Lean into the Gravity

See my understanding eyes

I practice in the mirror so

I know they look right

This, I fear, may be a bitter path

Lean into the gravity and land

You won't budge, oh, mountainside

Oh, redwood tree whose roots run wide and

Should you bend, you snap right back

Unchanged except stronger, perhaps

You're just a blue jay

You just push and take

Impose your will again

See these hands

They smell of books

Mischievous and underfoot and

I will cross your snowy peaks

I'll roll your stones and leap your streams

You won't change

It's like blood from a stone

The blood will be my own

Stillbreathing

I can be alone in the smallest space 

My breath still breathing me 

And everything’s at peace 

But you grapple with uncertainty and 

You’re afraid what you love could leave 

And that could be. 

It’s a possibility. 

And you wonder how to own my feelings - 

Circumstantially direct my leanings 

Back to you, in orbit ‘round your moon 

No butterfly net, 

No leather leash, and 

No diamond ring 

Can hold me in. 

I’m like the tide; I come and leave 

I come and leave just as I please 

I can be alone or I can share my space 

The earth still firm beneath 

And everything’s at peace 

But you long for more stability and 

Also dread that you could lose something 

And that could be. 

I won’t minimize your fear. 

And you love the way I make you feel and 

You’re so desperate to keep me within reach of you - 

As something to consume 

Overflow, spilling on the floor 

My heart makes such a mess 

I fiercely love you only more 

The more you acquiesce

Say Yes

Yes. You’ve got to say yes

Please just trust me

You won’t regret it

Free of the wheel you will be!

Or, work til work is done

And die to escape the world and it’s suffering

Or, you can sing along

Here, this way out!

You shouldn't have to suffer like that.

Or, work til work is done

And die to escape the world and it’s suffering

Or, you can sing along

That wasn’t what you thought you’d hear

Or, work til work is done

And die to escape the world and it’s suffering

Or, you can sing along

Cruel

Four Four lacking in self control

Four Four dancing by the front door

Does Four Four need his reasons known?

No, Four Four doesn’t need much.

We gather joy in a heap

Another for our worries

We quantify them this way,

Measured out and on display

And who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Tell me, who’s so cruel

And who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Tell me, who’s so cruel

Four Four lacking in self control

Four Four dancing by the front door

Does Four Four need his reasons known?

No, Four Four doesn’t need much.

Who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Who’s gonna chase you while you’re running away?

Who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Who’s gonna chase you while you’re running away?

And who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Tell me, who’s so cruel

And who’s gonna knock ‘em down?

Tell me, who’s so cruel

Golden Trophies

Someone’s been doling golden trophies

Graciously, I receive

To place on the mantle with the others

Everything’s easy for me.

Trees lean to give me shade.

Sun waits till I’m awake.

My books are balanced to within a penny.

My touch can calm babies.

Envied by my enemies.

Is this what you see when you’re looking at me?

I’m the reason that you should give it up.

Give it all up.

How could you compete with me?



This invention, while convenient, is pure deceit.

It is not me.

Nor, is it fair, this casual dismissal of my efforts.

I’m the reason that you should give it up.

Give it all up.

Am I the excuse that you need?

Comparing outsides to your insides only works,

To defeat yourself again.

Comparing outsides to your insides only works,

When you defeat yourself again.

Someone’s been making up excuses,

Selfishly using me.

Now I’m the whip to beat yourself with,

Giving up is so easy.

Someone’s been lax in dedication,

Hoping that hope’s plenty.

Lazy and full of good intentions,

Giving up is so easy.

Keep Your Voices Raised

Keep your voices raised

Keep your voices raised

Remembering that they lived

Keep your voices raised

We predicted this, now we’re living it.

Will we know success when it is biting in?

And we won’t forget why we came

Keep your voices raised.

And you said it was easier

Now it’s easy to see

Maybe easier is still not easy

Chin level and with shoulders back,

Fists up to the sky, voices high

We won’t stop

We won’t quit

What we’re fighting for,

It is worth it

Keep your voices raised

Keep your voices raised

Remembering that they lived

Keep your voices raised

Everyone you know one day will die

Could you

Diverted on my journey home 

I took a longer way around

For a hope, a chance, a glimpse of you

Hardly there, I hear my heart beat

Horrified, I’m sure you hear it

Naked with intentions all see-through

You could love me.

You could love me.

You could try at least.

And could you love me?

Could you love me?

Could you try at least?

Futilely I’m standing there,

Waiting for something to happen

Wise, or dumb, or smart enough not to

Ring your bell and call your name out

Run the stairs three at a time

To your room

Up to your room

You could love me.

You could love me.

You could try at least.

Could you love me?

Could you love me?

Could you try at least?

See the face of the one you’ve hurt most of all

Futilely, I’ll be outside

Soft rock

I have no map

No one to ask

I’m flailing wildly

For something to catch

I need some eyes outside of me

To give a boundary to my bleed

I need some edges just for me

To push on

A stronger girl

Wouldn’t feel like this

But I’m not her

And I can’t help it

There is no one to help me

And it’s not easy on me

You hold comparison points 

For me to lose to

And it’s all on me to save this thing

Because you say the problem’s in my head 

And though I might try it might not get

Any better 

A stronger girl

Wouldn’t feel like this

But I’m not her

And I can’t help it

And though I try

It might not get better

When you hold the thing

Against which I measure

———————-

The State She’s In

We hardly know her

The places she’s been

But we sit in judgement 

Of the state that she’s in

If she could just tell us

Is that what we’d need

Does she have to earn our precious empathy?

Will you hear her?

Will you reach?