"...and the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom..."

- anais nin

she walks in beauty, like the night
of cloudless climes and starry skies,
and all that's best of dark and bright
meets in her aspect and her eyes;
thus mellow'd to that tender light
which heaven to gaudy day denies.

one shade the more, one ray the less,
had half impair'd the nameless grace
which waves in every raven tress
or softly lightens o'er her face,
where thoughts serenely sweet express
how pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

and on that cheek and o'er that brow
so soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
the smiles that win, the tints that glow,
but tell of days in goodness spent,
a mind at peace with all below,
a heart whose love is innocent.

- lord byron

this was my third one - and better by far than the preceding two. thanks to all for that.

maddie, you are too young to understand, but know that you are the reason that i live and breathe. i love you with all my heart, and will always - i'm so blessed to have a wonderful, smart, beautiful little girl.

you're the best girl in the world.

on a cold wet
afternoon
no room for love and emptiness
by a freeway
i confess i was lost in the pages
of a book
full of death
reading how we'll die alone
and if a god will lay to rest
anywhere we want to go

in your house
i long to be
room by room
patiently
i'll wait for you there
like a stone
i'll wait for you there
alone

and on my death bed
i will prey
to the gods and the angels
like a pagan
to anyone who will take me to heaven
to a place
i would recall
i was there so long ago
the sky was bruised
the world was black
and there you led me on

in your house
i long to be
room by room
patiently
i'll wait for you there
liek a stone
i'll wait for you there
alone

in all i read
till the day was gone
and i sat in regret
in all the things i've done
for all that i've blessed
and all that i've wronged
in dreams till my death
i will wonder on

in your house
i long to be
room by room
patiently
i'll wait for you there
like a stone
i'll wait for you there
alone
alone

- auidoslave

what lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why,
i have forgotten, and what arms have lain
under my head till morning; but the rain
is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
upon the glass and listen for reply,
and in my heart there stirs a quiet pain
for unremembered lads that not again
will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
thus in winter stands the lonely tree,
nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
i cannot say what loves have come and gone,
i only know that summer sang in me
a little while, that in me sings no more.

- edna st. vincent millay

nature's first green is gold,
her hardest hue to hold.
her early leaf's a flower;
but only so an hour.
then leaf subsides to leaf.
so eden sank to grief,
so dawn goes down to day.
nothing gold can stay.

thought i'd let everyone know i'm still alive.