Never Say Die

Just screw it all,
My mind seems to scream
Give up on hope now,
It's nothing more than a dream.

Just call it quits,
And let all disappear.
Nothing else matters,
So there's nothing to fear.

But hope keeps on calling,
A light strong and true.
When all else was grounded,
It grew wings and flew.

Even in darkness,
It easily soared.
Reminding all downtrodden,
That there's more to live for.

The God of the Universe,
Holding you in his hand.
When no one else knows,
He will still understand.

There are people that love you,
Whom you love in return.
Promises worth keeping,
And new lessons to learn.

There are more reasons to go,
Than causes to stop.
There's a purpose behind,
Every bitter teardrop.

So keep your chin up,
And hold your head high.
Hold onto that hope,
And never say die.

To a soldier:

I know not how to thank you,
Nor do I know your name.
My nameless, faceless hero,
Whose job earns little fame.

I know not how you suffer,
For I walk not your path.
I know not what you've given up,
To face another's wrath.

Your trials are, by many,
Overlooked from day to day.
No one seems to realize,
That for freedom, you must pay.

But you are not forgotten,
Nor will you ever be.
I know that your sacrifices
Are those that make me free.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,
It cannot be said enough.
I know that on you and on your family,
The separation's rough.

I know not how to thank you,
For all that you still do.
My dear American soldier,
I only wish I knew.

Hold On

Hold on for dear life,
And never let go,
For when the end is coming,
Only God can know.

Hold tightly to each memory,
And cling to your past.
For once it is gone,
Only you make it last.

A memory is living,
Through its captors' eyes.
Only when it is forgotten,
Does it ever truly die.

Remember, remember.
I must always strongly urge.
Only in recollection,
Can the past and present merge.

Though physically it's ended,
Never is it truly gone.
As long as someone loves it,
Forever it lives on.

Mi familia

What makes up a family?
Be it blood? Or be it time?
Be it forever set in stone?
Or changed on just a dime?

Is it born of conveniences?
Or changed in anger’s grip?
Is it something through you fingers,
You gradually watch slip?

I believe the answer’s no.
What I choose to hold true,
Is that love forms every bond,
And the same love will carry through.

Family is family,
It’s the people you hold dear.
Those, regardless of all distance,
To whom forever you draw near.

I believe it is a bond,
Which grows throughout your life;
It upholds you in the valley,
And will bring you through all strife.

Apart from one’s own lineage,
New families are born.
And though apart from man’s own blood,
They, too, cannot be torn.

I thank God for my family,
Whether Lost or through blood twirled,
I love you each and every one,
And to me, you mean the world.

Inner Verse

All in ink,
Each new word flows,
From the depths of which,
No one else knows.

Soul searching,
From deep within,
A bright passion burns,
Rhythm akin.

Emotion pours,
Out on the page,
Each word an actor,
Each line a stage.

Joy, anger,
Sweet misery,
Its influence knows,
No boundary.

Simply words,
Yet so much more,
Through ink, it’s grounded,
Yet the heart soars.

Life it gives,
In its own birth,
A priceless gem,
Of no real worth.

Poetry,
Will always be,
Inevitably,
A part of me.

Circles

Just another face in the crowd,
A dot of white in the rainbow;
A world of color surrounds me,
I just fade away.

Only filling the spaces,
And taking up time.
Just an old broken record,
With unhappy rhymes.

New words, the same letters,
The same thoughts, the same sounds.
The same conversations,
Just around and around.

The world keeps on spinning,
In the waves I am tossed,
Though I know my God has me,
There are times I feel lost.

I hold onto faith,
And cling to His name,
Christ, the almighty,
Deserving of fame.

There are times He reminds me,
When I feel like a waste,
That I am his child,
And I do have a place.

When alone in this world,
And unhappy with me,
I remember the person,
Whose death made me free.

I am never alone,
And I'm safe from all harm.
As long as I'm seeking,
My Savior's arms.

Breathe

I need you.
Every step, every breath.
I cannot make it alone.

My world may crumble,
My life may fail,
Yet still you remain.

Jesus, my world is changing,
For good or bad,
Still I know not.

Father, I need your everlasting arms,
I must cling to you with everything.
Without you, I am nothing.

I take you in,
And pray you will flow through me,
And be my breath.

America

America, the beautiful
The land of free and brave
For whom her soldiers proudly fought,
And many found the grave.

America, the melting pot,
Where all are free to come,
With rights granted to one and all,
Though preserved by only some.

America, the stars and stripes,
Whose flag will never fall,
As long as those who serve her,
Hold tightly to their call.

America, America
How soon do we forget?
That all we have came at a cost,
Though soldiers paid our debt.

This flag of our fathers,
Has been placed in our hands,
Though the greatness of this duty,
We have yet to understand.

Remember our roots now,
All the struggles and strife,
For which our soldiers' trials,
Brought our nation life.

Realize how we got here,
And let your faith be strong,
So that, "America the Beautiful,"
Might be more than just a song.

For America has beauty,
Not just within her land,
But in each and every patriot's heart,
And in those who lend a hand.

So thank you to the veterans,
And to those who do still serve.
Your trials are not forgotten;
You've given more than we deserve.

Happy Veterans' Day.

I am not the girl you're looking for...

I'm not skinny,
I'm not tall.
I'm not a girl who spends her days,
Just waiting for the fall.
I'm not leggy,
I'm not into lies,
I'm not a girl who spends her months,
With many different guys.
I'm not into drinking,
I'm not looking for a high,
I'm not a girl who spends her life,
Just waiting for goodbye.
I'm not just a waste of time,
I'm not someone to use.
I'm not a girl who spends her time,
Just waiting for bad news.
If these things are traits you really want,
Then one thing is for sure.
I'm absolutely, positively,
Not the girl you're looking for.

Who am I?

Who am I?

I hear the whisper deep within my soul.

And I seek an answer yet come up short.

Then the Truth, my shining beacon of hope, comes to be known.

I am who I am.

I am a daughter, a friend, a sister.

A feeling person often hiding behind a self-created mask.

I am alive, loving it, and eager for tomorrow.
I am insecure in myself, yet entirely sure of my maker.
I am His unique creation, I am one of a kind.
I am the Lord's.
And He is chipping away at my carefully constructed mask,
And teaching me who He is.
And further, who I am.

Survival

These are the moments we’ll remember,
In the dark of life.
Hugs and laughs and bitter tears,
And all the little things.

These are the moments we’ll hold onto,
When our lives begin to fall.
We’ll remember the good ol’ days,
And the people who made them great.

These are the days that will be our strength,
When we cannot summon our own.
Even apart, we’ll stand together,
A mighty tower through the storm.

These are the days that give us life,
And help us enjoy today.
Together, we survive,
Even in death, each will live on in others.

These are the days we’ll look back to,
That we’ll always love and need.
That we’ll never forget.
These are the days that belong to us.

These are the days that hold me up,
That break me down.
That make me feel,
That turn me into who I am.

These are the days that mean more to me than anything,
Aside from the people that created them.
They are the ones I would be lost without,
That I will never let go of.

These are the days that keep me going,
These are the days that will last a lifetime.

If Only, If Only

If only, if only,
Are such simple words,
To measure desire of mind.

Each hope seeks a new place,
Somewhere different in time,
Some seek the far future while others tarry behind.

We long for changes this moment,
Right here and right now.
We try to recreate each moment anew.

But God makes the pathways,
And it is He who determines,
What we, in each situation, should do.

A Long Time is Coming

Forever seems so far away,
The future seems so near.
Yet both become one in the same,
In the terms of fear.

The future is the unknown,
Foggy and unsure,
We have our wishes, hopes, and dreams,
Yet reality's a blur.

Forever's never-ending,
Something we cannot understand.
We know that once we reach it,
We will reach God's promise land.

Still, the present is past's future,
And we've made it here somehow.
Forever started long ago,
And our eternity starts now.

Don't Waste Your Life

Each day has a purpose,
Greater than the last,
For each day brings us nearer,
And Christ is coming fast.

We were created with a reason,
And He gives us each day.
For on the cross, my Jesus died,
For a debt I could not pay.

We are never worthy,
We can't deserve this gift,
But in thankfulness, I cry his praise,
His name I'll forever lift.

He will never need me,
He lets me serve him for my good,
He loved me when I knew him not,
And still when I act not as I should.

I long to give him everything,
With passion and with haste,
I pray I'll give him all I've got,
So my life I will not waste.

My Knight in Shining Armor

Someday my prince will come,
Garbed in servants' clothes,
His heart can never bow to me,
But to the God from whom grace flows,

I cannot fathom who he is,
Nor when he will appear,
Yet know I that God has a plan,
So never shall I fear.

And when he comes a'searching,
He will find me safe from harm,
For I will be waiting patiently,
Wrapped in my Savior's arms.

Untitled 2

Live in the present,
Hold onto the past,
Though gone it is now,
It forever shall last.

A memory will linger,
And hold firm and true,
In the hearts of the many,
And the minds of the few.

The past should not be dwelt upon,
Nor dominate one's mind,
Yet in the forming of one's character,
Its presence one will find.

We are the product of experience,
But more the creation of God's hand,
And each and every thing we face,
Is part of His perfect plan.

He is with us in each trial,
And in everything we do,
Everything we're up against,
He will bring us through.

He loves us more than anything,
Upon the cross He sent His Son,
And when on the third day, Jesus rose,
The victory was won.

I am Me

When I was younger...
I wanted to be someone else,
On the inside and the out,
I wanted to be someone better,
With self-assurance, not self-doubt.

I wanted to be prettier,
And nicer, and stronger,
But as I aged, I also learned,
And I wish no longer.

I am God's creation,
A daughter of the King,
I see now that every wish,
Was such a silly thing.

I'll never reach perfection,
But that's better than ok,
For really truly, I am me,
And God made me this way.

My Papa

Five years have passed.
Has it been that long?
I know 'tis true,
Yet it still feels wrong.

It seems like yesterday,
In my mind's eye.
That you could live forever,
That you'd never die.

Yet here we are,
And there we've been.
I still believe, someday,
We shall see you again.

Yet I'll never forget that day,
July second, two thousand four.
Grandma was coming out,
Even before we reached the door.

"The hospital called,
There's something wrong.
We need to get there.
We can't take too long."

When we arrived,
Nobody spoke.
My aunt shook her head,
And my mother just broke.

My cousin was smoking,
I sat by her side,
Though her cheeks were tear stained,
I never cried.

I broke down later,
When all was done.
I cried bitter tears,
After the setting sun.

Yet still I believe,
He isn't truly gone.
For in the heart of his family,
He'll forever live on.

In the rows of the garden,
And the pottering shed.
We'll forever remember,
The life that he led.

We can never blame God,
For we had Papa so long,
He went to join Jesus,
He is where he belongs.

And he's still here with us,
In all that we do.
In life's every season,
Every shade, every hue.

For my Hurting Sisters

Just leave them alone now,
You’re tearing them down.
You’re forcing upon them,
An unwanted crown.

A crown of hurting and sorrow,
And judgments unfound.
And ever so slowly,
They’re coming unwound.

They give you their best,
And you ask for perfection,
They try to follow your rules,
Yet you make no exception.

They don’t feel your love now,
They don’t want to be home.
They hear only yelling,
And they’re longing to roam.

We try to rebuild them,
And tell them what’s real,
That their efforts do matter,
That someone cares how they feel.

We work to restore them,
To bring our friends back,
Yet under the pressure,
They’re starting to crack.

We know you don’t mean it,
You don’t see what we do,
Yet I hope that you do not deny,
What we see to be true.

We still want you to parent,
But to do so with love,
And to take guidance from Heaven,
From our Father above.

For my Little Sis

Tired of fighting,
Tired of tears,
Tired of succumbing,
To unspoken fears.

Ready for a change,
To happen within,
Oh, Lord, please show me,
For alone I can’t win.

Please show me how to fix this,
Tell me what I’m doing wrong.
I’m so tired of our arguing,
How we can’t seem to get along.

I miss the old times,
Not so long ago,
What happened between then and now?
I doubt we’ll ever know.

We can never truly go back,
The past must be the past,
But we can adjust to modern day,
And our friendship will last.

We can come out stronger,
This happened for our good,
For God made us that promise*,
And trust Him we should.

For He knows the plans He has for us,
Plans for a future and for hope*,
He is the God of all comfort*,
And He will help us cope.

Girlie, hold onto his promise,
And never let go,
For the storms are truly coming,
To toss you to and fro.

But Jesus is the rock*,
The one who calmed the storm*,
He is the creator of the universe*,
Who with words the whole world formed.

And know that I will be here,
As long as He’ll allow,
I won’t be on Earth forever,
But I can promise you that for now.

I love you, little sister,
That I hope you never doubt,
Remember He whose love is greater,
The One we could never truly live without.

----
1. *Romans 8:28
2. *Jeremiah 29.11
3. *2 Corinthians 1:3-11
4. *Psalm 18:2
5. *Mark 4:35-41
6. *Genesis 1:1

Remember

In life…
The firsts sidle by you,
Unnoticed by most.
They wander in silence,
Becoming old ghosts.

First steps, first loves,
First friends, first kisses,
First fights, first heartbreaks,
First hates, first disses.

It’s the ends that are painful,
And harsher than nails.
They penetrate deeply,
And so rarely fail.

Final tests, final hugs,
Final waves, final tears,
Final songs, final words,
Final tales, final fears.

Yet every end sparks a beginning,
Every finish a new start.
Each curse brings a blessing,
To be taken heart.
So… Remember.

Haba na Haba

Little by little,
Bit by bit,
Old things will crumble,
And new ones will knit.

The new things strengthen,
And grow over time.
Pieces fall together,
With neither reason nor rhyme.

The old things fade away,
And request more and more space,
But no matter where they go,
They still have a place.

They wilt and they wither,
They stop and they pass,
But never believe, shall I,
That they might be the last.

They may seem too broken,
Too far past repair,
And their absence will linger,
And lead to despair.

Yet never surrender,
And never give up,
For God’s grace is unending,
A forever full cup.

He’ll lead and He’ll guide us,
And make old things new,
Then they, too, shall strengthen,
And forever hold true.

For a Brother

I’m afraid of the last time.
I will not say goodbye.
I’m terrified of the answer
To the unceasing why.

I’m so scared of your leaving,
I can’t ask you to stay.
I will ask God to guide you,
On His path each day.

I know it’s not final,
That your absence won’t last,
But I can’t just let go of you,
And let you fade to the past.

Your memories linger,
Your presence won’t fade,
We’re eagerly waiting,
For your time to be paid.

Please check in with us,
Just a letter away,
And watch out for “another ones,”
They might be coming your way.

Stay safe on your journey,
And rock the boat, dude,
We all hope to see you,
With a still Ozzy-like mood.

Don’t forget those home waiting,
Never question your place.
We know you’ll be back in time,
And we’ll save your space.

For whether together,
Or so far apart,
You’re forever my brother,
Engraved on my heart.

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How did we get there from here?
And how do we return?
Can we ever go back?
Will we ever learn?

We visited our pasts today,
Complete with crazy play fights.
I was forced to remember,
As if I could forget those nights.

Back when friendship was simple,
You're in or you're out,
And someone being bossy,
Was all we fought about.

Before high school, before grades,
Before puberty hit,
Back with play times and late nights,
Back when everyone fit.

I love the new times,
I've made some new friends,
And brothers and sisters,
And found love that won't end.

But I'll always remember,
And partially yearn,
For those times way back when,
Before time took its turn.