Gaslight

you told me my fault
and I shook my head
but you undermined
my own abilities
to think clearly.

you told me my problem
and I said it was yours
but you convinced me
that I was in the wrong
and locked away my song.

Paralyzed

Paralyzed in the spotlight,
bright lights shining in my eyes
I dance but forget the pattern
I live but forget the steps.

Paralyzed in your heart
a picture of what was
but I'm not meant for stillness
and you won't move on
with me.

Lace

Cover me with your smooth face

and soothe me with your quieted word

take me away from this dark place 

and make my pain into lovely lace.

Convinced

The convincing bruise on your arm
tells me everything I need to know,
but you won't give up convincing me
claiming a lampshade as the source
of your pain.

The pained look on your face
deprived of joy, of the sunshine
that fills the rest of the world
but somehow leaves you devoid.

The convincing bruise on your face
tells me I should have spoken sooner
that I should have done something, anything
to save you when I could,
when you weren't dead inside.

Greed

Greed will break your heart, dear child,
and take you into poor, tired shaken smiles.
Fancy clothes and expensive gifts mean little
and at the end, everything is brittle.

Cheek

The notes play quietly in the background
while the priest in white prays at the altar
asking for ending goals out of God's reach.

The notes play quietly in the background
while the little girl with curly brown hair
begs her mommy to leave: she's bored.

The notes play quietly in the background
while a young woman bows her head
in prayer for her deathly-ill mother
and a single tear wets her cheek.

Third Seat From the Left

Third seat from the left of a moving subway train
sits a little girl, flowers in her hair, oblivious to the way
that her mom is watching her, wistful eyes speak of pain.
Dark brown eyes watch as the little girl laughs and plays,
as she smiles at the strangers who wave at her and say hello.

Third seat from the left of a moving subway train
where this little girl and her mother sat every day -
empty now and no one seems to know or care or claim
that their missing presence carries impact and almost seem ashamed
that they had never cared enough to learn either of their names.