Resist

Resist the urge to be mean

to yourself. Love yourself.

Be yourself. Tell those voices

to be nice, and don’t think

twice about silencing sounds,

words, or comments that bring

you down. You are amazing.

You are great. You are different.

You are meant to be special.

You are all the world needs.

Resist the urge to be the same.

You are rare. Uniqueness must

remain. Feel alive and well.

You still have stories to tell.

Don’t give in to bad thoughts.

Resist. Time can’t be bought.

Being yourself can’t be taught.

One Left

At the start, there were many
just like me: a town full of us.
Now, my heart stays empty.
A store once stood where I
am standing. A church, once
alive, has been laid to rest.
A school that once thrived
is now a page in the history
books. A hospital that once
stood strong is long gone.
Many fled the tiny town,
and some stayed to face
the inevitable destruction
coming their way. Lives
were lost in the small war.
All I could do was watch
as fire surrounded, leaving
me stranded. Many years
later, there is only one left.
I am the man who made it.
I survived life’s greatest
test, and I see the world
for what it is. I am blessed
to be the only one left.

A Better Me

I want to be a better me.
I want to change, evolve.
There are mysteries
I need to solve.
Stronger, wiser, better –
I want to be sunny
weather. I can see
a better me in the days
ahead. I want to be
well-read, well-spoken:
well said. I want to be
well. One day, believe,
you will see a better me.

All Rise

When we all rise,
it won’t be a surprise.
When we all rise,
we avoid what lies.
When we all rise,
we remove our disguise.
When we all rise,
we can see the sky.
We have risen
for many reasons.
We all will rise
during the seasons.
From the ground below,
I feel no sorrow.
We all will rise
today and tomorrow.
Nothing is easy
on this journey.
We all have fallen;
now, we all must rise.
Just look toward the sky
one more time.

Birds on a Wire

There we are – hanging in the balance,

talking about the struggles we face.

High in the sky, we search for solace

and make each other slow the pace.

I do not know how I got here,

but I know it is best for me.

High in the sky, I show no fear;

I stay in a place that is so free.

We all suffer from different pains

and how we continue is a mystery.

We all look at people and at things

and make sure to impact history.

The flight I traveled has taught me

how to love no matter the weather.

The life I have lived made me see

it may get bumpy, but it gets better.

Birds on a wire, we chirp away

to remind each other how to love.

Birds on a wire, we face the day;

and bless skies with sounds from above.