Like a breeze, she can feel it, but she can't quite grasp it.
"I can be everything you want," she thought, "if only you'd give me the chance."
This is nothing new, this situation that she's in.
"I'm only human," she tells him, "I will make mistakes."
And just as the breeze begins to slow, and the stillness settles in, she breathes in the memory,
Smells the stench of regret mixed with the perfume of destiny.
Someday, she will have it all.
Someday, she will silence the noise.
Someday, she will bury the doubt, and hope will bloom in its place.
And so she sits in the dark, glowing from within
Because the only light that needs to shine comes from a place no one has seen.
She wonders what he's thinking as their fingers intertwine.
"Let me come inside," she says, though he knows not what she means.
He holds her slightly tighter to avoid the revelation.
Someday, she will break the wall.
Someday, she will find the way.
Someday, she will illuminate the world with her smile.
As she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.
The magic of the moon washes over her soft skin,
Spine-tingling, like the sweetest nightmare.
The lucid reality of a love that never was
Lays its head on her pillow and kisses her forehead,
Whispering, "Goodnight."
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Call Me Crazy
Definition of CRAZY
1
2
a : mad, insane <yelling like a crazy man>
b (1) : impractical <a crazy plan> (2) : erratic <crazydrivers>
c : being out of the ordinary : unusual <a taste for crazyhats>
3
a : distracted with desire or excitement <a thrill-crazy mob>
b : absurdly fond : infatuated <he's crazy about the girl>
c : passionately preoccupied : obsessed <crazy about boats>
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crazy)
1.
mentally deranged; demented; insane.
2.
senseless; impractical; totally unsound:
a crazy scheme.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crazy)
Thursday, September 25, 2014
The News Today
I love fall. This is my time. Colorful leaves, hayrides, sweatshirts, pumpkin everything. But today, as the rain drowns the the beginning of the season, of my time, I sit in my Philadelphia office, above the rumbling of the subway cars, with more than a little anxiety. Instead of thinking about the myriad ways I could enjoy the upcoming sunshiney weekend, my mind is consumed with the news of an “imminent” terrorist attack on subway systems in the US. Now, every rumble below me seems louder than it used to be, every bang or screech suspicious. I could spend the rest of my fall days worrying. I could spend this season in a downward spiral of fear. But then they win, right? So I vow, instead, to enjoy my hot pumpkin spice latte (insert white-girl stereotype here) and make plans to soak in the sun and let my hair blow in the breeze. I will pray, in my way, for the safety of this country and the innocents everywhere who want no part of this, who should have no part in this. And, until peace wraps its warm arms around this earth, I will play in piles of red and orange leaves and enjoy the chill of the fall.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
MISSING
Somewhere, I've lost myself
Between the smoke and the potion
Under a layer of refuse
At the edge of the rainbow
Just beside the clouds.
For the first time in my life,
I am afraid of myself
Of the part of me I didn't used to know
For the part I can no longer find
I am blinded by the sunshine lasting for days
While the shadows lurk closely behind
An omnipresent reminder
Of a silent reckless abandon.
Somewhere, I've lost myself
Behind these quiet eyes
Inside the vibrating stillness
Wrapped in false contentment
Written on an imposter's smile.
This skin isn't mine
I don't recognize that silhouette
A stranger's arms surround my spirit
But the heart is all too familiar.
The music hits my ears like a dagger
As the memories stare me down
Like the clearest hallucination
Of a long-lost dream and a broken opportunity.
Somewhere, I've lost myself
Next to the severed ties
Trapped beneath the scars
Transcending uncertainty
Just two steps from bliss.
Somewhere, I've lost myself...
Between the smoke and the potion
Under a layer of refuse
At the edge of the rainbow
Just beside the clouds.
For the first time in my life,
I am afraid of myself
Of the part of me I didn't used to know
For the part I can no longer find
I am blinded by the sunshine lasting for days
While the shadows lurk closely behind
An omnipresent reminder
Of a silent reckless abandon.
Somewhere, I've lost myself
Behind these quiet eyes
Inside the vibrating stillness
Wrapped in false contentment
Written on an imposter's smile.
This skin isn't mine
I don't recognize that silhouette
A stranger's arms surround my spirit
But the heart is all too familiar.
The music hits my ears like a dagger
As the memories stare me down
Like the clearest hallucination
Of a long-lost dream and a broken opportunity.
Somewhere, I've lost myself
Next to the severed ties
Trapped beneath the scars
Transcending uncertainty
Just two steps from bliss.
Somewhere, I've lost myself...
Friday, May 30, 2014
Here
One small light flickers in the corner of my eye.
The safety of the shadows wraps its warm arms around me.
I hide in the solitude of this darkness,
Where I sit content and ashamed.
I could make a life of this
If only it was only mine.
This smile that I wear
Knows only the shadows,
The sun ignites a different mask.
There is a window cracked in front of me,
A gateway to another world.
I take a sip and contemplate,
And then I close the window tight.
Here, it doesn't matter.
Here, it's all the same.
Here, there's nothing but love.
Here is all I need.
It washes over me in bright shades of red,
A warmth and chill that battle each other
Until the balance is right.
I soak it in,
Like the ocean at the edge of the shore.
I close my eyes and tell myself tomorrow is a new day.
But it's always the same.
The safety of the shadows wraps its warm arms around me.
I hide in the solitude of this darkness,
Where I sit content and ashamed.
I could make a life of this
If only it was only mine.
This smile that I wear
Knows only the shadows,
The sun ignites a different mask.
There is a window cracked in front of me,
A gateway to another world.
I take a sip and contemplate,
And then I close the window tight.
Here, it doesn't matter.
Here, it's all the same.
Here, there's nothing but love.
Here is all I need.
It washes over me in bright shades of red,
A warmth and chill that battle each other
Until the balance is right.
I soak it in,
Like the ocean at the edge of the shore.
I close my eyes and tell myself tomorrow is a new day.
But it's always the same.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The Art of Letting Go
Anger, resentment, self-destructive thoughts, the past, expectations, the idea that you can't be anything you want to be, old love, new fear, the regretful sting of bad decisions...LET GO.
Broken promises, fractured hearts, injustice, sacrifice, the last chapter, jealousy, the piece of you in his smile, the safety of childhood, the serenity of not knowing any better...LET IT GO.
Secrets, the need for approval, failure, pennies wasted on dead wishes, control, the should haves, pity, daydreams of lost loved ones, nightmares of love never found...LET IT ALL GO.
Weakness, toxicity, people who don't matter, ideas that stifle, emotion that burns, a glaring hindsight, loneliness, comparison, the arms that used to hold you tight, judgement, the idea that you, alone, are not enough...
Broken promises, fractured hearts, injustice, sacrifice, the last chapter, jealousy, the piece of you in his smile, the safety of childhood, the serenity of not knowing any better...LET IT GO.
Secrets, the need for approval, failure, pennies wasted on dead wishes, control, the should haves, pity, daydreams of lost loved ones, nightmares of love never found...LET IT ALL GO.
Weakness, toxicity, people who don't matter, ideas that stifle, emotion that burns, a glaring hindsight, loneliness, comparison, the arms that used to hold you tight, judgement, the idea that you, alone, are not enough...
LET IT ALL GO, SO YOU CAN GO ON.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
There's No Such Thing as a Safe Campus
Working at West Chester University, we have been told the emergency procedure in case of an active shooter on campus. While I listened to the instructions, and wondered if I'd be able to keep a cool enough head to actually follow them, I mostly felt as though I would likely never have to deal with such a situation. Not at West Chester. A good school. A safe school. In a safe neighborhood. However, in light of the recent shooting at Widener University, I've realized that simply isn't true. I've heard of many other shootings on college campuses, at "good schools," but never so close to home, and I guess that's the difference. Whether a random killing spree, or a targeted attack, anyone, anywhere, can be a victim. This is a terrifying thought. College campuses are supposed to be safe places for young adults to live and learn, to experience independence and growth. Amid all of that, no one should have to watch their back for the next angry, maladjusted, violent person with a gun. Unfortunately, there is only so much universities can do to protect their students. While they can install metal detectors in their buildings, have security patrol the campus, and be sure to check guests in and out of residence halls, it would be impossible to monitor and control every single thing that is happening everywhere on campus. That is the reality. So we could choose to blame the institutions for a lack of security, for letting it happen. Or we could take a look at the real problems, and work to instill an attitude of non-violence into our children, a timely lesson given MLK Day earlier this week. We can choose to address the red flags we see in our children's behavior, instead of ignoring them for fear of looking like a bad parent or having to deal with the stigma of mental health issues. We can foster an environment of open discussion, rather than suppression of feelings, especially for our boys/young men.
As a university employee and student, I am a little more scared today than I was just a few days ago. But this is not a university-specific issue. This is happening everywhere, and all too often. The solution starts with each and every one of us, and it's never too late to start caring, so we can all stop being scared.
As a university employee and student, I am a little more scared today than I was just a few days ago. But this is not a university-specific issue. This is happening everywhere, and all too often. The solution starts with each and every one of us, and it's never too late to start caring, so we can all stop being scared.
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