Endgame.

With my head no longer being held underwater by your ghost,

I greedily fill my lungs with oxygen,

now that I know what it feels like again to breathe.

Held hostage for too long by love that refused to stay afloat.

Shipwrecked heart of mine lay at the bottom of the sea,

barely beating, broken by the change you brought about in me.

Buried, like the treasure that we could’ve been,

I wash my hands clean of this failed experiment.

Tsunamis nor earthquakes could bring us ashore.

Lost to time, forevermore.

Until we resurface as a myth,

for no one would believe a love like ours could exist.

I woke up this morning and wrote your name in the sand.

I've done that on every beach I've been on since I met you,

but I'm never going to do it again.

I'm ready to move on.

This beach will be the last to know your name.

Written carefully so each grain of sand would know our pain.

My memories of you wash away with the rise and fall of the tide.

As waves crash into us one last time,

I say goodbye.

Some Unholy War.

Each holy man there is, is convinced he's better than the next,

as his right hand tightly clasps prayer beads, whilst he judges others with his left.

Piety the reason that he wakes up every day,

just to forget that only God can judge, even if someone is gay.

Whether devoted to the gospel or in submission to the Muslim holy book,

many of these zealots cannot be told apart from crooks.

Their lies are so often inspired by an agenda that remains hidden

amongst claims they will be forgiven for each slip, no matter how forbidden.

 

Living in the future, they are consumed with the afterlife,

but it is so convenient to forget the rules every time they take another wife.

These hypocrites misinterpret ancient words however they see fit,

when the truth holds no advantage from which they could somehow profit.

Wars have been fought over less than a few acres of land,

both sides convinced the blood was spilled as part of their God's plan.

Self-righteousness surrounds us, humanity has ceased to exist,

replaced by laws made by hateful pastors and religious nuts like Kim Davis or ISIS.

Who can say that religion has done less harm than good,

when it can be held responsible for divided neighbourhoods?

When practiced with humility, it can be a beautiful thing;

praised for the prosperity it brings, and turned to for guidance in times of suffering.

But more often than not, Ten Commandments are ignored whenever we commit seven deadly sins,

we are so conscious of all our imperfections but ignorant of our blessings.

False prophets preaching in the streets take advantage of our desperation for something to believe in;

the confidence with which they spread their ignorance is rarely seen as deceiving.

Mankind will only survive this state of emergency if we unlearn all that we know,

once we accept that religion hinders us more than it helps us grow.

There is nothing wrong with having a little faith,

if it inspires love and does not advocate messages filled with hate.

God has no religion.  There is no more need for these unholy wars,

let us not be so insecure that any offense is one worth fighting for.

Muslim, Christian, Hindu, or Jew; there will always be power in numbers,

lest we forget that before our dogma divided us, we lived together as sisters and brothers.

Find Me.

If you should ever find yourself lost in this life,

and are unsure of where it was you may have strayed from your path.

Retrace your steps, and catch your breath,

count the many ways that you are blessed.

It may not seem like you have it all figured out,

but it’s a start; there is no need to feel alarmed

Just like some flowers take longer to bloom,

I promise one day you will also discover the beauty of you.

Maybe even in the darker moments,

when you feared nothing would change,

perhaps in the smiling faces of your loved ones,

or in the mentors that have guided you along the way. 

Search through the corridors of your old stomping grounds,

read through dear diaries, or learn a new skill at the library.

Some may find it in churches, and others in nightclubs;

there is no right place to go when you are lost, wanting to be found.

Recount the lessons that you have learned,

that helped shape the individual you are today.

Reflect on the bridges you may have burned,

that changed the geography of your landscape.

Accepting that you may be lost is the hardest part,

nobody likes to admit when they are wrong;

asking for help is just as difficult,

for it is seen as weakness when you are actually quite strong.

Do not compare your scars or trophies with anyone.

Focus on the progress you have made,

your successes, and your failures, too,

as they will help you stay motivated and on track.

 

No two paths are the same—each journey is unique;

there is no need to fret or worry even if you find yourself at a dead-end on a one-way street.

Every obstacle comes equipped with opportunities for you to grow,

just be patient, and listen closely to what your heart wants you to know.

Even in the times you felt the most alone,

the voice, the soul within you, never left your side.

Despite not knowing which way to go,

your spirit always helped you find your way back home.

So, the next time you look around again and do not recognize a thing,

or begin to feel anxious because you are unsure of how to proceed,

remember to open your eyes wide, and retrace your steps.

Catch your breath until you make peace with not always knowing what comes next.