me

I thought I would miss out on him

when I tried to leave,

but the whole year I gained

He was also happy to have me

Les'Nspired

real

I only need to close my eyes 

and it comes to me like a thundering wave 

a crash of lightening 

you existed 

advice

Someone once told me 

that people tell you who they are 

and to listen to them when they do 

Don’t contradict them to make them feel good 

and don't give their behavior

every measly excuse 

I was to believe in what I saw 

And not who I hoped them to be 

But did I learn it? 

Did I learn anything? 

listen

when last have you laughed 
so hard your belly ached?
inhibitions lowered 
and you just enjoyed the moment?

when last was your brain 
stimulated in awe 
at words presented that touched
a part of you long buried?

crumbs…

crumbs 

i know it’s crumbs 

so smile, girl

pretend it doesn’t bother you 

it doesn’t mean anything

you’re okay 

too much or…

i will challenge you 

probably in ways you have not been before 

i will dig until i’ve held before you 

a mirror reflecting your soul 

some have not found me easy 

and they’ve let me know 

others have openly loved the way 

i sink beneath the skin instead of letting go 

A Father’s Lesson

considered orphaned since quite young 

my Father has taken a personal interest in me 

his watchful eye keeping me 

holding me 

safe 

when others have loomed threateningly 

at different times he has maneuvered me 

out of harm’s way 

protecting me 

safe

keep your eyes open

keep your eyes open, hun

keep them open 

look for the blessings 

with your name on them 

they exist 

stay aware 

do you see them?

they are there

an evening

it is a solitary quiet evening

where the moonlight shines

through the window blinds

i am breathing into the stillness

trying to understand the moment

and find the blessing in it this time

The city of poems

I will get lost in poetry

You will know

My eyes will have that faraway look

I am floating upon stars

and basking in sunsets

shedding aches and pains

through words and expressions 

I am living in another 

dimension

that smells of old libraries 

and cracked book spines

Galactic

Feelings can overwhelm and

they seem to want 

to swallow you whole

then blessed reminders come

they say "hold on"

"do not let go"

and that there is more to life

than what is before our eyes

and the simple things we know

present

if i am going to stay present

live right here in this moment 

i would breathe in and say 

this is perfect 

i am not to think of the past 

its words or actions i feared 

i will not ponder of my future 

taking me somewhere far from here 

because i'm still me

What do you want me to say?
Sometimes I think I just know
with absolute certainty 
what is happening here

Other times
I am an anchorless boat
drifting out to sea
but I am never too far out
to remember me
at least

Summer’s Goodbye

upon each ripple 

is the gold of the sun 

the pink from the sky

the lap lap lapping 

to my ears, lean my head back 

and sigh 

my girl, if you’re asking

he’s a good man 
my girl, if you find you need him 
he is good 

i see you hesitate 
and inside you know you're scared
but if you are asking 
and you want my blessing,
all i’m saying is, he’s good 

thank you

thank you for the gentle breezes
they are like sweet refreshing kisses 
thank you for the sunshine bright on my face 
like kind words warming me with grace
thank you for the colors across the skies 
they are like reminders of love to my eyes 
thank you for the rhythmic buzzing cicadas
like a funny show just to delight us 
thank you for the moonlight amongst the stars 
like a steady father with loving arms 
thank you for you, my best friend 
you are like a cherished promise that will never end 

- les’nspired

coming through

showing up 
and coming through 
i’m learning what it means 
with the things you do;

How is your heart?

How is your heart?

What color is your day?

What number would you choose,

From 1-10 how would it rate?

Questions many don't know

the first thing about how to respond

Little do they look inside

or even think of what's going on

little spectators

They swayed to a slower beat

only they could hear

Even while the music played

and she shed a tear

Their children hid in the hallway

peeking every now and then

Not knowing if this meant

anything new for them

fantasy

She was told it was all fantasy

and all in her head. 

“How pathetic. How crazy!

That is exactly what it is.”

So, she placed it right back

where she found it, instead. 

Perhaps she was never meant

to see the secret paths

to ethereal garden beds.

we do our best

I look at you and 

I can’t read your mind 

And thank goodness that

you can’t read mine

Presuming too much 

or the very worst 

Is quite unfair, and 

only makes us hurt 

So we leave it to God

who can read the heart

And I give you a smile

for all the good you impart 

fighting

Bring it on, then

The battle and the win

It's both mine, I'm in

The work and the blessing

The constant course correcting

Insightful and reflecting

no.

The tireless view grows distant

and I'm trying to be okay with that

of the letting go,

It meant all of everything once

and the beauty was in feeling it

and letting it flow

Back in the beginning 

when I didn't understand 

anything about growth,

I let things be decided for me

while I accepted my hand

and, baby girl, it showed

KIA 𖦏

 It seemed so achingly simple

the steps were clear as the brightest day

yet the path was littered with casualties

of a war not yet fought along the way

 The future brimmed with hope

of a time to bask in the sweetest freedom

yet the variables became a sniper

that aimed its scope, fired, and it was gone

 No one saw the defeat

of all the pure and innocent part

and the collateral damage went unseen,

for the victim was my heart

-Les'Nspired 𖦏