Pinks

He used a mix of pinks
                  and purples
        against the blue
       in the early yellow
                        orangey sun.

Such a startling contrast
              to the blinding summer –
       a beautiful
          unique sight
                     on an October morning.

When you can actually see
              the sky,
        it's incredible to experience
              how specifically He paints it!
 

Sun

This haze
   this hole
        no exit
        no control

You’re sinking
          stuck
   no way to know
       which
           way
                is
                   up

Crawling in glue
        it’s deja vu
   this returning hell
             in its yearly spell

Unbending
         neverending
     it’s blinding
         binding
             not worth fighting

It’s incapable
   of remorse
You’ll be
   torched
   scorched
        in its force

It’s diabolical
   straight illogical

Cracking streets
    in its rotting heat
      it   re a  c  h   e  s
                 pulls
                     sucks   your     soul

It steals life
        with delight

It’s not your brain
You’re not insane

It’s not the end – 
      not again

It hasn’t won
It’s just the sun
    just the sun
    just
    the
    sun

Adventuring

I love
     adventuring
          with him
     exploring new things
                   new places
        and returning
                   to places
                           we loved
     remembering previous experiences
         and creating new ones.

It’s not always perfect
          of course
     and it’s not always easy.

But I enjoy
       spending time
          with him
             and just
       being
          with him.

Whips

The wind
                pushes     its way in
     bullies the tree limbs
         w
              h
                    i
                p
              s
           the branches around
     and shakes the leaves off
          making it appear to be
               much cooler outside
                          than it is
     while the intense heat
          forces its way
               toward us
               enveloping us
               kicking up dust
                      and debris
                causing the air quality to
                    p
                    l
                    u
                    m
                    m
                    e
                    t
     as hell moves in
               again

Hear

I have no desire
     to      fill      up      the      space
               with my words
          when there is no reason
               to say
                  anything.

No one else
     needs to hear
          me say something
                    just to hear it
        and I don’t
           need to hear
                my own voice
                    just because.

I speak up
     when
       or
     if there is something
          worth saying
                        or
                    hearing.

But if nothing
     needs to be said,
          others can contribute their part
              or
          we can just
                     let the silence be
                        and enjoy
                            the breath
                                       it gives us all.

Middles

Beginnings
     are tough

                    Endings can be
                             maddening

Sometimes I            rush

           through

           the

           m
           i
           d
           d
           l
           e
           s

           get everything      out there

     then
          revise
                         r
                            e
                       a
                         r
                            r
                        a
                            n
                              g
                           e
                                 redo

     or read through it
           and delete
                   all of it
                   (or want to)

     start over
           with another rough
              beginning

     reconstruct
     rinse
     repeat
          as needed

Fiery

I had never known you
          to be a liar
   but I learned the truth
               when the sky was on fire

You promised
     there was nothing to fear
          yet your muted subtext
                    was all I could hear

Even then your words
     stood out as a lie
                    suspended against
                              a vengeful sky

Were you lying
     to yourself as well?
  Or merely deciding
       which lie to tell?

I was desperate to believe
     fully knowing that was naïve
          since I saw contradiction
               in your subtle fiction

You had made your choice
                              long ago

Your promise shattered
     on the rocks below
          while the fiery sky
                    turned quiet and grey

You had already
               gone away

Belgium

He was talking about
     how many of his dreams
          take place in Belgium.

It made me wonder
     where my dreams usually take place.

Perhaps anywhere,
     as if there could be
          a green screen
               that changes backgrounds
                            on the stage
                                 behind the action
                        with different cities
                                            climates
                                            countries
                                            times
                                            rules –
                                               some realistic
                                               some f
                                                          a
                                                     n
                                                  t
                                                   a
                                                       s
                                                     t
                                                    i
                                                       c
                                                          a
                                                                l.

As if any of it
     could actually be real.

Or could it?

Because when you are discussing dreams
                   while within
                              a dream,
     it can be tough to know
          what actually tethers you –
                  and to where
                            what
                        or when.

Fall

It’s those small moments.

The colors
     of the leaves
          as they change

                and
                    f
                  a
                     l
                   l
             to the ground.

The bird
     that perches
          on the streetlight
               before flying away.

The reflection
     of the sunrise
          on the barely wet pavement.

The wind blows
     and the season
          is gone
               yet again. 

Goodbye, fall.

Our time
     was too short
          and I will miss it.

Refer

Just breathe.

And then do it
     again
       and
     again.

Repeat
     as often
     as needed.

When you think
     you can’t
        get through
             the next moment,
                 remember
                 this.

And when
     you find yourself
                 here yet again,
                      refer to
                      the above.