When the dark spell was broken I began my journey;
I walked to the top of the hill.
I sang a song, along with the spotted towhee.
I saw the world below me and I strengthened my will.

I built my house in the shelter of the deep green valley,
with brick and stone, and a deep blue pool.
Under the stately pine and the swaying palm tree--
I swore to follow no man’s, but my own one rule.

A butterfly flew into my house one morn
and came to rest on my sleeping lips.
Then flew away–you know they don’t live long--
I dreamed a dream of an eternal kiss.

I awoke to find that my guardian angel
was sitting by my bed, singing his song.
“Don’t worry” he said, “I will never leave you.”
“I believe you.” I smiled. But we could both be wrong.

You are knee deep in your toxicity                                                         ­  hoping your hate will steep into me                                                               ­   Submerged  so far that you can't see                                                           that you are no longer affecting me                                                      As  much as it gives you pleasure                                                         ­    I'm  not cracking under your pressure                                                     Life's  lessons weren't made to break me                                             An  army of you couldn't shake me                                                         So  brace yourself for your karmic storm                                                             that's  been churning in you since you were born

When you disrespected our connection,                                                    I  took my love in another direction                                                   Leaving  you lost in your confusion,                                                       ­  left  you to drown in your delusions                                                        ­         I  did my best to remain  positive,                                                ­    despite you creating  a false narrative                                                        ­ Trying to make others see your side,                                                     while  operating from  a sense of pride                                             I  compromised all of my values,                                                          ­     while  you left me to be without  you                                                      planning that in my despair,                                                         ­                        I'd run to you hoping you still cared                                                            ­        You did your best to keep me down,                                                            ­ but now you're looking like the clown                                                     because  of your warped bid for attention                                                        ­               you broke us with your  selfish intentions

Nothing can grow in the darkness                                                         ­            and that's why you've become so heartless                                                        ­                                             In  hibernation licking wounds of rejection                                       unable  to face your mirrored reflection                                               You've  planted poison ivy in your garden of pain                                                             ­                                           that  flourished turning the vines into chains                                now  you've grown with roots so deep                                                           unable to sow, unable to reap

In my efforts to escape your issues,                                                          I'm  left tarnished with the residue                                                          ­                 I gathered up any grace I could salvage                                                       before my heart became more ravaged                                                          ­ I  would rather be humbled than crumbled                                                         ­                                            from  all of the weight of your struggles

You've changed so much, I don't recognize you                                                              ­                                                          We're  so out of touch, maybe I changed, not you                                                              ­                                                            You don't want me to grow, you know it's true                                                             ­                                                           but I already know you don't want me to outgrow you

So, you're finally seeing the truth,                                                           ­         more aware of what's happening with you                                                      You don't have to dress up the hurt,                                                            ­    or rub your wounds with salt or dirt                                                            I've seen you in confusion and despair,                                                feeling like you can't be repaired                                                                  Seek spiritual purification                                                     ­                            not more time in isolation                                                        ­                    find  your purpose and redefine it                                                             center yourself, then seek refinement                                                       ­            This is the dark night of your soul                                                         face yourself or be swallowed whole

To me, you're like an angel, sent by God above,
To cleanse my soul of sadness and fill it with love.
You are my inspiration, and I want to thank you,
For without you, I don't know what I would do.
You've changed my life around
And turned my frown upside down.
You have shown me the way
So that I will never stray.
For this I want to thank you again,
For staying close by and being a friend.
And to end this off, I just wanted to say
That if you need a friend,
I'll be there till the very end.

Someone I loved once gave to me
A box of night, no lock, no key.
I held it close with trembling hands
Not knowing then its strange demands.

It whispered cold, it swallowed light
It taught me silence, sleepless nights.
I cursed its weight, I grieved its cost
A symbol of the love I’d lost.

But seasons turned, as seasons do
And cracks let in a deeper truth.
Within that dark, a seed was sown
A strength I never would have known.

Now looking back, I see it clear
The gift was pain, the gift was fear.
But in its heart, a truth would lift
That even sorrow hides a gift.