{ancient muses whisper and flitter as honey pours and waterfalls giggle}

some of us never grow old, for crow's feet are unlike tree rings. the joy is voluntary, the memories like balm. you can never grow old is your spirit is young.

i mold visions of you in my mind and from my hands, your likeness shifting with every pinch and nick of clay. i think i know that it’s not you i want, but what you became under my vigilance.

smooth, unwounded. without baggage, unhuman.

True strength cometh from within.

It isn't something you obtain overnight,

just like physical strength.

True strength is your ability and capacity to adapt to and with change, physical or mental.

When tough times come,

can you last,

or do you give up halfway,

saying,

"I can't do it."?

True strength is to be able to stand firm and grounded in your convictions,

no matter what other people say,

you have to stay strong and firm,

to be non-conformist.

Do you give in to peer pressure?

Will you jump of a bridge just because everyone else does it?

Or is it because you just want to?

True strength is bound together with compassion and love,

in your soul,

held in your conscience,

Compassion will give your heart the burning ardour and passion

to stay strong,

to keep your head high because you are doing the right thing,

with nothing to be ashamed of,

to help people,

to lend them your strength.

Do you step out of a queue

to help a little girl who just fell down on the street,

do you hold out your hand to her,

wipe away her tears,

and say it's alright?

True strength is humility,

to step down, steep down lower,

to someone of a lower rank,

to accept and own up to your mistakes.

True strength is admitting that you aren't perfect,

that you can be improved,

that your way isn't always the best.

Do you think you are better than everyone on the damn planet,

or do you know that you can't always be the best and grow up?

True strength is to acknowledge the strength of your opponents,

to congratulate them to their success,

to accept loss and failure with grace.

Do you cry when you lose to someone else?

Or do you know that you are fighting against yourself,

and yourself alone?

True strength is keeping with your promises,

do what you say,

say what you'll do,

follow out with a promise no matter how hard.

You had the guts to make a promise,

keep it,

if not,

plain and simple,

you are a coward.

True strength is many things.

Just when I thought

the Sun had betrayed me

to shelter in place

somewhere deep in grey clouds,

her sweet kiss

brushes my shoulder

and wakes me from a restless night of sleep.

The shadows make way

for her gentle sweeping hand

golden

across my face.

I smile.

She keeps me company

and I drink in her warmth

and nestle in the neck

of her yellow light

and I’m reminded

of patience

and blue skies

because she always comes back.

She always comes back.

I never needed a spirit world-

His absence is felt in every space.

Ephemeral but vivid, I see him in the mirror.

Is it okay to enjoy things?

Small things I like vanish.

Games we played, I can’t play without him.

Occasionally I feel I’m not alone.

No corner of this house is without memories.

Empty room; inexplicably locked from the inside.

-until now.

When I wake up 

I keep my eyes closed 

I keep the blinds shut 

And I keep the clocks hidden,

That way

When I wake up 

I feel lost in the darkness 

And I could be anywhere

An oasis from space and time,

That way

When I wake up 

The world is mine to explore.

Answered prayers

Folks say, God, doesn’t answer prayers

Let me show you how he answers

Lucas Emery Richardson 1 in 4,000

Was born with omphalocele at 10:44 am

The journey of becoming an overcomer

Started as days passed by, the warrior

Spirit kicked in to fight for life

Born 7/29/19 as time passed omphalocele

Is loosing the strong hold on life

Now being able to eat baby food

As of May of 2020 will be the day

Of being able to drink a bottle

Threw this amazing journey God

Has stayed by this angels side

Who will be able to one day tell his

Story of not only being a survivor

But an overcomer he will

Be the miracle child to show

God does answer prayers on his time

By Jet

walked into where my love was

My loves mom was there for a brief second my love said it was over I had to leave

I asked her to wait till money could be gathered I turned around to go for a walk to clear my frantic mind as I was walking there was a man In front of me wearing what appeared to be a green coat there was a feeling of comfort with this man as I tripped and grabbed him I remember saying to the man I was sorry for grabbing you I said I almost fell so I reached out and grabbed you to catch myself from falling the man said it was okay I understood no worries after that I sat up in bed very quickly hoping it was just a dream of illusions I went out on my porch to smoke a cigarette I cried as I saw the snow falling from the sky praying this is not my destiny that it was all Just dreams of illusions

By Jet

Five hours ago, I hugged a mare, flinging my arms around her huge neck. I was looking into her eyes, beaming with an astonishing intelligence, feeling her whole body exuding the might and swiftness that give you reassurance and confidence.

No words can do justice to the experience.

I'll bet you $10 that right now

there's a guy dipping his Banquet Dinner

chicken fingers

in the brownie that it comes with.

I bet he's got a system where he knows

how long to microwave it

so that instead of a sponge

it comes out like sludge

and it's prolly the best part of his day

I'll bet you $10

that there's a balloon in the air

somewhere.

With a note taped to the side

words that will never be said

and that those words actually mean something

special.

I'll even bet

on a cigarette

in the mouth of someone who just quit.

And in that guy's head

is dopamine and dread

cuz he knows this one isn't

his last.

There's probably someone

driving their car,

and singing along to the raido

with conviction and pride,

all of which dies

when they pull up to someone

with their windows down.

'course I don't have the cash

so don't take me up on it.

I just spent my last

on a coffee

from the gas station.