bleeding

i keep myself on the edge of the crowd

and it hurts

i thought it would be safe

close enough to be friends

but far enough so that they can't stab me with unintentional swords

but i am bleeding

stabbing myself with their words

and with hurt feelings

i'm standing on the edge of the crowd

on the edge of a knife

and it hurts

beasts

if i were a man with gills

i would swim in the ocean blue

if i were a bird, i would soar

over a pretty canoe

if i were a gigantic bear

i would stomp and would roar and would eat

if a snake, i would swivel and sweep

and look for a delicious treat

if a bug, i would creep and would crawl

and try my best not to be crushed

if a sloth i be, i hang around

i would not stand to be rushed

but none of these beasts can i be

for myself i am, as always was

so then i shall strive to be

the best me that i ever can be

music

music

mere sounds, strung together

in sequence

and combination

such to move souls

and words

which speak

of life and death

of light and life

of swords and shattered spines

and me

my failures

successes

pains and joys

fears

doubts

spoken by a thousand musicians

composed into notes, up and down

back and forth

swaying sounds

from the beginning to the end

the singer sings

of the beginning

and the end