It Must Be The Venti Talking...

After A Train, A Cab and A Car Ride...

it could have been any ordinary place
where dreams came and went, 
and so did friends...
but the few of us left who've chose to 
see things through,
and keep running the race,
who chose to endure sleepless nights,
wasted time and burnt-out lights...
i sing my thanks to you.

the knee-jerk conversations, sarcastic quips,
the words we'd rather keep to ourselves,
knowing that silence would explain things better:
i couldn't ask for more meaningful discourse...
And though we are all weighed-down by heavy hearts,
there's just a few more reasons not to be bitter.

our windows are tainted with stains of decades 
and past-pain,
the blood-soaked floors witness to our self-inflicted wounds,
the holes in the roof over our heads,
revealing a glimpse of tiresome days 
and endless nights,
and the even bigger holes in our attempts to explain why we choose to even call this "life."

this is where we can choose to be lion over lamb,
this is where we dance for rain to extinguish the flame of wanting anything more,
this is where we we're encouraged to play with knives and suffer the consequences,
this is where we ignore the smallest joys and revel in the biggest catastrophes
this is where we listen above the horrendous din of fists hitting faces,
this is where we godless souls see the light and find faith in each other,
this is where we call each other "brother" and "sister,"
this is where we embrace imperfect mothers and fathers, us bastard sons,
and this is where we live, 
and where we would want to leave-from when time comes.

cheers to this chosen path of red wine principles and non-judgmental
bouts over smoke and alcohol,
of bruises and scars left exposed for us chosen few to see and ridicule like it was nothing of great consequence...
those broken bones, the weary feet, our tired egos, our beaten hearts,
and whatever else insecurities we joyfully push aside,
even for just a second or two,
knowing each other is all we have... and all we need.

should i ever stray too far, 
and begin to wander off elsewhere,
or should someone else convince me otherwise 
about this hard-earned place i'm still learning to love, 
i only ask you to call for me... and remind me that this is home.

both broken and beautiful,
dysfunctional but always respectful of who i am,
and who we are.

there's absolutely nothing quite like it.
and i hope you find it.

because this is where you'll find me.