The Repressed Student

Five numbers

Branded on arms--

Which are you?

Numbers necessary

To eat, to pass

Repressed class.

Keys are handed

Heavy and cold--

Not to unlock

But to unload.

Mandatory meetings

Happy moments fleeting.

Classes drag on

Attention wanders--

Discipline is sharp

For tired eyes.

The days drag on

With a weary yawn.

Hope comes

Riding the horizon--

A week of sleep

The chance to escape.

Let's run away

For the holidays.

Shades of Fear

It is at night that you can hear

The quiet, chilling sounds—

Ghosts, specters, shadows, shades of fear.

Slim shapes of shadows grow near

At dusk when it is quiet,

But it is at night that you can hear.

Their shapes are distorted, fuzzy, queer,

They swim through unworldly haze—

Ghosts, specters, shadows, shades of fear.

They instill in children an unholy fear

As they sing a haunting tune,

For it is at night that you can hear.

They seem to live off goodwill and cheer,

For they suck it all away—

Ghosts, specters, shadows, shades of fear.

The haunting sounds may bring a tear

For the song is hollow, empty, wild,

And it is at night that you can hear

Ghosts, specters, shadows, shades of fear.

A Lively Jive

Bright blue grass blowing in the wind
Waving back and forth and sighing
A warm breeze is always a friend
The weather is relying in its embrace

The trees sway with the soft sounds
The birds sing along gaily
To the beat the wind resounds
Daily the ants march to the tune

The skies shine so brightly
The blue of the wind and clouds
Mixing with the sun and holding on tightly
The loud colors swirl into softness

Tiny, dainty flowers push from the ground
Shouting out a love for the world
Their harmony resounds
Like an unfurled song sheet

The humm of the bees in the hive
Adds a chorus to the song
The animals dance to a lively jive
And the whole world jigs along

Fallen

The Lord said Breath, and we did.

The Lord said See, and we did.

The Lord said Hear, and we did.

The Lord said Feel, and we did.

The Lord said Taste, and we did.

The Lord said Smell, and we did.

The Lord said Live, and we did.

The Lord said Love, and we did.

The Lord said all things, and we listened.

The Lord said Do Not Sin, and we failed.

The one most important thing

And we failed the Lord.

We were weak; we had mortality;

We had flesh, He had Perfection.

We had words, He had The Word.

He gave to us all things

And we took them for granted.

If only we had listened!

If only we had known!

If only we had loved

Like he had shown us how to love.

If only we had listened!

If only we had known!

If only we had been

Like he showed us how to be.

My Wish

I wish that you could see me

For who I am inside.

I wish that I could be free

From the always-changing tide.

I wish that you would hold me close

And never let me go.

I wish that I could pose

As a friend and not a foe,

But you cannot see me

And the way things could be.

Cannot, Without You

You lie there and I wonder

I hope you feel alright

I’ll stay right beside you

I’ll stay till morning light

Your face looks so peaceful

But your body’s wracked with pain

I try to stay optimistic

But I can’t ignore that bloody stain

Your hands are growing colder

Your breaths become so shallow

The roses in your cheeks fade

Your skin looks so sallow

Please don’t leave me here alone

Please don’t ever go

I cannot live with you

Oh! How I love you so!

Your hands are shaking so much

But I just can’t tell why

I drop it once and gasp

The gasp turns into a sigh

I stare at your sleeping face

Surrounded so by white

There must be something there

That will stay with me and fight

Your eyes flutter slightly

I can feel your flickering pulse

It slowly stops its beating

But no! It must be false!

You cannot leave me here alone!

Please come back to me!

I cannot live without you!

Oh please, can’t you see?

Based on the song "Things Left Unsaid" by Disciple

The Life and Death Brigade

This is the secret society to which we raise our glasses

Cheers to the Life!

Cheers to the Death!

Cheers to the Brigade!

Cheers and cheers and cheers

Forget your fears

This is the Life and Death Brigade

This club is wizened

Ancient and awesome

An illusionist could not summon our roots

The cry is never for idle entertainment

But rather shards, flame, fire

Fuse us together

Fuse us into this Brigade

The secret society to which we raise our glasses

Cheers to the Life!

Cheers to the Death!

Cheers to the Brigade!

Cheers and cheers and cheers

This is the Life and Death Brigade