1. Dear True Love *

dear true love,
i’m a writer without any words,
i’m a story that nobody heard
when i’m without you.

i am a voice,
i am a voice without any sound.
i’m a treasure map that nobody found
when i’m without you.

dear true love,
i’m a lantern without any light,
i’m a boxer much too afraid to fight
when i’m without you.

so with this ring
may you always know one thing:
what little that i have to give,
i will give it all to you.
you’re my one true love.

i am a memory,
i’m a memory bent out of shape,
a childhood already bruised with age
when i’m without you.

dear true love,
i’m an artist without any paint,
i’m the deal that everyone breaks
when i’m without you.

so with this ring,
may you always know one thing:
what little that i have to give,
i will give it all to you.

you’re my one true love.

i am a whisper,
i’m a secret that nobody keeps.
i’m a dreamer of someone else’s dreams
when i’m without you.

dear true love,
i’m a farewell that came all too soon.
i’m a hand-me-down that dreams of being new
when i’m without you.

2. Land Or Sea **

one day we’ll wake up and realize-
to make any difference one must simply try.
try to use words less than our hands,
for change is a direct result of our plans.

we’ve got no stakes in the ground.
we’ve got no anchors tied down.
land or sea, there are no guarantees here, we know,
there is nothing but our fears of being free.

it feels deeper than any ocean floor,
our lungs no longer believe in any shore.

so let’s dry out our clothes and catch our breath.
our process implies our progress.

we’ve got no stakes in the ground.
we’ve got no anchors tied down.
land or sea, there are no guarantees here, God knows,
there is nothing but our fears of being free.

finally, there’s a mountain beneath us.
but up here our lungs fight against us.
land or sea, there are no guarantees here.
God knows there is nothing but our fears.

3. Learning Curve

i had a good dream-
we built a home.
it was far from perfect,
but we made it our own.

we lived a good life,
we gave and we borrowed.
it was far from perfect,
but we made it our own.

when everything around us changed, we felt okay.
no learning curve could ever bend us too far out of shape.

when we took one step forward, and five steps behind,
we were still more than able to walk a straight line.

we had a white picket fence in the front yard,
where our grass was plenty green.
every window in our house
welcomed in the sun’s company.

we had hardwood floors and unlocked doors,
our glass was plenty full.
though our bills were only barely met,
our hearts were plenty whole.

when everything around us changed, we felt okay.
no learning curve could ever bend us too far out of shape.
when darkness was the price of light, we weren’t afraid.
for the time we’ve spent was more than worth
any interest that we’ve paid.

we lived a good life, a good life,
when my eyes were closed.
though the question marks were all the same
and the burdens never left,
we gambled everything we loved,
as though there was some kind of safety net.

when everything around us changed, we felt okay.
no learning curve could ever bend us too far out of shape.
when darkness was the price of light, we weren’t afraid.
for the time we’ve spent was more than worth
any interest that we’ve paid.

and when my good dream
came to an end,
i woke up more than ready to bend.