Author: lbstowe

I can feel it again through the window pane…
The heat of your rays lost in winter & rain.

You’re burning the side of my face’s pale hide…
As, towards the surface, you fight freezing tide.

Surge past the gray palls as the final flake falls…
End my sentinel watch over live screen walls.

Get your rainbow of oils & golden foils.
Paint brilliant anew upon blank canvas soils.

Tease out warm beauty, your ultimate duty…
Maddeningly fecund, rotten & fruity.

Yes, weeks yet still cold as the season grows old;
But I can feel spring ride in on rays of gold.

I am contradiction incarnate.
Sapphire’s cold blue & hot blood garnet.

Conceived in fire & hewn from ice.
Frothed with anger & soulfully nice.

I bend to kiss every new forehead.
Poised for a gut kick for what is said.

Demanding of all, honesty-wise.
Yet, dare not steal my day-to-day lies.

Surely, I’m glad that I’m what you read.
Still, I’d write; so, I wouldn’t say “need”.

Every breath I take I host a killer.
This is not another gothic thriller.

Nature seems absurd & science cruel.
Brain & body in a constant duel.

My weathered mind’s survived torturous strife.
My body…cage & captor of my life.

Yet, still I rattle with rigor & rage.
Ever seeking weak spots; where, war I’ll wage.

All told, might just loosen bars for the next…
Still, I’m always free inside of my text.

Do you put in thoughtful effort; or is your effort afterthought?
No judgement or complaint…only you know what it is that you ought.

Do you know what it is to feel more tolerated than enjoyed.
How do you express your love in words & what tools have you employed?

Do you really listen at all; or do you just wait for your turn?
Listening remembers who they are & the things for which they yearn.

Do you plan new yous every year without a second of review?
How’d you play your part in recent past…maybe add that to the brew.

Best is only better when you make new effort all of the time.
Perhaps, reflect on your lesser moments; when singing “auld lang syne”.

“Camps” in rhetoric’s grimy air.
The few new safe do rightly scare.

What’s truly free when it’s parsed out?
Is gratis air breathed without clout?

We reclaim slurs they’ve always used.
Rebrand, disguise as drag; excused.

Tradecraft was how we had to live.
Spies for love without hearts to give.

Not much safer than we were then.
Viewed subversive by faith drunk men.

The Bible doesn’t have our backs.
They tout that god’s what D.C. lacks.

Zeal’s minority toxic rules.
Resist or flee; our lonely tools.

Can’t we ever stop cannibalizing…
Bombing & warring & terrorizing?

Harming each other with our ignorance…
Choosing the dark over deliverance.

Favoring blindness to any new light…
Hating ourselves & resenting our sight.

Pitted & pocked by resisting good sense…
Undernourished by stale indifference.

Consumed with beating illusory tides…
Rarely accepting that life has no sides.

Relish all your light fantastic.
Reject molds & remain plastic. 

Build a life from what you most love.
Don’t look up; or down from above.

Tackle what’s in front of you now.
Level your head & furrow brow.

Learn key solutions as you go.
Use universal truths you know.

Employ your compass & your gut.
Sharpen your edge each time you cut.

Be certain of your path today.
Live in that space; don’t go astray.

Be humble & dance with the flow.
Don’t be afraid; say “I don’t know”.

You’re as you’re meant in ignorance.
Just do your best; in present tense.

Collect them all whilst in your teens.
Fuck up a lot & make some scenes.

The adult world is all but kind.
Sooner than later, your self find. 

All grown-ups are just pretending.
Fake control…to stave off ending.

A moment’s freedom rarely spent. 
Even our privacy we rent.

So, savor now your parents rule.
Try not to be a system’s fool.

Cackle at life’s absurdity.
Color outside of certainty.

Then, when time rises like the tide;
Before you drown just laugh, “I tried.”

Winning by volume is a hollow thing.
Intimidation’s your only sting.

Are you never ever incorrect?
Is there no fault in your recollect?

Is what you say in the moment law?
Can you not sense you’ve scorned someone raw?

In fairness; I ,to safe page, retreat.
Yet, you don’t wonder what broke my beat.

I mayn’t always be sound of mind.
Do you never review words behind?

I won’t argue & you won’t concede…
Still, there’s middle ground, for which, I plead.

You & that mischievous Cheshire smile.
Sit here & tell me your lies for a while.

Embellish brightly whatever you share.
Throw in the truth, if you’ve any to spare.

I’m glad of companionship; true or false.
Humoring my need for a talking waltz.

Constant & present thru fading season.
Staying matters; regardless of reason.

If still we mesh as the music ceases…
Let’s build a home here between love’s creases.