was having mountains o’ nothing at birth

- tracy chapman

on the altars of each other

- hallie

but in those one seconds
of our redundant past

you at me in your mouth
i am glass

- hallie

it is only after awhile that you learn
the subtle difference
between holding a hand
and chaining a soul

and you learn that love doesn’t mean possession
and company doesn’t mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises

and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up
and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult
not the grief of a child.

and you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down
in mid-flight.

after awhile you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

and you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth…

…and you learn, you learn what it means to unconditionally love another person
because you have first learned what it means to love yourself…

- veronica a. shoffstall

un chucho
southern spain

your eyes are black aces
that do not gamble
but my heart ups the ante
as I lay it on your coffee table

- hallie

in the fine print they tell me
what’s wrong
and what’s right
and it comes in black
and it comes in white
and I’m frightened by those
who don’t see it

when nothing is owed,
deserved or expected
and your life doesn’t change
by the man that’s elected

if you’re loved by someone,
you’re never rejected
decide what to be
and go be it

- avett brothers