A (wise) man of two faces

Moodstone

Each crowd has an atmosphere
a subtle way it colors the air
and today I don’t even need the sun
to feel the warm sunshine.

This zealous zephyr,
this pleasant breeze
lifts me up
puts me at ease.

Cheap food and cheap drinks
with balls and phallic symbols:
American pastime.

The azure skyline
stretches out like an ocean
of sweet, sweet freedom.

Departing the crumbing tower,
the wanderer walks into the wilderness
and finds peace as a lover unbroken
beneath ten heavy stars.

I asked to see you.
So you stood before me and
opened up your chest.

I tried so hard but
I lost count of all the scars
crisscrossing your heart.

You stood and puzzled
why I whispered, “Beautiful…”.
You didn’t get it.

For all of your pain,
you gave me your honesty
with flattering ease.

The way she filled that dress
was a subtle, sweet caress
and she danced and she moved
like she had nothing to prove.

Some people carry
quiet, desperate passion
aching for release.

The crystal clear skies
bear down on me again –
tighter than a web of lies,
heavier than all my sin.

Yesterday I threw out the brown sugar
she had bought to make a new dish
which I had to fight to choke down.