Umbrella

If you are in a storm, 

let the rain fall as it may, 

and know that a rainbow 

awaits you once the clouds 

float away.

Toxicity

If we do not heal our wounds, 

we will bleed onto those who did not hurt us. 

This saying affects me in ways I did not expect. 

The expectation is the hardest part. 

What it means to be a man. 

Teach me, again, what it means to be a man? 

Who taught you? And who taught them? 

Each meaningless milestone 

is wrought with our creation, 

worthless expectations that are unrealistic. 

It's almost sadistic how we push them onto others and ourselves. 

A toughness that evolves 

only based on fear. 

We wouldn't need toughness 

if there was nothing to fear. 

Why can't we create 

a kindness that permeates 

and settles even the saddest souls? 

And why do we call them wounds 

when it's more like a cancer? 

Infecting generations one after another. 

We are not born equipped to fend off these attacks. 

But we cannot carry on these sins of the past. 

We owe it to ourselves 

to sow and mend ourselves back together. 

Because if we do not heal our wounds, 

we will bleed onto those who did not hurt us, 

forever.

North Star

We can’t mourn 

before we’re asked 

to mourn again. 

We can’t grieve 

before we have to believe 

it’s happened again. 

It's happened again.

We can’t catch our breaths 

before the deaths 

accumulate. 

It’s far too late.

And all the while 

some carry on and smile 

in some acceptance
of the norm.

We can’t live 

our lives worrying, 

I’m told. 

But when we will grasp 

that our inability for empathy 

holds us back 

from being the very kind of people 

our children lack.

It's happened again.

Compassion is the compass 

that will guide us to a place not far 

if we’re brave enough 

to hold compassion 

behind our teeth 

and in our hearts.

Relief

When you reach the time 

when that light turns on, 

when you believe the self-reflection, 

what it tells you, what you see, 

I hope you find the help you need. 

We are not put here 

with the wherewithal to heal, 

or express how we feel. 

One generation can't teach another 

when they weren't taught to deal 

with the single hardest thing there is to do:

confront our trauma 

before it spreads from me to you. 

There is no guide 

to explain 

this cyclical pain. 

And standing up to it can feel 

like standing in front of a train

moving at full speed, 

hoping that you'll be 

the switch track you need. 

But please... 

Know that to not know 

is completely okay, 

as long as you seek the answers 

to the questions that keep you at bay, 

on the edge of pride and peace, 

I hope you finally can begin to find relief.

Little Luna

I see a golden moon tonight, 

large in the distance, 

shining in the dark. 

I think about you, 

my baby girl, 

who I bond with 

in the dark. 

How perfect we named you 

about my favorite part 

of a galaxy so big 

I can't comprehend. 

The moon's glow 

must reflect 

all the sunshine you send.

For Today

You can look ahead 

and reflect on before 

while keeping your feet planted 

firmly on the floor. 

The present is a gift from the past. 

A chance to enjoy 

all you've worked towards 

and a chance 

to make change everlast.

2:11

My mind is a traffic jam 

of words and thoughts. 

I thought I ought 

to write them down. 

But as I approach the scene 

I see a crash, 

so I look 

for another way around.

I hope the kid 

running in full sprint 

as his mom pulls him in 

towards the bus 

they just missed 

gets all that he deserves. 

I hope he has 

more to read 

aside from 

what he sees 

on billboards 

and bus stops.