The Colors of Camp

The wood is worn

From laughter and years.

The paint is faded

From conversations and tears.

The squeals and shouts

Seep out from the door

Accompanied by

a little one’s snore.

A tornado of color

Overtook the room.

Bunks, bags, and beds.

Carelessly strewn.

The bathroom’s a graveyard

From battles lost.

The victors fought hard

For they knew of the cost.

The mud on their faces

Was caked on with sweat.

Their eyes began drooping

While slumber, she threat.

Mr. Bill

There was a young fellow named Bill

Who hated to swallow his pills.

He one day was sick

And swallowed them quick.

He no longer wished to be ill.

Meg the Pirate

There was a mean pirate named Meg.

A big sea monster ate her leg.

She refused to die

Or even just cry.

But now we just know her as Peg. 

To Heal or Not to Heal

The only way to dream is to let go.

Allow yourself to fade and to forget.

To sacrifice your mind and what you know.

And sleep away your troubles and regret.

The only way to grow is to move on.

To shed the old, embrace the raw and new.

To sacrifice the darkness for the dawn.

And leave behind familiar things you do.

The only way to heal is to admit

To face your pain and choose to claim your life.

To realize that not all things befit.

And choose to walk away from useless strife.

Although this all sounds marvelous and quaint.

I much prefer Thanatos’s constraint. 

Her House on the Shore

My

Ma made me

Promise that I’d

Try my best in school.

And always give it my all,

Even when I thought it was too

Hard or I couldn’t do it. I promised I

Would go to college and make a name for

Myself. She made me promise to get a good job.

One where I could not only make a lot of money. But

I could make a difference. I could help people. I promised her

That I would buy her a big house out on the shore. A place she could

Relax. Take a break. Reflect on all the good that she had done. So I did. I gave

My best and worked really hard. I got a good job helping people. I even bought a big

                         House out on the shore. It had a wide wrap around porch with two white

                         Rocking chairs out front. There were three bedrooms so she could invite

                         Her friends and family over for visits whenever she wanted. The view was

                         My favorite part because the sun rose right over the water. The beams of

                         Light licked the water gently;  they jumped  from                     place to place.

                         There was a big yard full of  oak samplings and a                    giant sycamore

                         Tree.  It even had a sweet  little garden tucked  in                    one side  that

                         she could  grow her famous tomatoes in and plant                   her pumpkins.

                         I knew right  when I bought it that mama would love the little flowerbeds.

                         She was known for planting beautiful yellow marigolds come each spring.

                         But I bet  that Mama’s  favorite                                  would be the kitchen.

                         She loved  to make cakes,  pies                                  and pastries. She also

                         made the  absolute best  roast                                     beef anyone ever had.

                         It made my mouth  water with                                    every bite. Now she

                         Could entertain and have all of                                   the parties with all the

                         Neighbors  like she  wanted to.                                  Only, my Mama never

                         Saw the house I bought for her.                                  She passed away last

                         Winter. She fought her hardest                                   and gave it her all, but

                         Not even my college degree or                                  ‘good job’ could stop

                         The cancer from spreading. At                                   first I was upset. Angry.

                         Unforgiving. But now I see that                                  this house is more than

                         Brick or stone. It is a chance to                                  thank her for what she

                         Taught me. It is a chance to help                               others. It is her memory.