I brushed the fabric black fields
of heaven, ripping, a sliver of time
flashed lightning and unveiled
the universe speaking in one voice

With numbing relief I softly run
my fingers cross the firmament
feeling moments ripple in tune
with the song ringing in my bones

I sing with agony and pain
my only voice, I breathe in
bubbles of pure white light
but gasp with a tongue of hope
conversing in unspoken history

Let me tell you the dating game can be tough
I know this is true because I had it rough

The first seemed decent to me
until I learnt she was once a 'he'
with the adam's apple clearly in sight
and a voice that gave me a fright!

Another was slim in cyberworld
and a body beautiful enough
and when I see her fats in real world
I can't run fast enough!

The third claimed to be shorter than me
and when we met, I wanted to cry
because she was a giant to me
and my confidence turned into a fly

Looking through the old album,
I revived memories of my childhood,
moments shared with the best of friends
who formed the strong ties of brotherhood

I won't forget the day
we found a discarded mirror,
we made funny faces and did some poses,
pretending to be muscular bodybuilders

We had our fun, playing silly games
and gave one another nicknames.
Mine was " Short Alid" which sounds better
than "Little Grandfather"

Lying on my bed,
the silence
is too loud,
ringing
in my head

Anger fades
out of sight
but in my heart
a stubborn pride
resides

Rising restlessness
my mind aches
from solace denied
by the sting of
malice

My soul is
a cracked mirror,
a distorted
self reflection
of self-loathing ,
blooming in colour

Reach
for the dream
to achieve
the prestigious medal
of the triumphant,

the world's acknowedgement
of being a champion,
recorded in history,

a moment to be proud of
by warriors of the arena,
representing their countries
with courage to strive
beyond their limits
to be the best
that they can be

Do you believe you can attain your dreams
without the sweat of true dedication?
You hope to receive when you've done nothing,
but there're no rewards for missing actions
A stagnant life, collecting fantasies
worth nothing in the face of reality

Reach for the fire within and commit
your heart and soul to embrace a purpose!
May perseverance be the steel of will.
and you'll be, a gift to all, not a curse
Face your destiny wiith pride and courage
as a true warrior in the coming of age

If ignorance is a disease,
don't let it fester!
Swallow the bitter pill of truth
dispell the false praises.
The honey-sweet lies given
to stroke your pride,
the poison that you took
to feed your self-indulgence
will not make you wiser.
It is halting you from becoming
the man that you must be,
one who deserves acknowledgement,
someone who is willing to strive
in the process of learning,
a man who has faced honesty
with such humiity that he benefits
from the experience

Stop me

when my soul loses compassion
and tramples on others' hearts
to attain my own desires,

when I fall and succumb to my rage.
and choose vengeance over justice
to hurt another so much more

when ego blinds me from the truth
and my mistakes are repeated
out of sheer ignorance and pride

when I am losing self-respect,
walking on the path to ruin,
and my conscience is lost from sight

stop me with your words and your love
pull me back to my senses,
free me from the madness inside

There is at least one little mouse,
maybe two
that has taken up residence in my kitchen.

And while I don't know
if mice know the difference
between food and trash
I only see evidence of my new roommate
in the cupboards, not the bin.

Yesterday, my wife and son
heard the yelps of a neighborhood cat,
who came by and doted affection on us
as we called to it.
The sublime little hunter purred and cooed
as we petted her upon
the neck and her back.

Original

Lying on the bed,
two bodies lay entwined.
Sacred vows are broken
Lust is served as wine

Hands exploring
Hearts dancing in delight
after so many nights
they have long been deprived

Tasting the honey-sweet sin
forgetting the poison within,
the horned devil is laughing
the traitors' fates have been sealed

Edited Version