
like even though
I'm not getting
everything
I want
I'm
ok.
I'm just happy
to be in
her life
at all.

Standing in line
at McDonald's,
and I can't
relax.
I know this is
bad for me,
but I put in my order
anyway.
I swallow down my burger
with self-loathing,
it's delicious,
and disgusting.
I walked out
feeling the fat
dissolving into my
soul.

I'm tired,
I need to go on
hiatus.
The book is
complete,
it's time for a
break.
I don't know
if I'll be
the same person
when I come
back,
but like all
good things
it must come to an
end.

I want one moment
in my life,
I can look back on,
and know for certain
that without me
it would have never
existed.
One moment which
lives on in the memories
of my friends and I as
irreplaceable because of my
being there,
I want to live on like a picture
in frame.

A knock at my door, I answered it,
Mom stood in the doorway,
and I was ready for anything,
"Wanna go to Del Sir?' I replied, "Yes."
We partook of flour tortilla tacos,
sweet tea that was far too sweet,
along with a rousing conversation
completing the wonderful evening,
I'm glad I have someone in my life
that I can follow on the drop of a hat,
no matter what,
and not be lead astray.
Whatever my plans were that night,
I gladly forgot them to spend time with
someone I care about more than
anyone else in the whole world.

Have you ever felt
at the core of your being
you've done something so
shamefully
that you had to get on
your feet and walk away?
Like the only way to set yourself
free
is to walk for miles
in the darkness of night,
until you figure out
what's
wrong with you?
So that you'll
never feel like this
again.

I once knew a guy,
and I wanted to be just like him.
Everything he did I took notice,
making sure I'd do the same.
After a while, he figured it out,
and he stopped liking me.
I kept emulating though,
because I wanted to feel like someone else,
I could have followed anyone,
but I chose him.
In the end, I was alone
feeling confused,
and sort of betrayed
I just wanted to be like him.
Now we aren't even friends on Facebook,
here's to fallen idols!

I gave a girl a rose today,
and as I was handing her the flower
I said, "Here you go."
but I could have said much more.
Like, "You are beautiful.
Everyone loves you.
Don't stop being who you are."
but all I did was hand her a rose,
pure and mysterious.

Sometimes when I feel low,
I'll pick out something
I've done wrong, and
obsess over it.
I won't let myself go,
I'll  keep going back
to that moment I messed up,
until it's one in the morning,
and my eyes are too tired to
cry.

I'm sitting in a room
surrounded by other people,
staring at the tv playing
college football.
I try listening to what others are saying,
but the words escape me.
I know two people there,
but it's a couples party;
so that makes me
the third wheel,
alone wishing
I could go home.
What I should do
is get up and talk
to someone, anyone really
instead of sitting in the corner,
but I can barely
keep my composure,
so there I am sitting in a room
surrounded by other people
staring at the tv playing
college football.

I was in the grocery store today,
walking down an aisle with a buggy,
when I got this feeling:
I've been here before,
and I'll be here again soon.
Life is predictable,
we try to add flavor to our lives,
but we always end up back in
the checkout line at Walmart,
buying groceries.
Low prices drag us by our feet
through the door,
down aisles,
and over shelves.
It's not the boredom that bothers me,
it's meaninglessness.
How we can buy the same things
over and over again,
and it doesn't add up to anything,
it will go in the garbage at some point;
so why do we do it?

Saying, "I'm only human."
is not a free pass for horrible behavior,
It's a humble statement meaning,
I am capable of error,
but also capable of good,
it means everybody is
complicated,
both in thought and deed
when we admit to being human
that means we bare with one another's humanity,
however good or bad it might seem.
At the end of the day,
if we can fully admit
to our beautiful brokenness
then no matter where we are in the world
we are always with brothers and sisters.
Fellow warriors in a struggle called,
the human condition.