Smoker
I started smoking,
Trying to let it take my breath away,
Like you did long ago.
But it’s just not the same.
The addictiveness in my brain
Of your love
Blocks out the nicotine
And fills my lungs with the cancer of your love
Once again.
© JTL 2012
Falling Sky
These moments of silence
Are enough to last me
A lifetime
Of regret and frustration.
Please do a falling sky
One last honor,
Shine your rays once more
For me
So that my caving roof
Of clouded mistakes
Can be washed away.
A clear sky
State of mind
Can be what crumbles
To earth instead.
© JTL 2012
Letter to Myself
To:
Everything That I Was
I’m sorry…
It was a good run, but,
I think the both of us know…
This way is better for me,
And you have to let me go.
From:
What I’ve Become
© JTL 2012
Stone
I’ve built up walls
Kept my thoughts bleak
Specters creep in
And the walls become weak
I’ve aligned my scars
Neat for them to see
Hoping my past
Is enough pain to let be.
Yet they still advance
Towards my old heart
As I can’t resist
They pull me apart.
My mind crashes down
My soul stands alone
At long last, my core
Already cold as stone.
© JTL 2012
Minutes to Minutes
“Minutes to minutes
All for this lust
Don’t know your name
You know my disgust
In this place
You know I wanna get out
You take my hand
Lead me about
Through the back door
We leave this place
The glow of dim streetlights
Illuminate your face
Weeks to weeks
Months to months
You sleep in my arms
I feel like we’ve rushed
Into things together
I’d call you my spouse
Only to spend the weekend
At his boathouse
In his arms you slept
Saying its ‘nothing you planned’
As I sat there broken
With the ring in my hand
Years to years
All my mistrust
You took it from me
Like leaves in a gust
Of wind in a field
Clearing the plains
Wish it’d sweep my mind
Clean of your name
That I can’t stand
To hear in my head
As I sleep cold
Alone in my bed.”
© JTL 2012
Fireworks
I look into her eyes and I see the stars
Fireworks cry out, overshadowed by far
The light’s work shines and reflects in her pools
Just as red and blue gems and jewels
No need to light ‘works to make it shine
We just need each other, your heart and mine
Hand in hand love fuels the sparks
Brighter than anything lit off at the park
Why would I need more in July?
When I have my personal firework here by my side
Hip to hip and head to head
I whisper “I love you”, my lips are read
Laying there with you in my arms
You’re my own personal good luck charm
Anything’s possible, we both agree
Anything’s possible, just you and me
© JTL 2012
Smoker
I started smoking,
Trying to let it take my breath away,
Like you did long ago.
But it’s just not the same.
The addictiveness in my brain
Of your love
Blocks out the nicotine
And fills my lungs with the cancer of your love
Once again.
© JTL 2012
Mistakes
Why must we lie?
Testing our patience with reality,
As if making a little fiction was
A mistake.
One small lie would destroy
The very fibers of the soul.
Which way
Is up anymore?
A fragile cardboard box
Stowed away in the attic
With my honor inside.
A brave knight quivering,
At the sight of an arrow,
Pointing its way home.
Consumed in regret, past mistakes
One small lie.
The truth is
A flickering candle in a hurricane.
Try to relight it.
Fail once more.
© JTL 2012
Masks of Midnight
Should I take back
Everything I’ve ever done
To make sure these days
Haven’t spent my last regrets?
I have too many faces
To use up my masks
On nonsense
Like a star’s affection.
One that has incubated for years
In the mauve, midnight sky.
© JTL 2012
Interlocked Fingers
You’ve stolen my heart
That’s truly a fact
It’s been taken away
I don’t want it back
I’d like you to have it
Hold it in love
It fits next to yours
Like a hand in a glove
Dance with you
Whether shine or pour
We’ll dance the rain
Who could ask for more?
We’ll ride the droplets
With your hand in mine
Reach for the clouds?
I’m on cloud nine
Been there so brief
Yet it seems so long
I’ll smile all day
As the heart sings songs
If only earlier
Our stars crossed ways
In this Milky Way galaxy
I’d search for days
Together with you
Passing stars on the ride
No beauty compares
To you by my side
I know it will stay
As my love will linger
‘Till the day we hold hands
With interlocked fingers.
© JTL 2012
