was it a dream?

 what happened at midnight shouldn't have
 with the rainy night full of mystery
 i thought i had solved the enigma when
 you came and you stole the breath from me

 through the misty paths of the city park
 we walked where the bravest fear to go
 as captive hearts found a way to break free
 and a dark night started to spark

 and glow

coembodied

 a line of suitors:
 winter's lovers come,
 then leave in silence;
 for none who try to know her
 ever find what they seek.

 together, though, she and i
 coembody the same pattern:
 the way life breaks itself
 down to its most basic parts,
 both the stark and the glowing

Not That Bad

 It's not that bad when it's this cold,
 And you're alone, with just the birds;
 It's not that bad when you grow old,
 And grasp for friends, for thoughts, for words --

 It's not that bad to look around
 And wonder where it all went wrong;
 It's not that bad, but not that good:
 But, then, you've known that 
 
 All along

Exclusionary

 Have you been outside, looking in?
 Or maybe inside, looking out?
 There's always some who do not want you,
 That much is beyond all doubt --

 "Inclusion" is the goal, and while
 We see exclusion, and condemn,
 We promptly go back into lines
 That we have labeled us

 And them

Esperanza

 And maybe hope is all that's real.
 Like love done versus love we feel,
 I think hope, though it sounds absurd,
 Is really more an action word

 Than how it typically is used.
 I've seen it, so, don't get confused:
 In Esperanza, stately, tall
 I've seen how hope wins over all,

  In how she can, with family,
  She good to come that no one else
  Can see

the empty train

 i didn't mean to board this empty train,
 but love, like chocolate, stole away my brain
 and left me making choices based on whims --
 but opposites attract just antonyms.
 
 i don't know where we're going, and don't care:
 anywhere i am is everywhere
 you'd ever want to be, if you were me --
 a platypus, who sleeps on regency.

 no one to take my ticket. it seems strange
 they called me crazy; said i was deranged,
 but i'm just different, anyone can see --
 and difference is what makes you

 like me

grow your meaning

 grow your meaning everyday.
 give it water, sun, and soil;
 happy, then, becomes your toil,
 making it seem more like play:
  grow your meaning, everyday.

 plant the stories you would tell.
 sow them out of what you know;
 only you know how they'll go,
 seed them long, and plant them well:
  plant the stories you would tell.

 hills and fields of empathy,
 crops of every type and size:
 line them up, or improvise,
 it's the world we need to see:
  hills and fields of empathy.

a gone belief

 he knew, but couldn't tell you;
 the world grew cold, and old,
 the streets were empty, like a loft
 whose house has just been sold

 those words you needed -- hidden --
 that truth you needed -- gone --
 so how is it we most rely
 on what we can't

 count on?

united we lie

 we are we were we meant to be
 coerced now into liberty
 we're free to chose and free to lose
 and free to pay our increased dues
 from sea to shining growing sea
 a trending bit of travesty

 we were we weren't we didn't know
 and it was so damn long ago
 united we lie side-by-side:
 greed, sloth, avarice, and pride
 with envy as the star of show
 and each a highly paid all-pro

  this is this was this had to be
  united we lie

  blatantly