(Raise Your Voice) Me Being Me (a poem)

Raise Your Voice

Me Being Me

Written July 12th, 2011



There’s a little car racing along

Bright paint sparkling in the sun

And a girl leaning out the passenger window

Tapping a beat on the door to a lively song

Her long hair flies back in the wind

And she has a smile

Big enough for the whole world

Enjoying something simple for a while

The people in town watch her go

And smile quietly to themselves

Remembering the infectious grin

That helped ease a deep sorrow

(Dear Marius) Show You How I Play (a poem, a dedication)

Dear Marius

Show You How I Play

Written July 10th

Come, I want to show you

I follow, we sit

A smile on your lips

Eyes full of light

I see your passion

Before you even start to play

Come, I want to show you

To me you say

A deep breath,

And your fingers set free

The first notes, begging for life

Starting soft, your fingers dance

I am a bystander

Of this musical romance

And I can’t avert my stare

Your fingers, they fly

With such love, skill, and care

Refuge of Night (a poem)

Refuge of Night

Written July 10th, 2011

There are no stars tonight

To help me see

They’ve left me on my own

To face this inner plight

Lost, I lay in the grass

Enjoying my quiet solitude

Tomorrow I’ll be hit with cold water

It seems I’m growing up too fast

A lonely lamppost’s light sent

To my figure, drawing a long shadow

I see my sins hiding in its black void

But life’s too short to worry about repent

(Dear Marius) You'll Never Know (poem by Juliette Labelle)

I want to make it absolutely clear that this is not my writing. All credit and rights go to Juliette Labelle, 100% Juliette read my work on Booksie, and was inspired to write her own piece for Michael. It is a beautiful piece and I would like to officially commend it into my Dear Marius collection.
I think it goes to say how truly special Mikey is when absolute strangers are writing pieces for him.

Here is her introduction:
I write this in honor of Micheal Hall. I never knew him, but any time a beautiful soul is taken, even strangers miss them. Ousma [Faith], I do so hope you like this. I tried to write it from your perspective. I feel like it's not as good as my usual stuff but I've no experience dealing with death.

Without further ado:

Dear Marius

You'll Never Know

By Juliette Labelle 

Music Hallway

Music Hallway

Written June 6th, 2011

The soft smell of old must

Hinted in the air

An aged and well-loved carpet

Tread on by generations of shoes

A troop of elderly pianos

With chipped keys from extensive use

A din of music resonates

Echoing lightly on the walls

Here, here we camp

Soaking it all in

The years of bygone memories

The traces of personalities past

Fragments of talent, left behind

Drifting in the air,

Clinging to the walls,

Sleeping in the shadows;

You just have to look with your heart

We rest here, absorbing

An escape from the fast-paced world

A time to rest, heal, and create

A second home to wandering young souls

Just trying to find a place

This is the Music Hallway.

---

A tribute to the music hallway at my high school, where so many teenagers, including me, just love to be. It's like a light to moths.... And this is where, I'm sure, Mikey's spirit wanders on occasion.  



(Dear Marius) My Little Morning Bird (a poem, a dedication)

Dear Marius

My Little Morning Bird

Written July 5th, 2011



My little morning bird

You always have a song to sing

Your voice and love of the day

A smile to my face will bring

My little morning bird

Always waiting for me

When I’m tired and stressed

The tunes you sing livelier than my coffee

My little morning bird

So happy and ecstatic beneath the sun

You have too much love in one heart

Your friendship brings confidence before my day has hardly begun

Missing You (a poem)

Missing You

Written June 5th, 2011

I press my face to the pillow

And with a soft weary sigh

Allow the blankets to embrace me

Slowly, I let the day go

To be absorbed by my loving mattress

Freed from limiting concentration

And the confines of stress

My mind wanders where it likes

Since I’m quite fond of you

It tends to meander your way

In the dark of night

My thoughts screaming into

Silence

I think of you,

And I long for you.

Tinker Falls (review, rating)

Tinker Falls

Tully, NY

Hiked: June 18th, 2011

Reviewed: June 30th, 2011

Interaction: 5 stars

Scenery: 5 stars

Diversity: 2 stars

Accessability: 2 stars

Size: Small

Overall: 4 stars

Being younger and perhaps a little more adventurous, I personally loved Tinker Falls, and I really can't wait to go back.

Tinker includes a short, ten minute trail leading up to Tinker Falls; an elegant cascade that you can walk behind, and if you're careful, you can even touch it. However, there is a moderate climb involved to reach it that I would not usggest to the elderly, young children, or the handicapped. You can also continute to climb to reach the top of the falls for a splendid view, a fantastic picnic spot, and to access more trails. Again, I stress that these climbs are not reccommended for the people I mentioned. This is why I rated it with a low accessability; for those who are incapable of the climbs, your visit to Tinker will likely be short and disappointing.

The trail leading up the falls

 The creek along the trail

 At the base of the falls

 The climb up to the falls

 Tinker Falls

It looks small here, I guess it is much bigger in the spring than in the summer. However if it's a lot bigger in the spring, I don't know how safe it would be to get close to it at that time.

Midnight Mango (a poem)

Midnight Mango

Written June 30th, 2011

There is a fruit, waiting in the fridge

An international treat

That I’m particularly fond

It will call me at midnight to eat

Quite a nuisance to peel and carve

But I smile as I set it on the board

It’s a task I’ve come to enjoy

For at the end is the sweetest reward

Steel Darkness (a poem)

Steel Darkness

Written June 29th, 2011

There’s a ’55 Ford Thunderbird

That follows me wherever I go

It’s old and rusty, but it runs like new

And it’s much closer than it was a few years ago

My persistent shadow, hovering nearby

It’s been there as long as I can remember

Trailing behind as I mow the lawn

Idling quietly while I rake leaves in September

Sometimes it snarls with a loud engine rev

And I jump out of my skin

It regards me with bright, stoic headlights

And I sense a tainted, evil soul within

Wolf Moon (a poem)

Wolf Moon

Written June 28th, 2011

Your children stay up late

Beneath the covers; wide-eyed they shiver and quake

Envisioning the stories told

Horrors about me; folklore of old

The full moon flies in the night sky

If they're just myths, why do you lock your door, why?

There's a drawer where you keep silver and holy water

Afraid I'll come snatch your son? Your daughter?

No Shirt/Long Lovin (lyrics, a poem, a re-make)

No Shirt/ Long Lovin

Re-Make of Cake's song:

Short Skirt/ Long Jacket

Written June 28th, 2011

I want a guy with a heart like a lion

I want a guy who knows what I love

I want a guy with style that shows

And eyes that sizzle from above

I want a guy with the right intentions

Who's funny and attentive

And hot as a sun

He's playing with my heartrate

He's messing with my hair

He's touring my body

And he's only just begun

I want a guy with no shirt and a looooong smile

Letchworth State Park (review, rating)

Letchworth State Park

Castile, NY

Hiked: June 27th, 2011

Reviewed: June 27th, 2011

Scenery: 5 stars

Diversity: 5 stars

Interaction: 3 stars

Accessability: 4 stars

Overall: 5 stars

Size: Large

Letchworth is an incredibly large park with its own extensive road system. The park contains 14,350 acres of land along the Genesee River.

A visitor to the park can get more than enough scenery viewing just by driving through the park. The roads run along the edge of the cliff through the park, and there are frequent pull overs along the way where you can stop and check out the view. Most are equipped with binoculars (25 cents) and picnic areas that include charcoal grills.

Broken (a short story)

Broken

written June 24th, 2011

Mason, it’s so beautiful out here, I texted a message along with the picture I had taken. Wish you were here.

I hit the send button, and then tucked my phone away in my pocket. I stood at the edge of the cliff, following the sweeping land slide with my eyes down to the roaring river at the bottom. It was spring, and the water level was higher than usual, dark and muddy, full of winter debris.

And it was here in this serene place tucked away in the woods, high up on the cliff looking over the whole world (it seemed), that I was at peace.

It was here that I could think, and think in my voice only. With no other influences or voices to distract me or deter me. It was just me, pure and simple.

And I guess that’s why I wanted Mason here. I knew he would appreciate this moment, this philosophical peace, just as much as me.  I could picture him next to me, leaned back on his elbows, looking up at the sky with those bright blue eyes so full of hidden intelligence. He would have a hint of a smile on his lips as he peered at life in its raw form. He loves moments like that, just like me, where things just click and you realize something new about life.  A new philosophy.

We would sit in silence for a while, him and I. Then we would start talking, and we wouldn’t be able to stop. If we had the time to talk about everything we wanted to with each other, we would talk until the day we died. I’m certain of it.

My phone chirped, and I opened up Mason’s response.

Looks awesome. I wish I was there. You always text me awesome things right when I need it, Ava.

I frowned at the last part, and quickly sent a reply:

Why, what’s wrong?

Just…shit at home. Mom.

‘Mom’. That one word explained it all to me. The two of them are always butting heads.

Call me tonight and tell me about it?

I smiled at the reply that came a few moments later.

Was already planning on it :]

I stuffed my phone in my pocket, looking down at my feet, hanging over the cliff edge, swinging back and forth to an unknown beat.

Casting a final glance over the tree tops of the expansive forest, I began the long descent down to the river, a descent I had made many times. I shimmied my way quickly down the sloped cliff-face, my feet and hands knowing where all the holds were from endless repetition of this process.

(Dear Marius) So Far Away (a poem, a dedication)

Dear Marius

So Far Away

Written on June 23rd, 2011

Two months after the death of Michael J. Hall

On April 23rd, 2011

The lips sing

Releasing the pain

The guitar notes sting

Harsh and lovely, against the grain

The fingers fly

Dancing on those keys

Trumpet call fills the sky

Sharp and noble, this musical plea

Playing these songs

Gives me some closure

On repeat

Over and over

You’re never coming home

But I know

It’s not over

And I’m not alone

The Light in the Fog (a poem)

The Light in the Fog

Written June 20th, 2011

I can see you there

Shimmering somewhere in the shifting abyss

Inviting me with little hands

Materializing, then with a twirl disappearing

Leaving my heart warm

And my cheeks full with a smile

I hang on to this flickering daydream

Like the sunshine dancing on the ocean waves

Discussion with my Father (discussion, thoughts)

June 15th, 2011

Posted June 17th, 2011

The other day, my father and I were talking about politics, people, and philosophy, as we often do. During the conversation, I brought up how much money frustrates me and how it has to be the backbone to everything in society. All anyone seems to ever worry about is money, rather than the simple, beautiful things in life.

My Best Friend (a poem, a dedication)

My Best Friend

Written June 16th, 2011

My best friend

I know you well

Every fall and every swell

Missing you when I'm all alone

And not quite sure if I can make it on my own

My best friend

Always there when I need you most

There are no boundaries, from coast to coast

On the rainy days, when I'm down and blue

All I need is to think of you

My best friend

With your long loveable hair

The way your smile fills the air

We stay up and talk until late

Usually we agree, sometimes we debate

My best friend

You are my long lost twin

We're made up of the same stuff within

When something happens, you're the first I want to inform

You always receive it well, never with scorn

My best friend

You're going to exotic places

Going to accomplish and see many faces

Don't forget me while you're conquering the world

I'll always be rooting you on as your greatness unfurls

My brother,

My hero,

My best friend.

-----
A poem for my best pal :) If you read 'Ice Cold', the character Mason represents the same person as the subject of this poem. Thank you, for always being there for me and being like the brother I never had.

Texting Conversation with a Friend (discussion, thoughts)

June 15th, 2011

My friend and I were having a discussion about homosexuality after he said he didn't agree with it, mostly due to, it seemed, his religious beliefs. I do not intend to exploit him or make him look bad by posting about this, I simply wanted to share it. My friend does not, as he said, have a problem with gays and lesbians themselves, as people, but the choice they made. I discussed with him how we think homosexuality comes about; whether it's natural, influenced, or a choice. I think that, depending on the situation, it could be natural or a choice. My friend doesn't think it can be natural. His stance was it is a choice, or if it appears to start from a young age then it was mostly likely influenced by something in the child's life. I think influence can definitely play a huge role, but I believe that there is something in the brain or genetics that can make these influences more, well influential to these certain people than to others. I'm sure there will be lots of scientific studies about this in the future, and I know there are some now even, and I'm anxious to see the results. We also discussed why it was that homosexuality is wrong, based on his beliefs. I would like to share a specific part of the conversation we had. Please feel free to comment on it and leave your thoughts on the subject.

(Raise Your Voice) Light Up Mommy (a poem)

Raise Your Voice

Light Up Mommy

Written June 12th, 2011

*chk* *chk*

Firelight flicker

Malicious embers glow

Burning up the poison

A serpentine tongue of smoke

Rising from your pale deprived lips

Slithering between your dying teeth

Coating your sickly yellow tongue

And torturing your withered lungs