A golden sky between my fingers

I stare up from my spot on the ground

My back is hard against the pavement

But in my head I'm soaring way up there

Maybe crying because I know

It's raining somewhere else.

This is a poem I wrote for school about the legendary hero Beowulf in the style of ancient poetry... I think it turned out pretty well consiering it was a school project.

Elegy For the Fallen King

A great warrior you were

And a great king, lord of the Geat-havens.

Many foes were felled by your formidable hand.

Your ship broke the whale-den’s waters when news of the Danes’ distress

Came to you.  You took up arms to defend them

Though they were not your kin, though your ruler questioned it.

Your valiant heart was not fazed by that heaven-cursed monster.

Others cowered in fear, but you met him in the raven-dark night,

Tore his arm with godlike strength and sent him to perish in misery.

Then you were praised, victor of kings, 

But did not hesitate to once again take up your sword

For Hrothgar and his people, against the wretched swamp-mother

Seeking revenge.  You endured her blade-sharp claws

And smote her as you had her son.

You proved yourself as an iron-strong defender and an honorable man.

You became the Geats’ king, renowned and revered.

Your strength and courage were known by all.

You never hid from the battle, even when

Greed-fire scorched the heavens and illuminated your doom.

Though you had become old, your blood burned with battle-lust.

Valiance and foolishness were both your companions as you went alone

Into the dragon’s treasure-lair, forgetting that you too were human.

That was your flaw, ruler of the Geats.

Your pride and confidence consumed you as rust consumed the dragon’s gold.

The scale-beast bested you and it was only by the faith of another,

Loyal even in the blood-bright danger, were the Geats freed from torment.

But even then your death was sure.  You left your people 

For the endless sword-fields of the noble warriors that came before.

You will join their ranks and restlessly await the battles of the gods.

But will you remember how your people loved you?

They stand in mourning, watching the pyre-smoke rise up

Their noblest defender did not return valiant from the chaos.

They weep for you, O king, burying you with the shining gold

You thought to win.  Neither will see this world’s sun again.

I should have known

something was wrong

From the moment I spoke

my first word to you;

Yes, I should have seen

The signs, they were so obvious 

And now... I still can't even 

Explain it. 

My stomach still churns,

My eyes start to burn,

And my palms grow warm and sweaty.

Your... face is still etched into my memory--

But no, not in a good way. 

It's not that I didn't notice then--

I did.

I just thought...

Everything would be fine. 

I thought it was going to be

how it always was.

Just a fun little game.

Oh,

I see it now,

the irony.

I'm always the one the joke is "played" on.

I always convince myself when I see the signs

That I'm just looking too hard into it.

But my first impression's always right.

And my ignoring it always comes back to bite. 

You scared me then, you really did.

Even before I realized what you were.

I thought it was strange-- creepy, even.

I really should have listened to myself then.

But I didn't and now I'm here

My stomach emptied,

Nerves all bundled up,

And not as fine as I used to be. 

I really do regret it.

~~~~~

I'm genuinely still shook. And scared to go back.

I always run away.

Whether it's

from school

Or home 

Or people

Or dogs.

I always run away.

Whether it's

from wind

Or tears

Or gunshots

Or memories.

I always run away.

Whether it's

from me

Or you

Or someone I don't know

I always run away.

I'm always running, but even that's never enough.

I'm never really that far away.

Kicking

Hear the splash

Squint against the spray

You're drowning

Not in water

But in

Memories 

I'm a bird trapped;

Falling,

In an iron cage

Even when,

If,

I manage

to escape

I still have to outfly the flames

Or maybe today it's an earth-devouring flood

Or maybe I'm already buried

Never again will I see the placid sky

Because I'm just a bird who can't truly fly.

Suck in the cold atmosphere,

Feel your throat burn hard,

Blink your aching eyes

Again the dreary overcast sky;

Take a step into the hollow bustle,

Feel raindrops fall, cold, on your face,

Bite your chapped lips as you stumble through the streets,

Icy cracked hands stuffed in pockets full of junk;

Your hood goes up, tears come down:

Hot and itchy and enough to keep your head down,

You reach an alley an suddenly you're running,

Running away from nothing, nothing at all.

"What's wrong?"

Quickly flash a reassuring smile,

"Ah, nothing really.

It's just... A little crowded."

The smile is strained but no one'll notice

"Oh, so you're here to clear your head a little?"

Watch her head tilt back as she surveys the night,

Eyes ringing a sad tune, breath pouring clouds into a cold sky;

"Yeah.

You could say that."

Can't look away, even though she's not paying attention,

"It's a bit chilly out here.

I guess I'll go in now.

See you later." 

She says,

You watch her back as she re-enters the light,

She'll forget about this soon;

This conversation.

This night.

You.

That's how it always is.

People move on too quickly. 

Stare down at the brown buds littering the pavement

Just yesterday they were a lovely shade of pink 

Now they're gone, beauty stolen away by jealous Time

They're just like people, to quick to leave

They're just like Spring; gorgeous, but fleeting

They're just like the world, perfect but not quite

Rain patters down, washing away the ideas

Now keep walking down the street

Here's one I wrote a few days ago. I call it Sometimes. Let me know what you think.

Sometimes

Sometimes

It's a daydream 

We dance around the living room

and everything's just fine

Sometimes

We're a new life

with something in between us that can keep us both alive

Sometimes

When I'm with you

I think I might just be falling in...

Sometimes

Sometimes

It's a new day, it's a new day, it's a new day into night

Sometimes

It's a nightmare

I ask you

"Can we hangout"

And you say

"Sometime soon"

But that time will never come...

We both know that, way deep down

Because even if it's love

I'll have to let go of my...

Sometimes. 

Sometimes

I can't stand that blueish white

Stained air that reeks of rain

Sometimes

I can't stand the confines of walls

And language and humankind

Sometimes

I want to break free and soar past the heavens

To a place filled with the hopeful glimmer of stars 

Sometimes 

I want to be one with everything nature has to offer

Far away from this reality 

Sometimes

In my thoughts I get

All those things I want

And can escape the shackles of this world

Flying away,

so far that I'm floating free