I met you
with a box of tissues
in the parking lot
just after midnight.
I’ll never forget
the tears that fell
landing on blacktop
and soaking into earth.
And the way you held tight
asking me never to let go
at least for tonight
to dry the tears that flow.
I’ll never forget what it was like
to hold you even for a moment
knowing that when the tears dry
I’d go back to living my lie.
Today time will spring ahead
leaving a whole hour in the dust.
That’s an hour I could have had in bed
to sleep and snooze as I must.
So now I must find a way instead
to rework my schedule and adjust.
I think I’ll spend the whole day in bed
sleeping through this distrust.
I keep the car moving,
at least to put on a good show,
and hope that the brakes work
whenever I finally need to slow.
The rearview mirror is torn off
and white knuckles grip the wheel
hoping to make it just one more mile
before the belts start to squeal.
My foot presses down
and blurry images fill my sights.
I only hope I won’t miss the exit
driving with no headlights.
Lies are all you shared,
“to make it easier on me.”
The truth was too harsh
but not impossible to see.
Lies are all you know
so who is really to blame?
The liar who started the fire,
or the one who fed the flame?
Time waits for no one,
best to keep your minutes close
since Death waits for all.
With so much stacked against me
the odds were never in my favor
but still I rise out of the ash,
my strength, it will not waver.
I may not know what to do
and where to go is still a haze,
but against all odds I will fight,
I will always have my ways.
Moonlight breaks through the trees
not casting light, but creating shadow
and splaying eerie images
across the ancient stones
that mark the final resting place
of old and rotted bones.
If you ever asked,
I would never really tell,
but I have this favorite toy
that I love so well.
It’s not a mouse or bird,
nor does it crunch or ring,
it holds no catnip at all
but I sure can make it sting.
It’s not a red dot that you
expect me to chase up a wall
but sometimes the color red is present
if I can make my big toy fall.
Have you figured it out yet
about what I like to do
since after all my favorite toy
looks an awful lot like you.
There always seems to be
a smile upon your face
no matter what life brings,
a certain cheer, you embrace.
This cheer it is contagious
and you infect all around
with such love and excitement;
your energy runs abound.
So since today we celebrate
the day of such a special birth
it’s time we repay the favor
and show you all you’re worth.
That look still lingers in your eye
from when we had other reasons
to stay up all night.
And all these hateful words
pour from the putrid wounds
caused by love.
We each know just how to twist
the knives we stab in places
we used to kiss.
But even still, you look so good
as I watch you walk out
of my heart.
And that look still lingers in my eye.
Perhaps we could find another reason
to stay up tonight?
Autumn Siders 