You

used

.

t

o

.

dance

.

i

n

.

the

mirror,

–

–

right

.

i

n

.

front

.

o

f

.

me,

–

–

topless

.

i

n

.

your

.

b

o

x

e

r

.

shorts,

–

–

showered

.

a

n

d

.

smooth,

–

–

clean

.

a

n

d

.

serene,

–

–

secretly

taunting

.

a

n

d

.

teasing

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ a

confused

.

a

n

d

.

naive,

–

–

United

States

Marine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

believe

.

y

o

u

.

would

.

e

v

e

r

.

perceive,

.

.

t

h

e

.

.

eyes

.

t

h

a

t

.

barely

strayed

.

f

r

o

m

.

my

.

fitness

magazine,

.

.

u

n

t

i

l

.

.

the

evening

.

y

o

u

.

came

.

t

o

.

release

.

m

y

.

each

.

a

n

d

.

every

fantasy . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

wrestling

.

m

y

.

resistance

to

.

t

h

e

.

barracks

floor,

–

–

wanting

.

s

o

.

much

more

.

t

h

a

n

.

I

.

ever

.

k

n

e

w

.

before . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ ecstasy

screaming

.

.

d

e

e

p

.

.

inside

.

o

f

.

me,

–

–

almost

.

n

o

t

.

believing

.

i

t

.

was

.

t

r

u

l

y

.

happening . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

How

.

m

a

n

y

.

times

.

h

a

d

.

I

.

quietly

spied

.

y

o

u

r

.

physique,

–

–

drawing

myself

.

n

e

a

r

.

only

.

i

n

.

dreams,

.

.

s

o

.

.

you

.

c

o

u

l

d

.

feel

.

m

y

.

exploring

fingers

.

b

r

u

s

h

.

against

.

y

o

u

r

.

rose

.

t

i

p

.

nipples . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ my

fingers

.

b

r

u

s

h

e

d

.

against

.

y

o

u

r

.

rose

.

t

i

p

.

nipples . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

heartbeats

.

galloped

ablaze

.

a

s

.

whispers

ricocheted

.

o

f

f

.

of

neglected

lips . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Midnight

danced

. 

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds,

.

.

a

s

.

.

our

private

.

a

i

r

l

i

n

e

.

continued

.

t

o

.

climb

.

throughout

.

t

h

e

.

night,

.

.

u

n

t

i

l

.

.

reaching

.

t

h

e

.

first

.

hint

.

o

f

.

daylight,

–

–

when

.

s

h

e

.

rolled

.

i

n

t

o

.

a

.

spiral

.

.

.

d

i

v

e

.

.

.

 ~ she

rolled

.

i

n

t

o

.

a

.

spiral

.

.

.

d

i

v

e

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

r

o

m

–

–

–

the

.

d

a

w

n

.

skies

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

rise . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

never

again

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

eyes

.

m

e

e

t

.

eyes,

.

.

o

r

.

.

reveal

what

.

w

a

s

.

felt

inside . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

sometimes,

.

I

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

think

.

o

f

.

you,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

the

desire

.

t

h

a

t

.

raged

throughout

.

t

h

a

t

.

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

forbidden

night

.

s

w

e

p

t

.

upon

.

t

h

e

.

forgotten

pages

.

o

f

.

time . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

wonder

whether

.

t

h

e

.

one

you’re

.

w

i

t

h

.

tonight,

.

.

h

a

s

.

.

discovered

more

.

t

h

a

n

.

just

romantic

candlelight,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

a

forest

.

f

i

r

e

.

burns

inside,

–

–

every

.

t

i

m

e

.

midnight

dances

.

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ every

.

t

i

m

e

.

midnight

dances

.

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

recall . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

re-ignite . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

re-energize

.

t

h

a

t

.

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

.

n

i

g

h

t

.

forever

.

l

e

f

t

.

behind.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in August of 1999 in reflection of being passionately “drawn” to someone with the initials G.L. during an early, uncertain stage of romance back in my Marine Corps days. It felt exhilarating, ecstatic, and sometimes even devastating while surfing the highs, and lows, and highs for moments at a time during that early period of my life.

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in July of 1999 in reflection of the burning addictions that consumed so many that surrounded me back then.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nothing-Pristine.pdf

Reflection: This was a popular poem that I wrote back in June of 1999. Anyone who has experienced heart wrenching circumstances in life involving others, and all the ups and downs that such experiences can bring, will probably be able to relate to this poem.

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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in June of 1999 in reflection of the fast-paced technological age and how it was supposed to make things better and easier but actually created a workplace without boundaries.

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

Reflection: This was a popular personal struggle-themed poem I wrote back in February of 1999 in reflection of my newly discovered adventurous spirit. Some of the experiences I had back then were quite interesting and others not so much. The poem was written as a sort of a reminder to not get consumed by it all.

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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in December 1998 in reflection of children I knew and the potential dismal future they might have – not by their choice but as a consequence of the state of the world affairs at the time. This two-part poem seems even more relevant today.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Question-of-Days-Part-I-and-Part-II.pdf

Reflection: This was an inspirational/hope-themed poem that I wrote back in October 1998 as a poem of hope, perspective, and inspiration to people. Sometimes, that is just what a person needs. So, I suppose even as an early poet I was a bit of a life coach – even before I started down that path.

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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in September 1998 in reflection of the eye-opening movie: “Fail Safe.”

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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in August of 1998 in reflection of the high expectations embraced by the bright, young, ambitious graduates entering the workplace for the very first time. The poem essentially reflects my advice to them: Don’t get overwhelmed by ambitions or forget what it means to truly live.

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

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in December 1997 in reflection of some of the relentless pursuits of adventure and experience I observed at the time – sailing the lows, and highs, and lows. Some of which ended up having devastating consequences.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Burning-Blue.pdf