Growing Up

There was a time, once,
When I was surrounded by love,
So strong that it blocked out all troubles,
shielding me from the harshness of reality.
And I was always happy,
As happy as can be.

But that was years ago,
A lifetime long gone by,
Cocooned in the safety of a child's mind,
When my biggest worries were of candy and toys.
And life seemed so very simple,
Goodness ever invincible.

But of course time took its toll,
And the inevitable came to pass.
You know how people say,
that growing up is a trap?
Well...I fell into that trap,
And my perfect world cracked.

No longer do I see the world,
As plainly black and white;
No, not so contrasting,
but full of many shades of gray.
A child's perception, after all,
Is idealized, and bound to fall.

Oh but heavy is the price of maturity,
For no longer can I hide in my mother's arms;
Forced to face the unknown,
And conceal my true thoughts behind a façade.
But no matter how I lament the loss of my naïveté,
Alas, it can only be this way.

--
“Growing up is never straight forward.

There are moments when everything is fine, and other moments where you realize that 

there are certain memories that you'll never get back, and certain people that are going to change, and the hardest part is knowing that

there's nothing you can do except watch them.” 

― Alden Nowlan

The Tale of Robin Hood

Here's a fun little(okay maybe not so little) thing I wrote inspired by the King Raven series by author Stephen Lawhead.(they're really good :D) I don't think I would've made a very good bard but ah well...

Ho listen up all you folks
Here I begin the tale
Of one brave lad named Robin Hood
In the great woods of Wales

Now first of all I should say
"Robin" isn't his name you see
Once proud Prince Bran of Elfael
Till forced he was to flee

For alas one morn the Ffreinc came
Eyes set on the kingdom's lands
The king Bran's father they cruelly slaughtered
Along with his loyal war-band

The simple folk were terrified of course
Protection they no longer had
Many had no choice but to stay and pray
Oppressed, and that was that

Meanwhile our Bran watched, helpless too
And twas then he solemnly swore
To aid his people any way he could
And see his kingdom restored

So away into the Guardian Wood he went
Followed by some good friends
And deep within the forest they dwelled
In houses of odds and ends

Times were hard for Bran and his flock
But they never forgot the French
Willing to fight for their people's rights
They worked and plotted revenge

So Bran donned a great feathered cloak
Complete with hood and beak
Rhi Bran y Hud, King Raven, he was called
Fearsome protector of the weak

The Ffreinc trembled at his name
And the Welsh bore it with pride
He and his men, amazing archers all
Were victorious time after time

In the wild they ensnared their foes
And arrow after arrow flew true
Clever and daring, they fooled them too
Devising ingenious coups

After battles were fought, peace was sought
But blood continued to flow
What's good or evil became so blurred
With every fatal blow

Again and again hopes were crushed
And a-many good men were lost
Yet on they fought--no return now
Freedom at what cost?

For good or ill King Raven and his flock
Held out against their foes
But soon they'd tire and the need was dire
To put an end to all their woes

So Bran sought an audience with Red King William
Under the flag of peace
And bargained he did, fealty for his kingdom
So the bloody fighting may cease

Now Red King William was mighty displeased
Reluctant to give in to the demands
But Bran has gained the support of many
And was prepared for a final stand

The warriors were ready, their weapons steady
And the battle would have gone as planned
If not for good ol' Friar Tuck
Who convinced William to stay his hand

So the two sides met and finally agreed
On the terms that Bran had set
King of Elfael he was made
And with William gained new-found respect

So at last Rhi Bran and his merry men
Hid no more in the woods
Home and freedom they had gained
And cast off was the raven hood

Now ere our tale does come to an end
This I should explain
That long ruled Bran with his queen Merian
And blessed peace at last did reign

Yet alas even great men must grow old
And with Bran we soon must part
Stooped and gray, he outlived his friends
And bears loss with a weary heart

Then one bright morn Bran rode out
For his last time of all
Into the woods, bow in hand
With a strong voice he did call:

"Oh all ye brave and merry men
Again in this wood we'll meet
Like times of old, let our bowstrings twang
Music for our ears, how sweet"

The Wait

Waiting.
The time trickles by, each second an eternity.
I shiver, feeling chilled to the bone, yet my palms are moist with perspiration.
I try not to fidget too noticeably in my seat, failing completely.
Oh, the anticipation!
My mind works into a frenzy, bracing itself for the worst, yet still secretly hoping for the very best.
All the possible scenarios flit across my consciousness, a slideshow of utterly different futures.
For me, everything hangs in the balance, outcome yet to be decided;
That fateful, revealing moment both longed-for and dreaded.
Which way will the wheel of fortune turn this time? --no one can know for real.
And as I sit, body rigid, mind plagued by countless thoughts of self-doubt, I realize that
The wait is far harder to endure than the reveal.

Reminiscing

I step onto the balcony and stare out to sea,
Bombarded with a flood of long-gone memories.
The November air stings my cheeks,
Drying the tears, yet fresh ones still leak.

It has been so long-- a lifetime ago,
But I still remember vividly, as though
That day were only yesterday,
For even time cannot hold the memories at bay.

O my hero, wherever did you go?
Left for a better place, with my heart in tow.
O my love, whatever shall I do?
Now that you're gone, my purpose is too.

It's a dreary day, even the sky misses your smile;
Your tender gaze, our unborn child,
Gone forever, I alone remain behind,
With only the precious images in my mind.

But soon, I will see you both again,
The very thought brings me both hope and pain;
For my body has withered away at last,
Old and gray, fading fast.

If you hear me, love, wherever you are,
Grant me this one last wish from afar:
Until my final moments, watch over me,
And thereafter, we will be together, finally.


---
Yay another random and sort of depressing poem! (what is happening to me...XP) I assure you though, I am perfectly fine, I just get these writing moods.(blame the plot bunnies!) :D

Doomed To Love

Have you ever heard 

of the tragic story

Of brave Romeo and sweet Juliet?

Star-crossed lovers, they were;

Doomed from the very start,

Destiny wrenched them apart.

They were 

Unafraid to stay...                                      TRUE

To their own feelings:

To unleash their...                                      LOVE,

Wild and passionate.

A families' feud...                                     NEVER

Once hindered them;

"Till one of us...                                         DIES,"

They solemnly vowed,

"We will always be there for each other;

We will stay forever together."

"For this is...                                                OUR

Futures at stake;

It should be our...                                     HEARTS

That decide which paths we take;

And we shall...                                          NEVER

Look back with regret;

Even as we...                                                LIE

In our early graves, side by side."

 

---

First time trying out the emphasized words thing :p

BELIEVE

"By a clear winding river," the nine-year-old said longingly,

"Elves have lived in secret, since the beginnings of time;

 Long-legged, pointy-eared, mysterious fellows,

 In their great palaces of living oak.

 Ere the sunrise, some are already up and about.

 Vast libraries of knowledge always refreshed,

 Everything that was and everything that will be contained within..."

The nurse listened patiently, smiled and nodded.

She did not dismiss the tale as a childish fantasy;

Her heart could not bear to shatter these dreams.

The boy only had a week left to live; and he really believed.

---

This was to challenge myself with forming words by using the first letter of each line. :)
...and yes, the pic is from Lord of the Rings. No copyright infringement intended.

Disappointment

Disappointment.

There should have been something else, she registered dimly,

Anger, perhaps, or bitter betrayal;

But she could feel nothing but disappointment.

He didn't come.

A gaping chasm of hurt threatened to swallow her whole-

Just like the gaping hole he left in her heart;

The unnatural emptiness ate away at her.

He never came for her.

She felt broken inside, but hid her true feelings behind a hard mask;

She longed to sob and sob for her loss, but her face stayed dry.

I must stay strong, she told herself, 

I must not cry.

Her heart hardened.

She had given him everything, loved him with all the passion she possessed;

But now he is forever gone, and she had nothing left.

--

My strange writing moods...*shakes head at self*