Red

It had been there all along,
just below the surface,
making every corner strong,
running round in circles.

But she nearly fainted at the site of her own blood.
It had always been red, but in her head, it just felt like a deep breath.
But then it came out from that fresh-pricked spout,
and it scared her half to death.

Moving Song

(written last year when we were about to move back from Bogotá)

When I move to each new place,
I already know every friend I make
will just be a facebook friend someday.
We might not Skype, although we may.

When I pack up my bags and go
I'll leave the ones I've come to know.
We'll say we'll see each other, oh,
but we both know it's rarely so.

There are friends and those I've friended.
There are friends and friendships ended.
Every hand that is extended
will one day wave goodbye.
There are times when closeness feeds us,
then there's space that comes between us.
I don't know quite what this means, just
that I'll have to try
to open up again,
to see change as a friend,
a friend I doubt I'll ever say goodbye to.
If I ever settle down,
I bet you'll still be moving around.
At least I'll have a place to invite you.

So if I'm slow to call you friend
I don't suggest you take offense.
My heart is full of untied ends
and space I keep for keeping friends.

Or if we meet after we part
I might not know quite how to start.
Small talk's an acquired art
and I'm scared to have a heart-to-heart.

There are friends and those I've friended.
There are friends and friendships ended.
Every hand that is extended
will one day wave goodbye.
There are times when closeness feeds us,
then there's space that comes between us.
I don't know quite what this means, just
that I'll have to try
to open up again,
to see change as a friend,
a friend I doubt I'll ever say goodbye to.
If I ever settle down,
I bet you'll still be moving around.
At least I'll have a place to invite you.

When I move to each new place,
I already know every friend I make
will just be a facebook friend someday.
We might not Skype, although we may.

Give and Take For Heaven's Sake

How blessed I am to give,
how wonderful you can take.
I'm just glad someone can use
these things for heaven's sake.

Fragile (Song)

My most recent poem, Fragile, keeps coming to my mind, as do the events that the poem is based on. So I set the poem to music:

Fragile

You had fallen down the stairs before,
my rough and tumble child.
And you got up to play some more.
You only had a little while.
I have brushed tears off your cheeks
and gravel from your knees.
But all our strength is still too weak
for this day's injury.

Aren't we all so fragile?
How fast we fall,
how carefully we must be handled.
How much we can take,
how suddenly we break…
Oh, how it aches to be this fragile.

You had fallen out of bounds before
with your rough and tumble heart.
But it wouldn't happen again, you swore.
When you felt that burning spark,
you brushed it off as quick as tears
so that you would be fine.
But all our strength is still too weak
to keep our strength in line.

Aren't we all so fragile?
How fast we fall,
how carefully we must be handled.
How much we can take,
how suddenly we break…
Oh, how it aches to be this fragile.

Oh God, take the pressure inside.
I am made of glass. I have no place to hide.
Can I ask, why did you make me so fragile?
Is that something you can handle?

Aren't we all so fragile?
How fast we fall,
how carefully we must be handled.
How much we can take,
how suddenly we break…
Oh, how it aches to be this fragile.

Burst

Maybe it's the music I put on tonight.
The angle of the chords must be hitting just right.
I feel my heart is going to burst.
If it happens this time, it won't be first.

Move Again

Move again?
I can handle that.
That's why I always
wear my hat.