Was, Is, Will Be

 

I was standing in the night

With shadows fallen over all

Questioning who I am

When I saw a flame

Brief it was

I strained to see a figure

Standing beneath a tree

Bringing a cigarette to his lips

But I could not see his face

I was about to turn

Seeking solitude not company

When a voice came

“Why do you question?”

I paused for a moment

Thinking he was speaking to himself

Again he spoke

“You know who you are

Why the questions?

Have you learned nothing?

I thought you were better than this

But then again

Maybe you don't really change”

Startled, I could not speak

His jacket reflecting the moon

He seemed so strange

Yet so familiar

“It must be your nature

No matter how I dislike it”

So arrogant

Thinking he knew me

Thinking he knew anything

My struggles

My pain

His youth showed

In his bold speech

I simply stared at this figure

A phantom in the night

After one long drag

Inhaling deeply the smoke

As he exhaled

He spoke

“The past never dies”

Confused I turned to leave

I spoke as I turned

“I am who I am right now”

But as I turned

I saw another in the dark

Leaning over

Staring at the stars

I could only see his shape

Light reflected from his cane

With a silver dragon

Shining in the darkness

I was so shocked

I stood silent

Then he spoke

With a voice of age 

Filled with the wisdom of years

“You're both so hasty

So head strong

What do you really know?”

This though

Came with a gentleness

That comes from experience

An old man

Reflecting to himself

On such a strange night

I couldn't help but wonder

Did I know this man?

So many years my senior?

Then came his voice again

“Someday you'll understand

But then again

Maybe you'll only realize

That you can never know”

Puzzled I was

Like a riddle

Spoken from the heart

That I knew all too well

He shifted slightly

And gave his parting words

“But who will I be?”

I turned to ponder this odd event

But when I looked

They were both gone

And as I pondered

I reflected on the familiar

The unknown

The thing I would never know

And the words came together

Past

Present

Future

Were such a constant blend

Yet so distinct

Sudden realization

I heard my own voice

Clearly this time

Speaking through it all

“The past never dies

I am who I am right now

But who will I be?”

Those Who Do Not Cry

No tear was shed that solemn day

By those who do not cry

A duty done with task at hand

Done with eyes so dry

It is not for lack of care

By those who do not cry

But done because it must be done

Where others cannot try

A duty laid at answering feet

With eyes that have no tears

They brace themselves and carry on

In the face of other’s fears

It is not a simple thing

Holding emotions all at bay

But they carry on and hold it in

Waiting for another day

Words were spoken soft and true

By those who do not cry

To comfort those in deep distress

Those who came to cry

It is never for a lack of care

This lack of tearful face

But as one who knows too well

That there are those in need of grace

So stoic faces hide the pain

Of those who do not cry

To bring peace to others now

Who can’t help but ask “oh why”

So called are those who help

On the days of deepest woe

Those who hold heads up high

Helping others to let go

It is all for deepest love

By those who do not cry

They love so much they keep it in

Until the moon is high

So when the day is done and gone

With time to heal the sorrow

Remember those who did not cry

And comfort them tomorrow

I'm Still Here

I sometimes wonder about you
About what could have been
I didn’t really know you
Simply a silly crush
From an awkward high school boy
To a pretty girl
Just a year my junior
I’m not sure you even knew me
Maybe who I was
After that time I sent you flowers
Because I wasn’t sure what else to do
All I knew was what I imagined
I still sometimes imagine
What might have been
What could have been
All those years ago
I’d wonder where you are now
But I know
That doesn’t take imagination
Because you’re dead
And I’m still here
Holding nothing but memories
Of something that was never really there

In Vain

Words are but fleeting thoughts
Strewn about time and space
With hopes of reaching an ear
To keep them from being in vain

Images that may be real
Or maybe an illusion
With hopes of being seen
To keep them from being in vain

Reaching out to touch
To be touched in return
With hopes of feeling something
To keep from being in vain

Life with all its splendor
Also comes with much despair
As we hope to leave something behind
To keep from being in vain