The Lullaby

I hear a lullaby of screams.

I've done something wrong. I can feel it, deep in my chest. It blossoms, the petals turning a bright crimson as it settles on the surface. My brand of shame. A scarlet letter of my disgrace.

Soon enough, my name pops up. It's intertwined with the shrieking, off-key melody of a woman. A man bellows a harmony. My ears ring as they combine their song.

Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn.

Ah, the dissonance. Too bad the chord won't resolve.

Their words leak through the thin, filmy barrier that I have created. The lyrics have ceased to shock me; it isn't the first time I have heard these notes. They're far too familiar now to bother me.

This is the point when I close my eyes.

Amber Twilight

Sit here in the amber twilight
Let the grass fade into comfortable shades
Of gray
Let the skies dissolve into pleasing hues
Of royalties

You sir,
Yes, you - the one with dreams like
Crumpled newspaper clippings
- Is that your heart I see here
Lying at my feet?
Its heartbeat is so quick
A hummingbird trapped behind a ribcage

You miss,
Yes, you - the one with thoughts like
An empty bottle of knock-off vodka
- Is that your mind I see here
Resting in my palms?
Its memories stuck on replay
The film in a tape deck snagged

Sit here in the amber twilight
Let the stars grow from cold tints
Of sapphire
Let the earth seep into dying colors
Of ebony

His Story

It wasn't your fault
It wasn't your decision
As she slid them down
One, two, three... Seven?
She's on the fast track now to
The city of lights

Bright with malice
Bright with bitterness
Bright with pain

The city of lights
She's in the wrong lane now
One, two, three... Breathe?
As she slid to the floor
It wasn't your decision
It wasn't your fault

Rejuvenation

Into cinders I shall burn
To smoke I shall fade
From juniper I shall be reborn
But into your arms I shall always fall
Cherishing the scent of your skin

Silver Bells

I hear the crystal clarity of
The bells
Silver
Their persistent chatter
A thousand chittering birds
Glass shattering
Madness
Kissing my lips because of
The bells
Silver
A warm touch
Brushes my cheekbone
Then
Silence
Nothingness
The bells
Silver
Clatter to the floor
I no longer hear the crystal clarity of
The bells
These silver bells

Nature's Lament (The White Wolf)

She's okay
- Her crystallized tears
Stashed beneath her skirts

(Her cold breath)
It's quivering
A string of sixteenth notes
Over the roots of
A fallen tree
Cracked bark
Decaying leaves

Oh, dear Mr. Winter
Have you come to warm her soul?
Even if frost creeps around her
And her lips turn blue
She's still here, waiting for you

Oh, dear Mr. Wolf
Have you come to save her soul?
Even if you bare your fangs for her
And fear runs you through
She's still here, waiting for you

(Her icy eyes)
They're glistening
A frozen landscape
Where the creatures
Are finding paradise
Nighttime sonatas
Moonlit flowers

She's okay
- Her stone heart
Learning to beat again

Sparrowsong

Little bird
Keep flying
Even if your feathers are ruffled
And wings are broken
Dream for the
Rasberry sunsets
Vanilla skies

Little bird
Keep trying
Never let the wolves tear at your plummage
And pin you to to the ground
Dream for the
Strawberry sunrises
Butterscotch clouds