1. Accidental Light *

on your mark, get set…
a million miles past the finish line
my heels lift
at this imaginary starting line.
the trigger slips;
my heart was racing well before it’s time.
time’s running out, it’s always running out on me,
as the road up ahead disappears.

though it’s all been said,
and this empty dictionary is all that’s left,
i’ll try to change the world in a single word.
my hands are shaking, ready or not.
invisible ink well it’s all i’ve got.
so i’ll concentrate and pick from these barren trees.

time’s running out, it’s always running out on me,
and every road i discover disappears under my feet -

some call it reckless, some call it breathing.

have i said too much or not enough?
is it overkill or is it giving up,
to measure out the distance of an echo’s reach?

if it’s all broken mirrors and a chance roll of the dice,
then i’ll risk everything for a glimpse of accidental light.

time’s running out, it’s always running out on me,
and every road i’ve discovered disappears under my feet -

some call it reckless, i call it breathing.

2. From The Ground Up **

one by one the knots we’ve tied will come undone.
like picking locks, we’ll sow our seeds beneath the sun.
our accomplice is the rain,
with patience, that of saints

it grows and grows,
our home sweet home.

it took me 27 years to wrap my head around this-
to brush the ashes off of everything i love.
where courage was contagious, confidence was key.

right as rain, soft as snow,
it grows and grows and grows,
our home sweet home.

we’ll try to document this light,
with cameras to our eyes,
in an effort to remember
what being mended feels like.

we’re home sweet home.

3. Snow

the branches have traded their leaves for white sleeves
all warm-blooded creatures make ghosts as they breathe
scarves are wrapped tightly like gifts under trees
christmas lights tangle in knots annually

our families huddle closely
betting warmth against the cold
but our bruises seem to surface
like mud beneath the snow

so we sing carols softly, as sweet as we know
a prayer that our burdens will lift as we go
like young love still waiting under mistletoe
we’ll welcome december with tireless hope

let our bells keep on ringing
making angels in the snow
may the melody disarm us
when the cracks begin to show

like the petals in our pockets
may we remember who we are
unconditionally cared for
by those who share our broken hearts

the table is set and our glasses are full
though pieces go missing, may we still feel whole
we’ll build new traditions in place of the old
‘cause life without revision will silence our souls

so let the bells keep on ringing
making angels in the snow
may the melody surround us
when the cracks begin to show

like the petals in our pockets
may we remember who we are
unconditionally cared for
by those who share our broken hearts

as gentle as feathers, the snow piles high
our world gets rewritten and retraced every time
like fresh plates and clean slates, our future is white
new year’s resolutions will reset tonight