More Less

I need to write more poems again.
I miss the way my brain worked then.
I also need to play more songs,
design more websites, right more wrongs,
find more clients, make more cash,
do more with my craft-stuff stash,
speak more Spanish, read more books,
spend time proving I can cook,
make more friends, call friends more,
do more with my Etsy store,
give my toddler more of me,
be the best that I can be,
yes, the very, very best–
okay, so what should I do less?

First Things First

There are corners to be cleaned
and pages to be seen,
fruit to be pressed
and a desk that is a mess.

But you can't sing your own song
until you write your own poem.
That's just the way it goes;
first things first.

There are high notes and low,
fast beats and slow,
so many people to please,
and a tremor in my knees.

But you can't sing your own song
until you write your own poem.
That's just the way it goes;
first things first.

Under Pressure

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

Plan out what you would say if you only had the chance,
then waste your only chance.
And tell your self that no one ever listens,
no one ever listens to your silent rants.

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

Make a list and check it zero times
until the day that everything is due.
And stay busy enough all that time before
to convince yourself that they did this to you.

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

Scatter all your clothes across the floor
and stack all of your dishes in the sink
and christen it a cosmic cleaning party
when you finally clean it up so you can think.

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

Find thirty books that you would like to read
and check them out yourself all at one time
and read them while you listen to an audiobook
like it's a race to fill up your whole mind.

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

And someday take a break and just sit down

and think about how life has been so crazy.

And realize this has only been a warm-up

and now it's time to really be amazing.

Let the pressure build,
let the pressure build,
let the pressure build!
I do my best work
under pressure.

Love Is Like the Thread

If it's true that fools rush in,

I'd rush for you all over again.

It seems that rushing's always been

a way of life for us.

But between the many road trips

without time for scenic exits

and the passports, visas, tickets,

and jostling in the bus,

it seems that we've become a family.

I've grown up and you're more manly.

It may look like we're just standing,

when really we're taking a breath.

And when we breathe, we start to dream,

and you know all seven dreams I mean--

our minds come together like a seam,

and love is like the thread.

And we've both done it, so we know

it's not worth rushing when you sew.

At least today, let's take it slow

and save this stitch in time.

Let's save each penny that you earn,

and savor every chance to learn.

I'll say, may your heart always yearn

to be stitched tight to mine.

Tomorrow's Poem

I'd rather write tomorrow's poem,
to make a guess at what's unknown,
to predict it like the weather
and to say "It will be better."
Even if that might be fun,
I live each day just as she comes.

[See this poem.]

Mad Scientist

If you've got a great idea, but no time left in the day,
and you wonder what the world would think or what your friends would say,
and your seven other projects are getting in the way,
and you're not sure that it will work (but think that it just may)
just pretend you're a mad scientist, and do it anyway.

Realistic Reality

If by "let's be realistic"
you mean "let's make that a reality,"
let's go!
And along the way,
please don't say
"I told you so."
Because when it is reality,
you'll find it quite realistic.
But if you stop right here
you'll already have missed it.

Each Day a Poem

I want to write a poem each day.
I just need something good to say.
And if there's nothing to be said,
I'll write one anyway.

It's good for me to think and write
to keep perception in my sight.
And so I'll make each day a poem,
and dream of verse each night.

"Why start today?" you'd like to know.
Just because it's time to go.
Seize the chance; start when you can
to make each day a poem.