The smile that you forgot

You smiled for a second
At a friend you barely knew
You hardly remembered them,
it was the least that you could do

But that friend you barely knew
Needed a smile that day
You may not have stopped to talk,
But you helped them on their way

So much so, that smile you gave
They passed it on again
To another who was in need
Of some cheering from a friend

This sharing of the smile
It travelled very far
And eventually it did die out
With a trail like a star

But with each set of lips
Whose straight line became curvy
Some cheer was felt inside
And helped others feel more worthy

We don't chose which of our actions
Spark a change and which do not
Just don't give up - remember what you can manage
With the smile that you forgot

I care for my friends

I care for my friends. I care for them deeply.
I just can't comprehend that they also care for me.
Here's a fact I know, but not a fact I've learned
Compassion is often given, rather than something to be earned

I assume there is a quest or a challenge I must take
You can try your best until you bust or break
But despite a lot of what I've done, their caring is still there
Not as something as I have won, or as the cost of a faire

But simply because we had a connection.
Somewhere deep down there was some affection.
That person, my friend, decided for some reason they liked me.
And I can't fathom why and keep second guessing despite the
fact that people are wonderfully weird, they aren't doing it to spite me.

Yes, friendship does require maintenance.
No, an instruction manual is not available on request.
Just return care given, with interest and reverence.
Humans are weird. And like you, your friend is just trying their best.

Where passion is sewn

Do not, my friend, let yourself hate passion in another

Don't let hate fill your heart for one indulging in their art
More power to the hours they've been crafting their part
For the days they've slaved to make something they enjoy
Even if it doesn't connect with every girl and reflect in every boy

Not every scent was meant to have a global appeal
I've found sounds of renown that fail to make me feel
I've split hairs in despair at the money some art has made
Maybe a masterpiece "adored by all" leaves me dismayed
And fills me we rage that this piece gets displayed
While a mainstream cage seems to fill up the page
To contain any refrain that to me seems amazing
And it drives me insane so I'm barely able to keep it contained and...*ahem*

Embrace the art you adore, for what it means to you
But embrace all artists more, as long as they seek what they feel is true
It's a dark world, which takes a lot of effort to illuminated
Let's celebrate that, even if I know you would find other spots to ruminate

Let people explore the world, it is too big to explore alone
Share your adventures, and maybe venture a path less known
There is virtue in a map, but not in an artificial throne
And never, my friend, hate those places where passion is sewn

Passion without Pride

Give me passion without pride

Give me passion
Let me burn with love for what I do
Let me adore, let me create
Allow me to long for fulfilment

Let me not have pride
Keep me humble in my fire
Keep my identity in the journey
Able to ask for all aid I need

Give me passion without pride

Good Friday

The girl was upset. She was only just holding herself together.
"But you promised!" She cried. She seemed to cry forever.
Promises are only words, or, that's what I used to believe
This great game we had been playing I now just wanted to leave

.
.
.

So, I know this girl. She's the sort of person worth knowing.
She'll create the most wonderful adventures, then keep the world growing.
But don't step in too lightly, she cares deeply for her creation.
She knows how her birds fly, and the shape of her vegetation.

Such passion is contagious, I wanted to be part of her world too.
She agreed - "If you look after my world then I'll look after you"
So I promised, and I meant it. Not knowing how strong such words could be.
She allowed me to step inside her world, the one she'd create to hold such beauty.

I lasted five minutes. It wasn't my fault! I was betrayed!
And yes, sure, I went against one of the only rules she had made.
But it hurt me too. Well, probably less than it hurt her to be fair.
We carried on regardless, regret and tension in the air.

I kept doing small things, and the girl kept working on,
Adapting to my mistakes, correcting when I went wrong.
I was just happy I got to play with her at all
And she enjoyed being with me, despite it being so stressful.

One time she had to nearly start over, but we kept going still.
She made me once a ruler, and answered to my will.
...I didn't do that well, and soon I fell from power, then again once more.
But we loved this world between us, every heart and every flaw.

Then I got greedy. I started to seize control.
But I didn't have her gift, her focus and her goal.
Things became hazy, armies fell at my command.
The world I was meant to care for fell beneath my hand.

.
.
.

"You promised!". I did. I meant it at the time.
The words now seemed quite hollow and echoed with my crime.
She was going to strike me out, banish me forever.
No longer would we share in this wonderful world together.

"I should" she said "strike you from this place"
"You've defiled what we built, you've acted a disgrace"
"I could ask you to leave, you know it would be fair and true"
"So know how much it hurts me
       That I'm going to throw away my world
              And keep you"

.
.
.
This world she had created, this beautiful piece of art
She gave it up for me, this thing to which she had poured her heart
I did not deserve it, but I was thankful just the same.
So I pledged to be more faithful
     And to ensure I kept her promise
           I pledged it in her name.