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,

.

.

t

h

a

t

.

.

you

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

.

i

t

.

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

spirit

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

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 repeatedly 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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in June of 2000. It was yet another reflection bearing witness to the technology and engineering workforce machine and a much needed, constant reminder to not get consumed by it the way so many others had. It was a real problem back then (and it continues to be).

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

Reflection: This was a popular romantic-themed poem I wrote back in June of 2000. It was a reflection on failed marriages due to chaos, those who married too young, and people in denial.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Your-Remaining-Days-With-Me.pdf

Sailor

.

b

o

y

.

does

.

n

o

t

.

know,

–

–

which

direction

.

t

o

.

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

which

facets

.

o

f

.

ego,

.

.

h

e

.

.

might

.

b

e

.

willing

.

t

o

.

expose . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ which

facets

.

o

f

.

ego,

.

.

h

e

.

.

might

.

b

e

.

willing

.

t

o

.

expose . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

d

e

e

p

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

fathoms

.

o

f

.

his

young,

.

erratic,

.

seaward

soul . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

t

h

e

–

–

–

roots

.

o

f

.

tender

feelings

.

a

r

e

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

show . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

roots

.

o

f

.

tender

feelings

.

a

r

e

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

show:

–

–

–

.

.

.

Will

.

y

o

u

.

stay

with

.

h

e

r

.

although

.

y

o

u

r

.

want

embraces

.

m

y

.

own ?

–

–

–

.

.

.

Will

.

y

o

u

.

r – – e – – a – – c – – h

for

.

t

h

e

.

traditional

family

.

h

o

m

e

.

even

.

i

f

.

it

means,

.

.

y

o

u

r

.

.

yearnings

.

m

u

s

t

.

live

alone ?

–

–

–

.

.

.

It

can

.

b

e

.

difficult

.

I

.

know,

.

.

t

o

.

.

explore

.

t

h

e

.

unpaved

roads . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ so

difficult

.

I

.

know,

–

–

when

.

t

h

e

.

red

Maserati

.

.

o

f

.

.

your

reckless

.

s

o

u

l

.

only

wants

.

t

o

.

spin

around,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

lose

control . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

It

.

o

n

l

y

.

wants

.

t

o

.

spin

around . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

It

.

o

n

l

y

.

wants

.

t

o

.

spin

around . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

It

.

o

n

l

y

.

wants

.

t

o

.

spin

around . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

lose

control . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

u

p

o

n

–

–

–

unpaved

roads . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

.

.

.

I

.

w

i

l

l

.

wait . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

.

w

i

l

l

.

wait

.

f

o

r

.

you,

–

–

until

.

t

h

e

.

autumn

gold

.

n

o

.

longer

holds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ until

.

y

o

u

r

.

smiling

.

e

y

e

s

.

lose

.

t

h

e

i

r

.

amber

glow . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ until

.

t

h

e

.

warmth

.

o

f

.

memory,

–

–

grows

old . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

grows

cold . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

your

.

initial

glance . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ your

first,

.

tender,

.

tentative,

.

touch,

.

.

w

i

l

l

.

.

never

pass . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

will

forever

.

toss

.

a

n

d

.

tumble,

–

–

upon

.

t

h

e

.

green

.

a

n

d

.

golden

grass . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ upon

.

t

h

e

.

green

.

a

n

d

.

golden

grass,

.

.

i

n

.

.

the

days

.

o

f

.

future

passed.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in March of 2000 in reflection of a tentative, exploratory, romantic encounter and the resulting mixed feelings of warmth, hope, passion, excitement, loneliness, despair, anxiety, and depression throughout the ups and downs – where I experienced a few wonderful, warming moments of closeness which ended up being much more than offset by the many moments of distance and disengagement. I feel I am happier for at least having had the experience rather than not, however.