Let’s

.

t

a

k

e

.

a

.

drive,

–

–

you

.

a

n

d

.

I,

.

.

t

o

.

.

the

.

amusement

.

room

.

f

o

r

.

a

.

while,

–

–

where

.

w

e

.

can

.

p

a

y

.

tokens

.

a

t

.

a

.

time . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

a

.

30-minute

.

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ deny

.

t

h

e

.

world

.

outside,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

a

.

30-minute

.

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ wine

.

a

n

d

.

dine

.

t

h

e

.

eyes,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

a

.

30-minute

.

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ purge

.

t

h

e

.

worries

.

f

r

o

m

.

the

.

mind,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

a

.

30-minute

.

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

l

l

–

–

–

we

.

really

.

need

.

t

o

.

do . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ all

we

.

r

e

a

l

l

y

.

need

.

t

o

.

do . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

s

–

–

–

>>>ARRIVE->>

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

let’s

.

t

a

k

e

.

a

.

drive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ let’s

take

.

a

.

drive,

–

–

you

.

a

n

d

.

I . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

a

.

30-minute

.

smile.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 in reflection of some of the exploratory, romantic adventures I had in my earlier years. They were brief but passionate, exciting experiences that I would never trade.

Together

.

w

e

.

waltz

.

into

.

t

h

e

.

serene

.

tease,

.

.

o

f

.

.

a

.

smooth

.

a

n

d

.

soothing

.

dream,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

for

.

a

.

moment

.

believe,

.

.

w

e

.

.

might

.

never

.

n

e

e

d

.

to

.

leave . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ we

might

.

never

.

n

e

e

d

.

to

.

leave . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Anticipation

burns . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Passion

breeds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Memory

blurs . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

conscience

bleeds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

private

.

rooms,

.

.

o

f

.

.

margarita

.

moods

.

a

n

d

.

reminiscent

.

views . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Cartoon

.

colors

.

bloom . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

pleasing

.

images

.

brew . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

.

brew

.

a

n

d

.

confuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

.

brew

.

a

n

d

.

confuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

.

brew

.

a

n

d

.

confuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

eager

.

illusions

.

w

i

t

h

.

the

.

truth.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 in reflection of some of the exploratory, romantic adventures I had in my earlier years. They were brief but passionate, exciting experiences that I would never trade.

So

.

sad

.

t

o

.

see

.

y

o

u

r

.

playful

.

youth,

–

–

subdued

.

a

n

d

.

consumed

.

b

y

.

the

.

tattoos

.

.

o

f

.

.

substance

.

abuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

try

.

t

o

.

hide . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

try

.

t

o

.

hide . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

behind

.

t

h

e

.

wallpaper

.

designs

.

o

f

.

egotistic

.

pride . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

What

.

color

.

w

i

l

l

.

suit

.

y

o

u

r

.

mood

.

tonight,

.

.

a

s

.

.

you

.

begin

.

t

o

.

lead

.

y

o

u

r

.

new

.

life . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

five

.

f

i

n

e

.

flavors,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

two

.

dimensions

.

wide . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ five

.

f

i

n

e

.

flavors,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

two

.

dimensions

.

wide . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

iced

.

w

i

t

h

.

fickle

.

promises

.

a

n

d

.

lies . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

day,

–

–

after

night,

–

–

after

day . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

night,

–

–

after

day,

–

–

after

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

h

o

p

e

.

before

.

t

o

o

.

long,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

come

.

t

o

.

realize,

.

.

h

o

w

.

.

much

.

better

.

i

t

.

felt

.

t

o

.

live

.

alive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

warmth

.

o

f

.

those,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

could

.

o

n

c

e

.

rely . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ within

.

t

h

e

.

warmth

.

o

f

.

those,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

could

.

o

n

c

e

.

rely . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

used

.

t

o

.

move . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ You

.

used

.

t

o

.

move . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

between

.

t

h

e

.

moods

.

o

f

.

smooth,

.

soothing

.

afternoons . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

used

.

t

o

.

bloom

.

into

.

t

h

e

.

laughter

.

a

n

d

.

charm,

.

.

o

f

.

.

mid-morning

.

brewed

.

cartoons . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

now

.

y

o

u

.

cannot

.

f

i

n

d

.

refuge,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

even

.

t

h

e

.

addictions

.

y

o

u

.

refuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ from

even

.

t

h

e

.

addictions

.

y

o

u

.

refuse . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

welcome

.

to

.

t

h

e

.

barbecue,

–

–

where

.

w

e

.

view

.

retreating

.

y

o

u

t

h

.

accumulate

.

t

h

e

.

dues . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

accumulate

.

t

h

e

.

dues . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

accumulate

.

t

h

e

.

dues . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

accumulate

.

t

h

e

.

dues . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

f

–

–

–

retreating

.

youth . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

s

–

–

–

you

.

helplessly

.

move

.

f

r

o

m

.

low

.

t

o

.

high . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

side

.

t

o

.

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

ever

.

mesmerized

.

by

.

t

h

e

.

whirling,

–

–

winding,

–

–

hypnotic

.

ride:

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

can’t

.

g

e

t

.

on . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

can’t

.

g

e

t

.

on . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

can’t

.

g

e

t

.

on . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

you

.

can’t

.

g

e

t

.

off.

Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 where the affected party flirts with temptation and repeatedly gets drawn into the depths of the darkness and chaos it brings – being addicted to the “ride.” It becomes a lifelong, all-consuming struggle – and it seems the affected party will never be able to escape the forces of temptation, addiction, and compulsion. The struggle can represent any form of temptation, addiction, or compulsion: drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, obsessions, etc.

I

.

get

.

t

h

e

.

feeling,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

have

.

n

o

t

.

smiled

.

i

n

.

a

.

while . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

get

.

t

h

e

.

feeling,

–

–

there’s

.

m

u

c

h

.

more

.

inside,

–

–

that

.

y

o

u

.

deny

.

t

h

e

.

world

.

outside . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

although,

.

I

.

know

.

y

o

u

.

might

.

a

t

.

times,

–

–

feel

.

confused

.

a

n

d

.

lost,

–

–

between

.

t

h

e

.

midnight

.

aisles,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

dawn’s

.

unforgiving

.

skies . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

know

.

h

o

w

.

it

.

feels

.

t

o

.

hide

.

b

e

h

i

n

d

.

lies . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

hide

.

b

e

h

i

n

d

.

the

.

hollow

.

disguise,

.

.

o

f

.

.

laughing

.

eyes

.

t

h

a

t

.

would

.

m

u

c

h

.

rather

.

cry . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

know

.

h

o

w

.

it

.

feels . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

know

.

h

o

w

.

it

.

feels

.

t

o

.

live,

.

w

i

t

h

o

u

t

.

being

.

alive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ how

it

.

feels

.

t

o

.

ride

.

t

h

e

.

highest

.

highs,

.

.

i

n

t

o

.

.

the

.

deepest

.

dives . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

know

.

h

o

w

.

it

.

feels . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

So,

.

let’s

.

m

a

k

e

.

today

.

t

h

e

.

day

.

w

e

.

laugh

.

a

n

d

.

dance

.

w

i

t

h

.

the

.

carefree

.

joys,

.

.

w

e

.

.

knew

.

a

s

.

girls

.

a

n

d

.

boys . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ back

when

.

w

e

.

never

.

h

a

d

.

to

.

worry

.

a

b

o

u

t

.

being

.

g

o

o

d

.

enough

.

t

o

.

make

.

t

h

e

.

grade . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

r

–

–

–

about

.

temptations

.

t

h

a

t

.

might

.

lead

.

u

s

.

astray . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ back

when

.

w

e

.

never

.

h

a

d

.

to

.

worry

.

a

b

o

u

t

.

misconceptions

.

a

n

d

.

false

.

impressions . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

r

–

–

–

stereotypes

.

a

n

d

.

hierarchy

.

climbs . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

r

–

–

–

social

.

acceptance

.

a

n

d

.

repentance . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ back

when

.

w

e

.

never

.

h

a

d

.

to

.

worry

.

a

b

o

u

t

.

being

.

g

o

o

d

.

enough . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ good

enough

.

f

o

r

.

love . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

get

.

t

h

e

.

feeling,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

have

.

n

o

t

.

smiled

.

i

n

.

a

.

while . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

.

.

.

I

.

pray

.

I

.

c

a

n

.

somehow

.

fade

.

t

h

e

.

weight

.

o

f

.

shame . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

weight

.

o

f

.

shame

.

t

h

a

t

.

dims

.

t

h

e

.

starshine,

–

–

where

.

y

o

u

r

.

playful

.

youth

–

–

still

.

resides.

Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 where the contemplator is deeply affected by a solemn soul who struggles with love, sadness, loneliness, and acceptance, and tends to get drawn into the depths of darkness and despair where he/she withdraws to struggle alone.

My

eyes

implore

.

t

h

e

.

eyes

imploring

mine . . .

.

.

.

smile,

.

solicits

smile,

.

solicits

smile,

.

solicits

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

.

m

e

n

.

burn

.

f

o

r

.

ecstasy . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

.

m

e

n

.

entertain

.

fantasy . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

.

m

e

n

.

presented

.

a

s

.

straight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

.

m

e

n

.

experimentally

.

gay . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

It’s

.

really

.

j

u

s

t

.

stage

.

play . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ it’s

really

.

j

u

s

t

.

a

.

chess

.

game . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Night,

.

a

f

t

e

r

.

night,

.

I

.

force

.

t

h

e

.

kings

.

o

f

.

manly

.

ways,

.

.

t

o

.

.

positions

.

w

h

e

r

e

.

stalemate

.

reigns . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

positions

.

w

h

e

r

e

.

stalemate

.

reigns . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

they

.

wait . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Wouldn’t

.

y

o

u

.

agonize,

.

.

t

o

.

.

be

.

t

h

e

.

man

.

i

n

.

my

.

life . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Wouldn’t

.

y

o

u

.

compromise,

.

.

t

o

.

.

be

.

t

h

e

.

man

.

i

n

.

my

.

life . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

My

eyes

implore

.

t

h

e

.

eyes

imploring

mine . . .

.

.

.

smile,

.

solicits

smile,

.

solicits

smile,

.

solicits

smile.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in October of 2000 in reflection of tentative, exploratory, forbidden, romantic encounters – with two very attractive men (not at the same time) who were supposedly straight. They were brief but very passionate, exciting experiences for me.

Reflection:

I wrote this poem back in October of 2000 for a friend who shared with me some of the things that happened to him when growing up at home and I could really relate to that – having similar kinds of experiences. So, I wrote this poem as a gift to him and to show that I could really relate to him.

Well, after I gave it to him, he criticized it and said it was not even close to capturing what he had gone through in his life. Then I didn’t hear from him for a while. 

He later reconnected with me and thanked me for writing the poem saying that it had deeply affected him but initially made him feel uncomfortable because he felt exposed and that I had seen right through him. He hadn’t met anyone who could do that right after learning about someone’s childhood history. 

I also intentionally misspelled a word because I’m big on rhythm when writing poetry so I shortened the correct, tedious word “lingeringly” to “lingerly” and it seemed to work.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book Burning . . . Burning Blue: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Boy-You-Never-Knew.pdf

Reflection: This poem captured a special memory of a wonderful, warming experience that can only live in memory. In the late 1990s and early 2000s I had a lot of fun times, wonderful experiences, and memorable adventures, and this one ranks high on that list.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book Burning . . . Burning Blue: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-admin/upload.php?item=18849

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in September of 2000 as a reminder to myself. I had a habit at the time of working a lot of overtime, carrying too many worries, and pursuing too many things at once outside of work. I didn’t realize at the time how all of the things I would worry about would never actually happen and how too many pursuits would create such a stressful life. I’m glad those days are over.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/To-Be-Alive.pdf

Reflection:  I wrote this poem back in July of 2000 in the attempt to help inspire people to live happier and create warmer surroundings for the benefit of all, everyone, and everything they come into contact with. So, I suppose I was a bit of a life coach and philosopher – even years prior to my life-coaching days. 

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Wandering-Echoes-Lost.pdf

Reflection: This was a popular personal struggle-themed poem I wrote back in July of 2000 as a reminder to myself. I had a habit at the time of working a lot of overtime, carrying too many worries, and pursuing too many things at once outside of work. I didn’t realize at the time how all of the things I would worry about would never actually happen and how too many pursuits would create such a stressful life. I’m glad those days are over.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Lone-Shadowed-Aisles.pdf