(untitled)

 penned at some point in college

I want to leave the Cambridge cold,

return to down-home

hospitality,

a world of

"babe" and "hon"

and easy smiling,

food for the soul.

Dreams envelop me

like aromas wafting from

the kitchen:

us, walking in Memphis

together, hands in

harmony, feet in time

with the Beale Street Blues.

Loving the endless summer,

days dragging on

like cicada songs,

knowing that truly

I am home.

wait

 penned sometime in 2007.

they told me to wait.

and i sat

twiddling my fingers,

rolling my eyes,

resisting their voices

ringing true in my head.

i couldn't take anymore, so

i stood and fought,

forced the tides to turn

for me, myself, and my

restless mind.

but my soul was never

satisfied...i kept fighting,

sacrificing sense to appease it.

soon, there stood a hole

at the bottom of my heart.

as i collapsed, weak from

a war but wearing of warnings,

that incessant voice from

above and inside

whispered one word:

"WAIT."

unclenching my fists,

willing myself to be still,

i succumbed to the word

that has never left,

but always waited for me--

the one i ignored in the begininng.

now i feel my strength returning,

i see a warm horizon that i

never thought i'd see.

fate has forgiven my

failure to follow

the faithful voice.

i shall wait

for the sun to rise...

instead of forcing it to myself.

印象 (inshō, impression)

If only success
Made a bigger impact than
Times I missed the mark.

dress down

We spend so much time
Putting bows on brokenness
Wrapping pain up in pretty paper
Adding sparkle to scars

Not realizing that
Decoration doesn't add value and
Hiding behind highlights is
Only temporary

Flaws can only be fixed if they're seen
Hurt only heals when it's acknowledged

Protection from every injury impedes progress

Sometimes the things that sting are the things that save you

ECHOING ICARUS

I’m too close.
I know it.

But I can’t
step away from
the fierce desire
to protect you
from your demons
and your plagues
even though it’s
not my place.

You are suffering.
I am sick
to my stomach
with this knowledge.

And I would
blur boundaries and
defy logic and
attack the sun
to heal you
even though I
am fully aware
of the futility.

I know it.
I’m too close.