watching the walk

we think
we're being watched
by friends and family

supporting us 
all the way

but we forget
we're being watched
by strangers and someones

walking beside
falling behind

people who want
to say something good

but don't know how

people who sense
the pain in your eyes

and all they can do
is open a door

pick up
your fallen newspaper

smile
for a little moment

and chase
the shadows away

with their little kindnesses
they bring the sun
closer

for just a moment more

before the cold comes back again

poem inspired by: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-6   (challenging sometimes...but fun!)

disguise

the gentle touch of
who she was
belied the fact of
who she became

when she discovered the thorns

only the beginning

it was at the
staff Christmas party
when i first saw you

tinsel sparkling
in your hair

you were dancing
to that one pretender's song

(not the one with the pocket
but the other one)

you bobbed
and weaved
a dance that ali
would be jealous of

babbling
quite forcefully
between the beats
about the fact
that there was
only one kind of
doritos

(all the rest were impostors)

i watched
from my corner
of the world

safe behind my
bourbon and coke

and for one second
i could hear someone
whisper

"run away."

but i didn't

i stepped forward
into your light




.....it was all over for me after that

poem inspired by: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-5   (come on in-- the water's fine)

once upon a time

once upon a time
there was a boy
who tried

for the girl who cried

and he always knew
what to say
and he always knew
what to do

to make the shadows
go away

but soon he grew tired
of being the savior

the one always in need

and he found
just what to say
and he found
just what to do

to allow himself
to slip away

and be himself again

poem inspired by:  http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-4  (come join in)

with you

wasn't sure
what i did

to get you

wasn't sure
who i was

around you

wasn't able
to see
what was happening
to me

but i knew
i couldn't be

without you

in the quiet
of the storm

i heard you

in the quiet
of your voice

i felt you

the promise in
what you said
dried the tears
that i shed

there is no more
to dread

i am with you

i am with you

poem inspired by: 

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-3

(try to write a poem this month :) )

every step of the way

i tried
to let go
of my fears

surrendering
control of
what i was

listening, and
questioning

every step of the way

you knew
to listen
to my fears

controlling
with compassion
and wisdom

you comforted, and
answered

every step of the way

and even though
the foolish me
still panics in
the heart

there's the start
of a cure in me

growing, and
reviving

enticing me to
find my day

every step of the way

poem inspired by:
 http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-2
(come try a prompt this month :) )

timed

the day after
the moment before
a part of the script
unplanned

the time to-gether
before we're apart
a line in the book
unwritten

all moments timed
on broken clocks
a future in the making
unscheduled

just waiting to be 
discovered

poem inspired by: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-1 (come try it, too!)