If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Raw I want to get away from myself Find a refuge from my brain There is no escaping now Treading water How long until I stop bouncing back? And I'm so tired I've cried enough tears To drown the whole world They burn my face as they fall There is a stranger in my reflection Nothing changes except the scenery And I'm so tired Constantly at war Battling with myself There can be no victor here I'm back to a crawl It's getting harder to stand up And I'm so tired Everyone sees things in me That don't really exist at all I'm struggling, I'm drowning My mind is a nightmare I can't wake up And' I'm so tired The world can't break me I came into it already broken Pieces of me shatter like glass They shine like heavy teardrops They are beautiful The beauty belies the danger Numb to the wound But not to the pain And I'm so tired But sleep, Sleep never comes. Sunset By the Lake I stood with you in the growing shadows Listening to the evening roar No longer quiet, peaceful meadows The placid lake had noisy shores The deer came out as the sun descended Frogs calling out in the shimmering light As one by one, the stars ascended Surrounded by nature preparing for night You held my hand as we listened To the concert of coos, ribbits, and trills While on the lake the moonlight glistened Serenaded by a thousand whooper-wills. The Trial (or Testimony of the Pirate) The men were brought into the room To face the Higher Powers Bedraggled and forlorn From travails of the previous hours "You stand accused of heinous crimes What have you to say, you knave?" The seaman met the Judge's gaze And these are the reasons that he gave: "Good Sir, the sea has been my only home, I have sailed 'round the entire Earth. I have visited every coast and cove I have often made every port my berth. I sailed through deadly storms and gales When the waves were rough and the men were few I sailed through warm Carribbean gulfs Where sky and sea were sparkling blue. I worked hard aboard my vessel I took my wages as they came And spent them all on food and drink On women and the odd card game. I watched my fellow shipmates fall ill From tropical diseases, scurvy and fever I had to leave my wife alone When the ship sailed, I had to leave her. I did what any man would do In desperate times like these I blame the drink for my corruption And ask your pity on bended knees. In truth, we fought many battles I've seen hundreds of men perish under endless sky But never laid a hand on an English ship, Treason is a crime I would never defy. We were feared throughout the world From Jamaica to Londontown Despite never harming His Majesty's ships, He ordered us, like dogs, to be hunted down. When engaged with France and Spain As we were, for years, in battle His Majesty commissioned my men and I When the wars ended, we became "rabble." We had no proper schooling Nor traditional homes to return to We were lifelong sailors and as such, No ordinary job would do. We found ourselves in need of money In dire and desperate straits We did what we could, went back to sea Rejoined our crews, rejoined our mates. Our choice was not made by evil minds Or vile men rejected by this great nation Our choice of career was made entirely By need and desperation. I have done many things I heartily regret I have made choices of which I ashamed But there is one fact that still stands One very important fact remains. I admit I am a selfish man, of that there is no question I am a cheat, Good Sir, I am a thief and a liar I have a great many sins and vices I drink and gamble and lust after women with a most ardent desire I have a foul tongue and a distinct lack of morals I am ruthless and cruel and have killed many men I have plundered ships and raided towns With little remorse I've done these deeds again and again I admit now my guilt and expect no pardon I am corrupt and thoroughly no good Even standing before you now, If I could take it all back, I don't know that I would. Allow me a few more words, Kind Judge To state the one fact that remains I think the reason you disdain me so much Is because you and I are one and the same. You also put innocent men to death And steal from the common man You live like the King in palatial estates And enforce unfair taxes upon the poor of this land I am a pirate, in your own way, so are you. You are no better than I I know what kind of man I am But yet I can face it and you can just lie. Even the worst of the men I have met on the sea Murderers, theives, bringers of death and gloom Each and every one of those men Was more honest than all the Judges here in this room. And so I say to you, do to me what you will In this life I have accepted my station But to you corrupt liars and esteemed blackguards I wish all the hellfire, suffering and damnation!" And with these words, the pirate did stop As the room was silent and his energy spent The Judge fixed upon him a frightful gaze And the words from his lips thus went: "Enough of your filthy, viper tongue! Enough of your hideous speech! Enough of your crew and your fanciful tales, you'll do no more haranguing! For you and your men assembled before us, the verdict is clear and concise: Tomorrow morning at low tide, the sentence is death by hanging!" And with these words the men bowed their heads And the Judges left the room The pirates knew they'd sailed their last They were escorted to their cells to await their doom. The following morning was grey and cold But still a crowd had gathered 'round the gallows The pirates were led up the steps Heard the waves breaking in the shallows The last prayers were offered by the priest But were roundly rejected The Captain and his loyal crew Were sullen and dejected No words were spoken as they mounted the platform The ropes were slipped around their necks The time had come to meet their Maker These ropes were not the ones used on deck The floor gave way with a loud shudder Now there would be less terror on the seas The crowd gasped and some did cheer And from the gallows, the pirates' corpses swung in the breeze. Several days later the presiding Judge took a walk He knew there was truth in what the pirate had said He took his job willingly His deeds were no different from the men that hung dead. He came often to that spot And never had peace of mind again His contentment was the final plunder Of that pirate and his men. Bear If you could see me now, what would you do? Probably nothing at all if I know you If you could hear me now, what would you say? Turn a deaf ear and start walking away? If you knew how badly you've hurt me, how many tears I've cried, Would you even care? You made me feel beautiful, you made me feel special But now I feel ugly and stupid Because I believed you I looked into your eyes and trusted you So here I am: one more notch on the bedpost One more toy that's broken, one more toy you don't want to play with When will you learn, the only reason all your toys are broken Is because you break them, just like you broke me The thing that hurts the most (as if you really care) Is knowing that ALL of it was a lie Including your friendship Which, by the way, is what I valued most. Speak of the Devil Speak of the devil and he walks in the room. Got tricks up his sleeve, gonna try them out soon. He's the ultimate liar- you better be on guard Because if you're not he'll walk away with your heart. You better be good - better know what to say To counteract that devil and his sneaky ways. I been there before and it ain't easy To get out of the grip of that devil sleazy. Better just to lock your door And pray he don't come 'round there no more... Devil makes you scream, devil makes you moan Devil makes you feel right at home Speak of the Devil, speak of the Devil Devil makes you cry, devil makes you wail But the worst thing he does, is that Devil makes you care Speak of the devil and he walks right by Don't know whether to laugh or cry He's got deep soulful eyes and a sinful grin And you know better, honey, you better not let him in He knows all the lines and he knows all the tricks He knows when you're weakest and need a quick fix You know for a fact that before the game's begun That Devil and his tricks have got the game won Devil makes you scream, devil makes you moan Devil makes you feel right at home Speak of the Devil, speak of the Devil Devil makes you cry and Devil makes you wail But the worst thing he does is that Devil makes you care Speak of the Devil and he hears his name And you're one more victim to his game Good luck getting rid of him now Everyone wants to and no one knows how He'll never stop and never tire So do your best not to get burned by the fire Speak of the Devil and you're in his gaze And you'll be there for the rest of your days Devil makes you scream, devil makes you moan Devil makes you feel right at home Speak of the Devil, speak of the Devil Devil makes you cry and Devil makes you wail But the worst thing he does is that Devil makes you care Speak of the Devil and he knows you care Speak of the Devil and he'll be there Speak of the Devil speak of the devil Speak of the Devil speak of the devil.....
Bravo! Raw was great: "The world can't break me I came into it already broken Pieces of me shatter like glass They shine like heavy teardrops They are beautiful The beauty belies the danger The Trial...fantastic "These ropes were not the ones used on deck" (perhaps a small line to the whole of the story but my favorite nonetheless) Ahaha, Speak of the Devil... I think you are beautiful
poetry is not therapy...remember you are sharing with people in the hopes they gain something. Still, nice poems. You must being going through some dark times.
