My Sister

You left me.
You left me and there was nothing I could do
about it.
Like when we were kids,
at the grocery store,
you said you'd be right back.
And I felt your
hand and you told me
I was fine.
Then we left
together.
You were always strong like that.
You never
worried about getting lost or going against
something bigger than
yourself.
Or at least that's how you portrayed yourself to be.
I should've seen it.
The masqueraded pain
blanketed
by bliss.
How far can a smile really go?
How long can it last?
Now all I see are empty stares
Unaware
of your surroundings,
your affect on people.
Stop trying to be perfect,
Just be yourself.
I will always be here
Waiting
waiting
patiently waiting
For you
to come back
to me.
And I can feel your hand
again
telling me everything will be
fine.

For the Love of the Sea

I stand wearily and gaze into the cloudy mystery
Confused about what is present and what is history
Piercing my lips at her infinite glory
One by one she takes for her merciless story

The ocean is as teal as the eyes of my beloved
Who left for love of the sea that I irreparably covet
The crashing white caps of each wave on the shore
Sound as painful as a man who does not love me anymore

The smeared orange horizon smirks against the tumbling waves
As the seductive sea echoes with the souls of her trapped slaves
A warm breeze engulfs me making me yearn for his embrace
Staring into the deep blue, I can almost see his fading face

Without hesitation I curse her under my breath
For she and she alone controls the outcome of life and death
So I toss and turn against the weight of probability
Wondering when and if he will ever come back to me.

Little sister advice

Grace (little sister):

I just wanted you to know
That no matter how fast you grow
From your smiles high and your frowns low
I will stay, but men come and go

It's a simple word, not yes, but no
You don't have to reveal your above and below
Just for loving words, you give them a show
From you're pretty blonde head to your pinky toe

You're somebody's special, you'll find your beau
No need to waste your time with some Joe Shmo
Live life full, but take it slow
Let your heart learn, not reap what it sows

You're my best friend, my one plateau
I look up to you more than you know
Even if you seem to be my shadow
Without you Grace, life would be hard to swallow

Bridal shower suitcase "basket"

The suitcase (used as a basket)

"Enjoy the Journey" sign

Italian Room diffuser scent

Luggage Tags

London Kettle Corn

Belgian Chocolate

French inspired photo album

French Journal

German Conversation Book (Vintage/From the 1930's)

German Wine & maybe some German beer bottles

Life's Basket

As you begin on this lengthy travel

There are things you will need here to unravel

So come take a look in your basket suitcase

And with each object, take place to place

We’ve packed up and folded your memories

You’ll take each laughter and smile overseas

You don’t have to worry about men or heartache

Just remember when you leave, don’t forget to take

This Italian diffuser with a rugged scent

To go where you’re headed and stay where you went

The smell of beginning down a different path

Where in Europe, you never have to take a bath

Luggage tags to prove the places you’ve been

To carry your happiness and burden each sin

To journey with you every step of the way

From your bachelorette party to your wedding day

London kettle corn with its sweet salty taste

To remind you of life of which you will not waste

Give in to the crunch of reality

Leave kernels behind of all the places you see

Belgian Chocolate with its flavors so rich

Every image you perceive, with this, will enrich

All the glorious statues, museums, and such

You can even store it in a fabulous clutch!

And look at this French photo album book

Browse through the pages and take a look

Your friends and family reflecting back at you

The struggles and achievement they got you through

And then a French journal for you to write

About your journey on foot, train and flight

The variety of languages, people and sounds

Your pen and paper will display your ground

Lastly here is a book for German conversation

For shopping, talking, and restaurant contemplation

Try out all the German beers and wine

Relax, have fun, be intertwined

Just never forget to enjoy the travel

With marriage and life, from smooth roads to gravel

Whatever lies for you around the bend

With friends and love, it works out in the end.

Let Go

You don’t know why I hide behind

These ironclad-like walls

Shielded by my disposition

Roaming the empty halls

I trained myself to keep distance

From those who got too close

Protect myself from suffering

From those who loved me most

My leather skin had served me well

Blocking all temptation

My guard then fell but all I felt

Was intimidation

You bring hope, bliss, and beginning

I’ve never felt this way

You provide a different path

That makes me not afraid

No more should I hide from taking risks

Or be scared to live off faith

To jump without having control

To give in to love’s cliché

Save my judgment and revolt

There’s nothing I have to prove

I couldn’t want anything more

Than to only be with you

Absent

Remember those times from long ago
When we used to play outside
A moment in time we thought was slow
Now dashes and zooms right by

Those days when dirt stuck under our nails
And we had nowhere to be
Instead of waiting for a signal that fails
We waited for immortality

Our silence was once filled with laughter
Now replaced by a ringtone
Together we knew what we were after
But now I just stand alone

It used to be fun watching our shows
When you were always around
Now I witness our bond decompose
Your head that is constantly down

A lightning bug used to keep you perplexed
By its magic animation
Now it's excitement from a lit up text
That stole your imagination

Our eyes once outlined each fickle cloud
While we laid in mounds of grass
I wish I'd known time only allowed
An instant for a memory to last

The world we know is an ongoing game
I miss you sitting next to me
But things will never be the same
Since the introduction of technology

I refuse to cry over you tonight

All it takes is one text from you
I change my plans even though we're through
I make the drive just to see your face
Just one more kiss to make my heart race

Why do I make the effort to see you
When it just hurts worse every time I leave you
I keep telling myself that I'll be alright
Dammit I refuse to cry over you tonight

I fall right back into what we had
All the memories, good and bad
I hate that loving you is so damn easy
I'm addicted to every way you tease me

Why do I make the effort to see you
When it just hurts worse every time I leave you
I keep telling myself that I'll be alright
Dammit, I refuse to cry over you tonight

Yet I keep on putting myself through pain
Knowing that I have nothing to gain
It's time to move on and leave you behind
I can't keep pushing stop and rewind

No more will I make the effort to see you
I'm finally letting go this time I leave you
I know that life goes on and I'll be alright
I'm done crying over you, I love you, goodnight