Too Tired To Stop Working At My Problems

...What am I suppose to know here?
Why does everyone stare at me
Like there's some line I'm supposed to say
I'm a horrible actor
And I can't live my life this way
Just help me find a secret place where I can find some protection
And curl up and hide from the world
Please, just give me a hand
Throw me a flotation heart
Something I can pull myself out of the water on
Because even though I've been crowned king of the sea by popular vote
I'm afraid of deep water
And drowning
Even with you floating next to me

I know I'm supposed to recite cliches
For displaying love and dedication
But I'm uncomfortable at the thought
Of hoodwinking an entire nation
Of people who think that I don't feel
And can't hurt at all
I want to let you know that I have a wit
I can be original! I swear I can!
I can burn brighter than them all
If you cast me into the flames

Just listen to the words I whisper
Into your deafened, ringing ears
Try to understand when I tell you
That for now, there's nothing and no one
Who can equal you
For I'm so tired sometimes
When the pain just sets in deep
That I have to bleed out all my hate and envy
So I'm not some upright standing gentleman creep
And now is the time, my dear sweet darling
I tuck you in, and kiss you to sleep
And slid out of bed, put on my suit
Slide my feet into boots
And place a gun next to my heart
I'm dressed up and dangerous
And ready to see this through
Now if only I could win this losing battle
Or at least have any taste of victory at all
('Cause you know, I'd just be drinking it for you)

When The World Is On Fire, Who Puts It Out? Or Do We All Just Burn Together?

[this poem is dedicated to my friend Amanda]

Sometimes when I'm rising and falling
Taking pictures of sunflowers and the bodies in the streets
I just have to say
"I'm sure you'll carry on and make it through
Because, after all, the world has never seen someone just like you"
Cliched words, but I really don't care
Because no matter how you are
Living, loving, broken, defeated, dead
Or hopeful
We'll keep you inside our hearts
Even when we don't know where they are
Or do, and can't tell you

And Oh, there's so many bright lights
And no, no welcoming shadows at all
I hope you're not afraid to keep on living
Because sometimes we just have to walk alone
Although, really, we have Someone walking behind us all the time
Despite this, and a traveling song
Sometimes I get so weak
And the worlds changes form
With everything I once held dear a freak
And he'll see you lying next to him
And whisper words that he's never heard
No matter what you do, there will always be someone
Who can make you forgiven

But now's the time to confess;
You messed up
Or maybe we both did (but it's still mostly your fault)
Although, ya know, that doesn't really matter
Because the alarm just goes off earlier if you always wake up late
(Nothing's wrong with waking up late
If you never got any sleep at all
And nothing is bad when you try to make it right
As long as you do your best before you give up for the night)

With All The Flashing And All The Shadows, It's Surprising I Even Showed Up To This Press Conference

Why does it all have to be so hard
Why can't I just say "I love you"?
Would it really do that much to rock your world
Would it be that thoughtless to tell you what you should know
That I think you have my heart
And there's not much that can be done to change my part
In this elaborate play of life

With a life that's this demanding
It's good that it's at least this forgiving
And my eyes are shinging bright
From tears if you say no
And anticipation until you do
I'm sure that if you stick around, eventually you'll be forgiven
Even though there's nothing you think the mob wants more than your head

Why are you lying awake?
Can't you sleep, lying next to me?
Or are you just thinking, pondering love and ectasy?
I'm sure that if you sleep, you'll keep on living
Because too much of a good thing can kill you, especially if that good thing
Was never meant for feeling at all

And this whole poem is a metaphor
Or maybe I'm just aimlessly throwing words out
Hoping some of them will fall into someone's heart
And maybe mean something special to them
Well, I don't know for sure, I've been told
That if I don't rhyme these poems
They quickly grow old
And I don't know
Exactly what they're supposed to do
Except that it somehow involves a heart