Pieces of the human soul become blended
like potions in a cauldron. The body
houses a soul once whole. Like a puzzle,
pieces of the past stick to new memories.
Love is the glue that holds together
parts of my heart once severed. Days
go on: the present becomes the past. Life
slows down only when we do. It’s true;
the glass we look through is fragmented:
a mosaic of sorts. Lines often blur. Things
don’t seem to fit. There’s a growing list.
You will be okay. Do as you once wished.
Don’t forget to take your time
before someone takes it for you.
Breathe. Relax. This game is life
goes so fast. Smile. Laugh. Sit
back before the chickens hatch.
Enjoy your time and others will
too. Take your time. Go. Live
your life, and I will live mine.
Together, we can take small steps
on the stairwell to eternity. Then,
we will know how it feels to be
free. Look ahead: not at a watch.
Forget all that you were taught.
Don’t rush. Be patient. Say that
it will work out. Say that
it will be fine taking your time.
Once a night, the Boogeyman visits
kids who stay up, kids who are bad,
and kids who don’t believe. Under
the bed and inside your head,
the Boogeyman creeps around.
The Boogeyman lurks without
a sound. He hangs around. He
waits for the perfect moment
to become visible. He attacks
in the dead of the night when
the parents cut off the light.
During the day, the Boogeyman
takes the shape of a politician,
a teacher, a secretary, a mom,
a dad, a pastor, a police officer,
or a homeless man under
the bridge. The Boogeyman
returns to his true form after
he conforms. Beware of his
gaze. Don’t make eye contact
as it serves as an unwritten
contract. Have no fear. Don’t
be scared. All you need to be
is aware. Sleep tight tonight.
If something doesn’t feel right,
get up and turn on the light.
You don’t have to be literate
to read the room. You don’t
have to know how to sweep
to use a broom. You don’t
need feet to own shoes.
Rooms are like books on
a shelf. People are like words
on a page. Sometimes, it takes
awhile for some to open up.
Each person has their own
definition of life. Views
and perspectives differ.
Beauty is in the eye of
the beholder. Lessons
are learned and days
grow shorter as we get
older. You don’t need
a folder to read the room.
Open your eyes and look
around. Take it all in
as you read the room.
From womb to the tomb,
leave no room for regret.
Read the room and learn
how fires burn. Read
each person’s face. Learn
just how the world turns.
Whatever you decide to do,
know that it is better to
read the room than to
leave the room. Look.
We can all be open books.
I am the leading actor
in this movie of life.
The cameras are rolling
all day and all night.
The scenes are shot
from my eyesight
with or without light.
The film developed
is stored in my brain.
There are no ‘cuts’ or
‘do-overs’. The camera
keeps rolling whether
sleeping or bowling.
As my movie finishes,
my memory diminishes.
Once the movie is made,
all things in life fade.
Only if you saw behind
the scenes, you would
understand the man
that I am. You would
see all that I was:
the good, bad, and ugly.
See me for me and look
for all the good things
that I am and will be.
IN YOUR DREAMS POETRY 