I Didn't Sleep Much Last Night

I didn't sleep much last night
Trying to line the words up right.
Trying to send you out of the door
A little different than you were before.

Some words fall like stone
Some cut like a knife.
Some speakers want an hour of your time
I want a piece of the rest of your life.

I used to deal in facts,
I'd line them up in symmetrical stacks
Cover them over with the roof of proof
And call my building the house of truth.

But then I watched my words
Fly 'round the room like frightened birds
Out of the windows to the empty skies
The factual birds didn't make you wise.

But now I'm wiser and I'm older
My words perch upon your shoulder
And whisper in your ear that they won't depart
And peck their way inside your heart.

So bring on the laughter and the tears
We'll talk about love, we'll deal with the fears.
Bring on the music, bring on the guitar
We'll talk about how things really are.

Martin Collis

Teenage Anger

All ya shit, and sarcastic wit will never break me
I'll take your tools and your stupid schools and I'll let them make me.

Your verbal stones don't break my bones they only hone me
And though I choose to kiss your shoes, you'll never own me.

You see an image with your eyes and think you see me
But all I do is live your lies so that they might free me.

I'll play the game, I'll have no shame, I'll let you teach me
Until I fly so bleedin' high, that you can't reach me.

Martin Collis

Letting Go

Once I saw an Aspen wood
Like a cloud of flaming gold
Holding in a light embrace
All the leaves that it could hold
When a sudden gust of wind
Scarcely stronger than a breeze
Swept across the valley's floor
Rustling through the yellow trees
and the branches, letting go
loveliness they held so lightly
Gave their treasures to the air
Where they whirled and glittered brightly
Hung above the mountain breast
Lifted...fluttered...came to rest
Calm and white the Aspen's stood
Brave and lovely Aspen wood!

Long I stood and watched the trees
Wishing I were wise as these
For the hardest thing to know
Is the art and grace of letting go.

Jamie Sexton Holmes