The skies were dark, there was a fog outside. I shouldn't have been born that day. But I was. Upon birth I didn't cry. It was expected for newborn children to cry, but no matter what the doctor did, I just couldn't cry.

Fast forward a few years and I cried. It was when my mother died, but only because now I could tell what was expected of me. I wasn't sad, I know I was supposed to be, but I wasn't. I mourn her every 8th of every month, but only because of guilt.

I didn't kill her, but I was guilty of not making her life easier and not being able to remember how she looks, without a photograph.

I planted a tree.

I prayed it would grow.

I worried about that tree.

When it was young, I had to help it stay strong.

Tying up the branches with sticks and string.

Guiding it through bad weather.

The tree was stubborn.

One day green?

One day wilted?

Once I stopped worrying so much, it grew!

Today it stands 50 feet tall.

Now, it can sustain any wind that blows!

The tree, no longer belongs to me.

I can visit it, but it doesn’t need me anymore.

I miss the tree, planting it and helping it grow?

My greatest accomplishment, by far.

I do not get, or take credit for planting it.

The new owners of the tree?

They don’t know it’s history.

Most will never know it was me.

Except for the tree.

On second thought?

Maybe not?

I think, even the tree forgot?

Sometimes...

Depending on the weather.

Benz

10/5/18

a pc mural

depicting world history

kissing butterflies

09/26/2018

Edited 01/12/2025

One thousand bright live butterflies are trapped inside of me

They would look so beautiful if anyone could see

They're hostage to an unknown foe whose ransom can't be paid

Imprisoned by mistakes I didn't realize I had made

So few know that they exist that I am left alone

To try to free the butterflies from prison on my own

In my heart are great things I could do or learn or say

But lack the strength to do because I gave too much away

I failed to use good judgment while I thought that I'd done right

And now don't know if this would be a battle worth the fight

If the butterflies were set free would anybody care

Or should I just give up and let the butterflies die there

September 21, 2012

#poetry

Dance me around

I am yours and you are mine

Ignore the hatred

The laughs

We are human

How can I stop myself from loving you?

Show them who we are

By loving me

We don't always have to be on the right side

Sometimes the left side is better

Our smiles will push away anything

And at the end of the day we are happy

It doesn't matter if they aren't

It's life and hatred exists

Just know love always wins over anything

I am a writer, a barber, a poet, a mom.

I am a daughter, a sister, a fighter with no harm.

I am a wife, a hersband, a grandmother with four grands.

I am a manager, an owner, a mechanic with all hands.

I am a supervisor, a trainer, a banker with no ends.

I am an artist, illustrator, and animator that blends.

I am an aunt, a niece, a grand-daughter and all.

I am a friend to the end, I will not let you fall.