You Can Call Me Eli

This one goes out to everyone who lives Their life observing lives other than theirs, Shoulders heavy from support they give Kerchief soaked with other people’s tears, The ones whose diaries are almost bursting with tales of which they do not stand as star. Their heartbeats drowned by other people’s thirsting To suck their life, ignoring all their scars. Those under-loved and over-criticized, Could write whole tomes on what they have observed. Expected to see clear, others surmise Their sacrifice: their needs remain unserved. When mirrors act as windows through the soul, The lost are diamonds pressed from lowly coal.

Her hand was small waving up at me could be a his hand it is hard to tell at that age A crowded subway car bursting with silence strangers who couldn’t, wouldn’t don’t make eye contact All turn and coo, smile wiggle their tongues and fingers noises too gentle for this crowded train fill it with music Faces meet faces to one day be the strangers we never knew we met (if you can call a passing glance meeting) who fill our dreams with people that feel new no longer so strange to each other now, it’s not taboo to talk to compliment her eyes and she, my shirt There is a gentleness in innocence that begs to be protected by those that have already lost it who try to keep those little blue eyes from learning not to connect with strangers on trains

In high school a cat named Cheddar Caught sights for a bag marked “Life” So he ventured nearer to make Life that much clearer And was snagged by a claw they called Strife Strife’s brother, Hunger, drew closer So Cheddar let out a small “yap” As Heartache and Sonder called louder and longer And Loneliness dried up his tap He lied in that bag barely breathing Body weak and filled with despair He thought of the loathing that this world was growing Is it worth it to have a life there? As his eyes began to grow heavy And his venture in Life had gone cold A small gust of wind broke through all the sin And Wonder began to take hold She showed him in Life there was friendship With Success and Joy and Hope And they, like their brother, Caring-one-for-another Showed him he can learn how to cope And so he ventured out of that trash-bag That treasure-chest he’s learned to call Life And since no longer blinded by hateful Unkindness He would take Satisfaction home as his wife.

My mother, calling just forgets to cross my mind The Second boy I almost loved, I thought my love was unconditional My sister, I am not strong enough to keep my lips together when they should most be held close Four-score, presidential speeches were never meant to be a fish's name The First boy I almost loved, I tried to control how you loved me The music guy from camp, the last picture of your grandfather should never have been lost My roommate, flowers are full of allergens, I almost killed you The Third boy I almost loved, you knew I almost loved you, and that is the worst of all  *With respect to Lex de Azevedo