Shut down

It’s hours after the world has gone to sleep - that I worry about it. 

It’s in the dark dawn that I lie awake and feel fear. Fear that Rome is burning, that hope is running, that after everything - there’s still only you calling me - and yet you’re gone too. 

Despite the chaos, and all the goddam building I’ve constructed - it can collapse that easily. It can be shut down and shut out - just like that. 
It can pause the life just had - when it was everything ahead.
‘Cause wasn’t I - just waking up easy next to someone - after chasing late hours and new songs - where only ludicrous hangovers were our immediate danger. 

Weren’t the worries passing by and the plans ready to play? Weren’t we kissing in the bar and wonderful... The last night of feeling, fading into quarantine. 

Now where have we woken to?
 and where will we next? 

I should be the poet of a masterpiece - I should rush the romance of the reservation. 
Create the worthwhile proof of an artist trapped inside the world. 

I should blink awake with a new feeling of future moves. Then again - I’ve sent those moves already too. 

And nothing changed.
The sun still stone, the winds still moved - and we start counting the days like never before. 

So wake the dawn we must, 

Bar the windows and hunch against the horrible storm of here. 

Pray for surviving, for passing over, for beautiful resurrection to joy again. 
We take the day and count the lessened blessings. 
We breathe again even when it stutters. 

How Id love to be looking back in a bustling restaurant in summer with you -
I can hear the noises, taste the shared wine, and smell the air rich with adventure and suspense - 
How we dream of tomorrow now - with such clinging need. 

So let’s grip it. Let’s dream on that instead in every midnight -
Open up and ready the change. 
Let’s make every moment out there again - everything we have. 
When we can give and touch and leap again. 
When the world re starts. 

. . .

What about Forever

So many times with you I’ve wanted to jump. So many times I’ve walked up to that big oak Church door - and paused happily -

I’ve knocked and heard the silence. 

I’ve run and heard the music, of us. 

When you talk of forever - 

Hasn’t that always been me for you babe? 

Haven’t we danced around the (text) messages - and kept promises of friendship - 

All to keep the years together? 

Maybe I just put it all together. 

I know I’m quick to decide while you take it lovingly slow - 

I know I rush you - and you baffle me. 

I know your words before you say them - 

And I know your tune even in memory. 

So take another slow dance with me and skip another heartbeat. When I tell you how they said forever - let’s think before we leave. 

Then we’ll tell another story - ask so many questions, and start the day 

“Like we were then” again. 

I’ll keep every kiss, love every change, and wake every morning - 

Knowing we chose right. 

. . .

Winter

What will we be

Without you and me -

Following days in the sand 

With the warmth of the trail found there?

Winter settles in and we change

Against all our best promises in summer, 

Without realizing what’s set in -

As early dusk falls. 

We layer up the walls again,

Waiting for the lights to change us back.

Wherever they be found or broken in. 

But what of life when it takes you away?

When more mornings are on planes

Than in your arms.

And more nights in an empty office

Than a sea of feelin. 

How slow the time goes now,

And how weary tired we come in from it each, without anything to share. 

Promise me we’ll meet the spring together

Even if there’s no ringing of the new year. 

Even if everything turns up wrong -

We’ll sleep in memories once close. 

That this long winter 

Will pass us better, after all. 

Pick up the conversation
at the start of every adventure.

.  .  .