Four Long Years

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2012)

I really wasn’t into you

There wasn’t much that I could do

The others said we’d fit, we two

It couldn’t have been more untrue

Although you seemed to speak so straight

You couldn’t quite communicate

I saw right through, there’s no debate,

The promises you made too late

The only thing you cared about

Was fame, control, and growing clout

The game you started has played out

You left us in a stagnant drought

You should’ve known I wouldn’t take

Those rigid rules you sought to make

That kind facade was all a fake

It’s time for us to take a break

Who was right and who was wrong

It’s something I knew all along

Resentful feelings have grown strong

You’re being sent where you belong

For four long years all I could see

Was change that brought on misery

The next one brings no guarantee

But suddenly I feel so free

So now I stop to search my heart

I know we’re better off apart

We’re much worse off than at the start

I’m filled with hope as you depart

New York City

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2012)

Digital Composite by Anne-Marie Brzezinski

Sometimes New York City

Is as cold as a stone

It can steal you away

Leaving me all alone

Your heart becomes driven

As you walk down the street

There’s so much to look at

And so many to meet

The bright lights distract you

But they set you afire

They hold your attention

And feed your desire

I follow you briefly

Then you’re lost in the maze

You keep moving ahead

While I’m left in a haze

What path will you travel

As you seek your success?

You look at the local

But you hop on express

You strive to climb higher

And you shine like a star 

Please always remember

That I’m watching afar

And when you have made it

But have no one to hold

You’ll remember my words

New York City is cold

The Past

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2012)

There’s something deep inside you

That seems to weigh you down

A memory so painful

That you let your poor heart drown

The past can be a lesson

We live, we learn, we grow

The past can be an anchor

That holds us deep below

      We can’t move one step forward

      Until we let it go

Your eyes appear so vacant

The truth, you can’t deny

Where must I go to find you?

You are lost in time gone by

The past can be a beacon -

A light we use to guide

The past can be a shadow - 

A darkness where we hide

     We can’t shine in the present

     Until it’s pushed aside

Please know that I am with you

Don’t know how long I’ll last

You just can’t feel the present

When you hold on to the past

Born to Love

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2008)

For the world to change
We’ve got to rearrange
Our thoughts on living.
There isn’t room, it’s clear,
For any hate and fear.
Start by forgiving.

Because we’re born to love
We’re not born to hate
Pure and simple, it’s our human trait.

We’ve got to keep our sight
On what is wrong and right
Without division.
When there’s just shades of grey
And reason goes away,
We lose our vision.

But we are born to love
Then we’re taught to hate.
Recondition, reindoctrinate.

If we can come around
And find some common ground
We’ll be united.
We need to stand as one
More than we’ve ever done.
Don’t get short-sighted.

Because we’re born with love
Let us shed the hate
Before we realize it’s much too late.

ChapStick in My Peacoat

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2010)

Walking outside on these bone-chilling days

has affected my body in so many ways.

My nose gets so cold that I can’t feel the drips.

The lack of warm gloves gives me cold fingertips.

The worst of it all are my flaky, dry lips.

The lips are the worst - the worst by a mile.

I’m embarrassed to say they look rather vile.

Can’t grin if I see you; they’ll split if I smile.

Hands in my pocket

It’s there! Don’t know why.

ChapStick in my peacoat

I’m ready to apply.

Fade Away

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2011)

Photo by Anne-Marie Brzezinski

If the world was built of shades of gray,

Then colors become hazy,

Black and white become obscure,

And eyes would just get lazy.

They’d see no dark

They’d see no light

No bad, no good

No wondrous sight

If the world was built of shades of gray,

It would collapse, then fade away.

If the world was built of shades of gray,

No views would hold devotion.

Rainbow arcs would not appeal

To hearts without emotion.

They’d feel no hate

They’d feel no love

No woes or joy

No hope above

If the world was built of shades of gray,

It would collapse, then fade away.

If the world was built of shades of gray,

All colors become puddled,

Black and white are indistinct,

And minds would just get muddled.

There’d be no truths

There’d be no lies

No wrong or right

No thoughts inside

Emotionless

Desensitized

Humanity’s

Been sterilized

If the world was built of shades of gray,

It would collapse, then fade away.

Twitter Today

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2011)

(Written to the melody of Josh Groban's "Hidden Away")

On a Monday 

I sent a tweet 

Thought it funny

And I thought it sweet

As I sat there 

Before my eyes

Saw my comment 

Had been criticized

And all those thoughts

I expressed in play

Were distorted an ugly way

Thoughts and feelings

That I had to say

Think I’ll stay off

Twitter today

Typed it out

It showed up on my timeline

Opened up a part of me

Then I saw

her stinging words so unkind

Posted there for all to see.

Why did I tweet those lines?

I should delete those lines.

Please don’t be unkind

Twitter today

Cyber bully

Has crossed the line

Humiliation

In an hour’s time

A reckless rumor

How fast it grows

She gave it life while

Looking down her nose

And all those thoughts

That I said in play

Were distorted an ugly way

Thoughts and feelings

I just had to say

Think I’ll stay off

Twitter today

Typed it out

It showed up on my timeline

Opened up a part of me

Target of

The comments that were unkind

Visible for all to see.

Why must I feel unsure?

I need to heal some more.

Think I’ll just ignore

Twitter today

Wisdom Lane

Photo by Anne-Marie Brzezinski

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2010)

Just take a seat and listen

to stories you’ve been missing.

They’re found upon a high plane

and only taught at Wisdom Lane.

A guy who came from way back-

He traveled down the wrong track

and hopped aboard a dark train

that sped right past old Wisdom Lane.

And later during that year

the courtroom filled with his fear.

The judge’s sentence was plain.

He sent him back to Wisdom Lane.

There was a politician

some thought was a magician.

The tricks he pulled were in vain.

They weren’t learned on Wisdom Lane.

With nothing he could achieve

and nothing under his sleeve

his people had to complain,

“What were his grades at Wisdom Lane?”

And what about that pop star

who took her lyrics too far?

The problem was her refrain

was out of tune with Wisdom Lane.

She craved too much attention.

Her clothes were often mentioned.

Her ego could not contain

the notes she took at Wisdom Lane.

You can’t just blindly follow.

Some people are so hollow.

You’ve got to use your own brain-

The one you filled at Wisdom Lane.  

Hope you have learned a lesson.

Some things are just worth stressing.

The insight that you can gain

is only found at Wisdom Lane.

(When two opinions collide,

you’ve got to look at both sides.

Before you pick who’s more sane,

go take a walk down Wisdom Lane.)

Lost Love

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2011)

The bond we have between us

Never thought could hurt so much

A relationship so static

I’d be shocked to feel your touch

Our love was once electric

And our hearts were lit afire

Now the passion’s been extinguished

By the cruel words of a liar

The trust between us broken

In a storm that swept away

Any memory once cherished

It’s as gone as yesterday

The hollow empty feeling

When I look into your eyes

Has imprisoned hope and vision

Shall we just say our goodbyes?

Beware of jealous people

Their aim is to bring you down

It’s a lesson learned the hard way

When love is lost, it can’t be found

Sands of Time

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2011)

Photo by Anne-Marie Brzezinski

A million miles away

A bitter pool of tears

Her thoughts lost in a time

When love had filled her years

A multitude of stars

That danced with hope and grace

The lonesome moon reflects

The streams that wash her face

A search through darkest days

She tries to find a light

That helps her see his face

Illuminate the night

Through endless sands of time

A memory appears

She’s back within his arms

Released of all her fears

A lifetime long ago

And all that she held dear

An ever-fading dream

For now is bright and clear

Cherish the time

Cherish what’s real

Cherish your love

Let yourself feel

Not Quite Civilized

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2009)

Look more closely

And you will see

A not quite civilized society.

The scars we hold show our will to live.

We don’t let go so we don’t forgive.

We build our names then we toss out bricks

Race, religion, even politics.

We tear apart those with different views

Then bury them deep within the news.

Reach in closer

So you can feel

The pain inflicted by our own ideals.

We can’t just give to the ones who lack;

No favor goes without wanting back.

We want to own everything we can;

Possessions help to define the man.

We move too fast just to have it all.

Our selfish dreams cause another’s fall.

Drink it all in

And you will taste

The bitterness and fear of those abased.

We don’t respect, we choose not to see

The unborn, infirmed, and elderly. 

Healthy people who don’t pull their weight

Are given free rides by the ruling state.

The sick disabled whom they did not save

Has “was too costly” written on his grave.

Listen closely

And hear the sound

Of silenced teardrops falling on the ground.

Can’t you feel it?

We’ve got to heal it

Our not quite civilized society

Pop

© Anne-Marie Brzezinski (2009)

Life in a bubble

must really be grand.

You’re in the center

wherever you stand.

Sheltered, cushioned

in a circle of friends...

Do they support you?

Well, that just depends...

Bright lights and cameras

and newspaper men...

I see you; I hear you

again and again

-in movies, on TV

and even in song.

Biased opinions

that help you belong.

Taking advantage

of fame and success...

Self-righteous tirades

that seem orbitless...

Floating and spinning

all over the world,

not resting ‘til all

accusations are hurled.

From out looking in

the bubble’s apparent

-distorted, inflated

and very transparent.

Twisting and turning,

the bending of facts...

Your circle of friends

still patting your back...

Delusions of grandeur

are making you gloat.

Inflated ego’s

what keeps you afloat.

Sensation of rising

is caused by hot air.

Hot soon will meet cold

and the bubble will tear.

Sheltered, cushioned

in a circle of friends...

Will they support you?

Well, that just depends...

(until the ride ends)