#35 The Work Unseen

You kinda have to be an artist to understand.
That behind each masterpiece of art lies work unseen.

That thousands of brushstrokes went into building the technique
That many paintings were discarded in the pursuit of perfection
Into the muscles mastering the precise control and co-ordination
Into having the patience to repeat, over and over, for every flaw
That which is before you is the sum of far more than just the time to create that one piece of work.
But only an artist would understand


You kinda have to be a musician to understand.
That behind each masterpiece of music lies work unseen.

That thousands of hours went into building the technique
That many melodies were discarded in the pursuit of perfection
Into developing the rhythm which will guide every beat
Into having the patience to repeat, over and over, for every flaw
That the work before you is the sum of far more than just the time to create that one piece of work.
But only a musician would understand.


You kinda have to be an athlete to understand.
That behind each masterpiece of athleticism lies work unseen.

That thousands of hours went into building the technique
That many techniques were discarded in the pursuit of perfection
Into the muscles mastering the precise control and co-ordination
Into having the patience to repeat, over and over, for every flaw
That the work before you is the sum of far more than just the time to create that one piece of work.
But only an athlete would understand.


You kinda have to be a scientist to understand.
That behind each masterpiece of knowledge lies work unseen.

That thousands of hours went into building the thesis
That many ideas were discarded in the pursuit of perfection
Into understanding exactly every assumption and justification required
Into having the patience to rethink, over and over, for every flaw
That the work before you is the sum of far more than just the time to create that one piece of work.
But only a scientist would understand.



Yet it took me a long time indeed to understand
That behind each masterpiece of any field lies work unseen.

That thousands of hours went into building the technique
That many techniques were discarded in the pursuit of perfection
Into developing any skill to the point that no one else could imitate it
Into having the patience to repeat, over and over, for every flaw
That the work before you is the sum of far more than just the time to create that one piece of work.

That every thing masterpiece you witness
Is the sum of a lifetime so far
That no truly great work is achieved without great effort behind the scenes
Without all the sacrifice, all the pain,
                                                     and all the work unseen

And I think that, just possibly, I'm beginning to understand.

#34 Roses

I've always been told,

"Why can't you just stop for a second and smell the roses?

Can't you see how pretty it is?

Feel how soft it's petals are?

How the thorns give pungent imagery about the intertwined nature of beauty and danger?

Just stop and appreciate the rose."

It might just be me, 

But I'm far more interested in the bit of graffiti

Etched imprecisely on a tree

Saying SW loves JD

In the slightly damaged branch

In the bit of litter on the ground

In the butterflies dancing with each other

In the oak that stands many meters tall

In the little bit of rope on the strongest accessible branch indicating the absence where a swing used to be

In the pattern of flowers that means nothing at all

I love the sound of a river streaming

I adore the rustling of leaves indicating the hidden life I can't see

I like stopping in a place with long grass indicating no one really stopped here before

I like to stop to try to work out why on earth I've stopped at all

And yes, sometimes, I like to stop to smell the roses.

But the only reason we can stop at all is because the rest of the time we're moving.

We can only stop so many times.

And I have to say, that when I stop

I want it to stop for my own reasons

And find my own beauty in this world.

#33 To care about something

It's quite odd that we view not caring about something as cool
I don't know why, but I had this feeling all the way through school
That it was wrong to have any greater goal and mission
That the greatest sin was the pride of ambition

Cynicism is king, scepticism the jester
That the worst person is the one who invests their
Time trying to be an active go-getter
Making fun of anyone trying to get better

All of this, sort of builds into a general theme
That to care about something is entirely obscene
To try to strive in a new direction
Is tantamount to utmost insurrection

And now I regret not doing more
That I didn't have more things to try for
For now the most fascinating people I know
Are those who've been driven be something greater since the word go

Because it's only when you take a stand you can realize you're standing on faulty ground
It's only when you've tried your time many times you can realize what you've found
Only when you've tried and failed and tried and failed again
Only when you've defied all odds can you love your mission

So screw convention, and the idea you shouldn't have a passion
Let's have an intervention, because apathy shouldn't be the fashion
Let's all go out in different directions, please go and stop stalling
This is my open invitation, for you to finally find your calling

#32 Breathing

I'm an asthmatic.
Sometimes, I really struggle for breath.
And I have to stay calm.
Can't be mad or fanatic
That way, I walk to close to death
To very dangerous harm.

You treasure seconds
You store them up for later use
Life is more real
The struggle beckons
As you try to reach a truce
So you can still feel

And then suddenly life is back to its normal pace
You're hustling about again, forgetting time is a race
You'll spend days doing nothing at all
Forgetting the moment you hit the wall

Forgetting the sweetness of the first true taste of air after an attack
Forgetting the fleetingness of moments where you didn't know how to come back
Forgetting the alien sound of wheezing coming from no mouth but yours
Forgetting the difficulty of the ground, the feeling of your pores

I have known the value of a single exhalation
Only when you know that can you know inspiration
Take that struggle, and know asthma only highlights what you spend every moment doing
Pull yourself up young muggle, because tonight you realise what is worth pursuing

See, that near death experience has become routine
I can disappear, greet the reaper, and return with absence unseen
It's not often, and normally it's not to severe
But when it is, you'll know if you happen to be near

Breath is short
Words are now even shorter
I become more zen
I'm caught
Possibly down for the slaughter
Life is precious again



Context: So, I've had asthma since I was a young child. Although the attacks I'm describing now have happened only a few times (usually when I've been an idiot and forgotten my inhaler), the feeling of struggling for each breath is certainly genuine. I do a lot of exercise, run a lot, and take my fitness for granted more than I should. It's really when asthma hits that I realise a lot of my natural inclination towards being athletic is more God given than I would like. And maybe, just maybe, it helps me realise how lucky I am, and help me work to push myself harder.

#31 The Clockwork Man

I don't know why, but sometimes, I'm scared of being replaced.

And I'm scared that replacement will be able to do everything I can

That if one day I was just suddenly erased

My replacement could just be the clockwork man

That my day to day becomes too predictable

That the way I walk and talk can be replicated

That each day is merely average and typical

With the life that fate has seen me designated

And I'm not sure why I'm scared of this

What is so bone chilling about routine

But it's simultaneously a cage, a chasm, an abyss

The easiest trap into which I could careen

It's the curse of comfort, the fate of the familiar

But something which a lot of people may not think too scary

Life is just what you've got, does it really make you shiver,

If you like your life enough you don't want it to vary?

I want to experience life, in all it's horror and majesty
I want to know my life was not just spent in the same old dive
To make mine the richest of tapestries
To always feel like I'm still alive

For me, I'm afraid, that's the way my views go

The monotony of repetition is my greatest fear

Because the clockwork man inside me is waiting in my shadow

But for now, if just now, he's not in control here.

#30 Moment of Clarity

I had one of those rarest moments today

It was clarity, like a single word in ink

A moment of great rareness and sparsity

A moment where I could actually think

The feeling was enlightening

A release from my usual entrapment

Yet also, oh so frightening

At the brevity of this enlightenment

I could do anything, if this feeling would only last

Understand any problem, solutions would surround me

My mind finally working, and seems to run fast

While clarity quickly lessens, then confounds me

I really want to focus, but these days it is so hard

There's so many updates to see and read

And to think takes such effort, to go the extra yard

We have everything that we want, but nothing that we need

It is time I actually did it, shut everything down

And listened to nothing, so that thoughts could be beckoned

And then, for just once, in this noisy old town

I could gain clarity, for more than just a second.

#29 Monsters

In this world of Monsters,
We're either charlatans or freaks
The charlatans, they try their hardest
To be seen as neither 'weird' nor 'unique'

The hide every imperfection
Every blemish that they perceive
Then sell their vision to us
And it's that vision we receive

That this world is not of monsters
You're clearly not trying hard
This world is one of perfect beings
Who are never spotty or scarred

Can't you see how happy we are?
And how perfect we appear?
You know you could be just like us
If you tried your whole life time plus just one year.

...

In this world of Monsters,
I count myself a happy freak
I'm not trying to be perfect
And I don't think that makes me weak.

I will never be the ideal being
They parade around before us
They're tried so hard to pour beliefs into me
I'm practically porous

I am blemishes and scars
Acne, pain and regret
And that ain't no bad thing
I'm proud of it you bet.

Sure I'm trying to improve
I'm not saying in life you can't progress
But there's nothing wrong in being yourself
Even if that self is a mess

You are beautiful, you are flawed
With your own personality
Embrace your weirdness and your oddities
Cause you're a Monster, just like me.

#28 Awkwardness

Ok, I'm about to speak about something
To which every reader can certainly relate
I'm talking about when you're talking
And plough straight on, and don't hesitate

Oops, see? You've done it now
You've said something awkward,
It's been said and you know exactly how
And you know you can't just leave it and move onward.

No.

From now, you will spend countless hours thinking about what you just said
It'll hold immense and uncertain power, swirling around inside your head
A thousand different scenarios will present themselves as an option
Things that would just flow over the conversation and soon be forgotten

What if? What if? Your mind will echo for a age
If only I could go back in time, rewrite that page
I could be known as a great wit and connoisseur
Instead now I'm just a local twit, a dumb-ass cur

You're going to beat yourself up for a while I can tell
So let me step in before your own mind becomes a hell
It's perfectly natural to worry about this - it's how social skills improve
But if your mind wants to find bliss, it's going to have to move

For you can say things that can brighten someone's day
That can help and encourage when someone's mood is grey
You don't realise it, but that's what people remember
I mean, you may not relight someone's fire, but you can provide an ember

You can build up and strengthen, that's your gift
What you just said was over quite swift
One time is one time, but what matters is the message you re-enforce
But that's up to what you want to do, of course.

I mean, some people like being awkward.

#27 When Science Proposes to Art

I was there on that most beautiful and fantastic of dates
A summation of two such painful and intertwined fates
Despite efforts to separate, the decided it was far easier to join
As two opposing sides realised they made the same coin

It was the ceremonial joining of Science and Art
An emotional time for the brain and the heart
Both simply trying to comprehend to world in which we dwell
Both had caused healing and harm, created heaven and hell

Yes there was bound to be turmoil, the honeymoon would be short
That there would be debates and arguments worthy of the highest of courts
But for the good times, man, they would rock the world in two
Lifting us higher than either one alone could do

The ceremony was certain to be a most curious affair
For the conjoining of such a conflicting pair
On a beach by the sea lit by stars in the sky
The sort of scene that embodies the very essence of the question 'why?'

The vows were something to help separate the couple
Art wished for turmoil, so as to find beauty in the struggle
To sometimes work apart, so they'd appreciate being together
To go forth sans map or chart, not knowing what storms they'd weather

Science, in their vow, wished for something quite different
For both to work together to avoid being ignorant
To never let ego and pride cloud the road ahead
But even more fascinating were the words left unsaid

For as these two embraced, kissed, and left over the sand
And strolled away, hand in newly ringéd hand
I realised why this was the most beautiful pairing I'd ever witness
For both Science and Art answer to themselves, and no other mistress

There is nothing that can limit the artist's imagination
Scientists' will hypothesise the impossible without hesitation
Together, brand new ideas and possibilities could be given birth
Together, they could truly push the limits of earth

Context: Aesop Rock's "Water" contains many beautiful lines, one of which is:
'When Science proposes to Art beside the peace-filled sea,
I'll be the cat with a ring on the pillow shouting "Finally!"',
which gave birth to this poem.

#26 The paths you've taken

The paths you've taken are yours and yours alone

These paths define your current personality and tone

And lead you to where you are right now

Now while you can never take the same path twice

To revisit where you once trod is my advice

Find a way to do it somehow

For a man who's forgotten from where he came

Does so only to his utmost shame

For he's lost touch with his past

So I'd encourage you all to do this

Go back, stop, and reminisce

Find the mould from which you're no cast

But don't stay for too long in that place

Keep on moving in this human race

Staying back too long should be barred

For you have to move on from your history

To places unknown, towards utter mystery

Even though sometimes, trust me, it's hard.

#25 First Impressions

I sometimes wonder what first impression I give
What criteria people judge me with
How I'm perceived, and how much the impression sticks
How long an impression takes to break, how many clock hand ticks.

I don't care about my appearance much, but it's more than I used to
I find rigorous styling too much hassle to go through
But I still care more than I might like to admit
So I'm curious as to what signals I transmit

So I know I talk fast and my hair is unkempt
That my posture is slovenly despite recent attempts
That I do talk a little posh, but dress as a mess
That I sometimes forget the name of the person I wish to address

That I tend to be keen, at least when meeting someone new
That I tend to mutter when I don't wish to
That I judge people as well, I have just as much guilt
It's something I'm ashamed of, a slight perspective tilt

But I've tried to become aware, so I can correct the pitch
It's much worse to be ignorant than to solve a worry itch
Because I'm a poor judge of character, and people can fascinate
Learn who someone really is, before you character assassinate

#24 The Push

It's not to hard to find the pressure against you
Feel it building up and becoming immense too
These pascals are building up high
Units increasing not passing by

It's quite tough. And it comes from strange places
People demanding you pull out a hand of aces
Or pushing you way past your comfort zone
Taking about things in distasteful tone

You've got to wear these clothes, think this way
You've got to talk like us or it's not ok
You've got to be up with the latest trends
You've got to like this things or we're not friends

I'm not a fan of this as you might guess
But it can be a difficult thing to address
The idea of all being the same is almost despicable
It's your duty, when everyone is pushing, to be individual.

And push back.

#23 A Gentleman's Rhyming Duel

Dear Sir, you've been nothing but obnoxious all evening
And normally, naturally, I'd just be enquiring as to the time of your leaving
But this time I feel special discipline must be enforced
Why are you raising your fists? Ah, you're not cultured, of course. 

Forgive my ignorance of one so uncouth
I'll be generous and put it down to the frivolities of youth
No, dear Sir, when we battle, we battles with rules
So let me explain what's happens in Gentleman's Rhyming Duels.

I know you're a scallywag and a young up-starter
But you must still learn of it, it's our poetic Magna Carta
So lest you invest to test yourself against the best but before you end in destitution
Let me unveil the lines of our constitution

Rule 1: There is to be no physical blows or contact
Only with words may your opponent be attacked

Rule 2: You may not insult an opponent's romantic relation
That line used to say wife, but in the future we don't use that connotation

Related rule 3: It's never an insult to call your opponent gay
You're a gentleman, boy, we're learnéd that way

Rule 4: You must speak in clearly pronounced rhymes
No slanting or mumbling for that is cheating and a crime

Rule 5: Be intelligent in the way that you insult
No baseless jabs or insinuating an untrue fault

Rule 6: When you're disposing of your opponents smart arse
Be dressed well and proper, show him your class

Rule 7: Only battle if the occasion genuinely requires
But if it does you step up and turn that sir back down to a squire

Rule 8: No rhymes aimed below the waistband
Rhyme face to face don't go for the cummerbund

Rule 9: Don't think wistfully of rhymes you could have done
If the duel is over you accept the result and move gracefully on

Rule 10: Be a gentleman in defeat but also be a gentleman as the victor
I've so some men celebrate so great you could measure it with Richter.

See most fellows can't actually follow how we do
We battle at too high a level, do me and you

They've phased in and out, they've tried a little to follow
But seeing gentleman battle, well it's a tough act to swallow
If at the end of it all, you shake my hand
You emerge a tattered but better man

But now you've learnt the game, do you still wish to play?
I assure you I've been duelling since back in the day
And while I play with grace, I play to destroy
So next time think twice before you cross me, boy.

#22 Straight Edge

I've never needed to artificially produce a high
Never really done drugs, let me tell you why
Life is so thrilling and fantastic as it is
I don't need to do anything drastic for a fizz

To some people this is alienating
It's just uncool and a bit frustrating
People ask why "How can you not do {insert drug here}"
I'd reply but there's no answer they want to hear

I'm a bit scared of becoming reliant - sure
I've friends who're already in need of a cure
But it's not a main reason for keeping it clean
For not giving life a seasoning and adding a sheen

"Do you not feel awkward, like you're making us feel bad?"
You just sound backward, and kind of mad
I don't expect anyone to lead the life I do
But it's the way that gives me least strife, it's true

"Don't you feel like you're missing out on what life is?"
Let me answer that with a one question quiz
Is life about just taking stuff and losing yourself
About taking enough medication from shelf after shelf

No, the real reason is I want too do things under my own steam
I want to be the reason behind what all my actions mean
I want to be responsible for every choice
For the good, and the bad are done with my voice

While originally I just didn't like the taste
It's now a rule on which my life is based
For the better, it's part of my pledge
To the letter, to be straight edge.

#21 Ways To Say Goodbye

Goodbye.
It's a simple word isn't it.
Yet it contains so many different connotations and meanings that it can mean almost anything at all.

The simple goodbye,
For a friend you know
You'll meet again tomorrow

The goodbye when leaving home
To the family you've known you're life thus far
And going out on your own to this world so bizarre

The goodbye when you aren't sure when you'll meet again
When you don't know whether you should hold back the tears
If the next time you meet will be in years

The goodbye when you know you wont meet again
When a friend is leaving your world for good
And lives are parting like they never should

The first goodbye of a new friend
When you know you'll have fun again soon
The goodbye of a friendship newly hewn

The goodbye you give when you don't want to leave
When circumstances seek to drag you away
When all you really want to do is stay

The final goodbye you'll ever say
The one thing all of us have to one day give
The only one you never outlive

The goodbye you never said, but now it's to late
There's no sense of closure, just emptiness inside
The goodbye never said to the person who died

#20 One D more

So, here's the scenario. You've been staging a dramatic comeback against a team. You've just scored, and are starting on defence. It's a big point, and it means a lot to everyone there. Nervously, you look to your captain. He looks nervous to. Then, suddenly defiant. You wonder what's coming next. Suddenly, he starts to sing...

VALJEAN
One D more!
Another point, another man to D.
This never-ending road to victory;
My men have one more wall to climb
To finally end this overtime.
One D more!

MARIUS
Only one point left to play
Time to finish what we have started.

VALJEAN
One D more.

MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you may rest away
Which you may do, when we have parted!

EPONINE
One more D to make my own.

MARIUS & COSETTE
Will we be on O again?

EPONINE
One more D for the crowd staring.

MARIUS & COSETTE
I was born to score with you.

EPONINE
What a throw he might have thrown.

MARIUS & COSETTE
And I swear my force is true!

EPONINE
But he never saw me there!

ENJOLRAS
One more D left to perform!

MARIUS
Do I follow as the disc goes?

ENJOLRAS
As we fight on with ambition.

MARIUS
Shall I poach another player?

ENJOLRAS
When our zone begin to form

MARIUS
What's my play; and do I dare?

ENJOLRAS
Will you form the cup with me?

ALL
The time is now, the D is here!

VALJEAN
One D more!

JAVERT
One D more to resolution,
We will lay out in the mud!
We'll are ready, make some noise
Be prepared if they run a flood!

VALJEAN
One D more!

M. & MME. THENARDIER
Watch 'em run in muck,
Catch discs as they fall,
Never risk your luck
When there's a free for all,
Here a little tip
You can catch any 'touch'
Play your best with honour
Play with spirit and such!

Students (2 Groups)
1: One day to a new beginning

2: Raise the flag of ambition high!

1: Don't be scared to make a swing

2: Don't be scared to make a swing

1: There's a new point for the winning

2: There's a new game to be won

ALL
Do you here the sideline sing?

MARIUS
My place is here, I play with you!

VALJEAN
One D more!

MARIUS & COSETTE
Only one point left to play

EPONINE
One more D to make my own!

MARIUS & COSETTE
Time to finish what we have started.

JAVERT(overlapping)
I will join these people's heros
I will follow where they go
I will earn the profile pictures,
I will know what throws to throw.

VALJEAN
One D more!

MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you may rest away

EPONINE
What a throw he might have thrown!

MARIUS & COSETTE
Which you may do, when we have parted!

JAVERT(overlapping)
One more D to resolution
We will lay out in the mud
We'll are ready make some noise

THENARDIERS(overlapping)

Watch 'em run in muck,
Catch discs as they fall,
Never risk your luck
When there's a free for all.


VALJEAN
Tomorrow we'll be far away,
Today is now our judgement day

ALL
Today we'll all discover
What our opposition has left in store!
One more score
One more D
One D more

Context: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM3MzWYa_-Y

#19 Just a fish

Hey, I'm just a fish in the sea
And guess what, there's plenty more of me
Always has been and hopefully always will be
But we don't taste the same, we're quite unique

See I'm aware I'm the subject of many a metaphor
Just a phrase for there being an abundance, and there always being one more
But I'd like to counter that with utmost vigour
For not every fish is one you would wish to seek

And hey, the water's the place I like to dwell
When I'm out of it I wouldn't do so well
Unless I'm under some magical Disney-like spell
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try something new

It's better to challenge yourself in new situations
Being stuck in a rut just causes frustration
Being the fish out of water can cause some great new adaptations
After all, a fish that left the seas long ago eventually became you

We're all unique in our choices and decisions
No saying is ever going to be perfect to every fish you see
I guess here is the climax to this vision
You too were once just another fish who left the sea

#18 Changes

The world revolves at a steady pace of 360 degrees a day
The sun will rise and it will fall. But it will never stay.
The stars in the sky will eventually burn and change how a constellation is arranged.
The Universe itself isn't constant. In the end, everything will have changed.

Growing up, you never see yourself grow into anything different.
This world is trying hard to change you, but man you're persistent.
You'll always be you at heart, whatever that means anyway.
There's certainly nothing to contrast any consecutive day.

But then, take a look back. A good while back if you have to.
You've developed. Don't be ashamed, it's true.
But the you back then wouldn't recognise you now.
You didn't realise, but the world changed you somehow.

And look the other way. You'll change in the future as well.
You'll go through heaven and you'll go through hell.
How you'll change. Man, that's just speculation.
You'll be built up further, all you know is the foundation.

There's just no use trying to stay as you are.
You're eventually no more permanent than a star.
Embrace it. Life will take you fantastic places if you give it a try.
And never allow the past to let the future pass you by.

#17 Right now

Right now you're not the only person on earth
Right now there's a grandfather dying and a mother giving birth
Right now the world is spinning, and it's only one moment you may find
Right now is one moment experienced in 7 billion different minds

Right now the night is dark, and the moon is bright
Right now it's raining, but dry, so hark at the sun in the sky
Right now one little kid just opened his eyes and saw his first ray of light
Right now six astronauts float in space where there's no day or night

Right now a young girl creates a semi-perfect daisy chain
Right now a young man wishes he could pass out from pain
Right now a kid found hope after hearing it get's better
Right now a young lover just finished writing their first love letter

Right now a patent just got approved for the next big invention
Right now a student just met her true love next to her in detention
Right now friends just reunited for the first time in years
Right now a teen read their acceptance letter through tears

Right now a office worker finally broke a habit of decades
Right now a man who dropped litter on the street labelled himself a renegade
Right now someone just joined the unemployment lines
Right now someone just found out their tumour was benign

Right now a man just passed away before he could say his last phrase
Right now someone laughed for the first time in days
Right now someone wiped away a tear as they said 'I do'
Right now a life just continued as though this moment meant nothing to you



Inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cDDWvj_q-o8
Yes, it was posted early. I never *have* to wait for the deadline. I just normally do.

#16 Can't do it alone

I think one of the scariest moments of my life, was when I realised I couldn't do it alone.
I could never be truly independent, never could do it just on my own.
From the moment we are born, we need other people, our parents for a start.
The doctor and nurse who helped your Mother give birth, and your Dad also played his part

And as you grow up tall, you start to strive, and want more independence
You want it all, to feel more alive, and want to break your dependence
You think that some day, way off in the future, you can make it going solo
Make your own way, stand strong and endure, no matter where you go

The future is still an uncertain place, but I can tell you this
But straight to your face, here's my prognosis
The libertarian autonomic independence is ignorance incarnate
There's no man alive who doesn't benefit from his fellow primates.

For the road you walk on, the rubbish you make which is collected
To the meat you buy which has been independently inspected
The people who sterilise your water, and make it safe to drink
The scientists and philosophers who help form the ideas you think

On your own I honestly say you couldn't do any of this
If you think you could, you're deceiving yourself - it must be a happy bliss.
But society is a collection of all, not just you
But its not a bad thing, I tell you this true

Together, we really can be the best we can be
The sum of individuals creates a greater society
We are reliant on others to achieve almost all we desire
Through the power of others, we are lifted higher

#15 To this moment

It may not seem true, but everything has been leading up to this

You were born, one day long ago
With a world to explore with so much to know
So much potential, so many paths to explore
So many reasons to start exploring the world for

And so you took some paths, you made some decisions
Some of them were chance, others decided with precision
And it takes you down strange routes, this world of ours
Life can stay the same for years or change in hours

But where you are now is quite unique
A special combination, a chance, a freak
You couldn't come here again if you tried
But to try again is an option most fervently denied

Instead, be glad, you are who you are you see
You are you, who else would you chose to be?
Be glad of the present, that's my diagnosis
So right now, at every now, everything has lead up to this

You, sitting there, reading an average poetry blog. Well, I think you chose well at least.

#14 To lose a friend

I've started to grow distant from some friends of old
And it's always painful when I realise that this is the case
That we've neared the end of our story to be told
We're still running, but no longer in the same race

It's tough. But there isn't much you can do, I guess
There's so many people and so many places
That my mind and memory is a mess.
It's hard to keep track of all the faces

They keep changing without me
It was painful to realise
That people aren't going to wait politely
For me to stop and re-enter their lives

Yet for most, I hope, they'd still stop to chat
If the chance arrived, they'd not just pass me by
I know some who already chose to do that
And though it hurts me, I do it to others, no lie.

So to everyone out there who I haven't seen a while
I beg your patience, but go on living well
Advance yourself, and do it with a smile
So that if we meet again you have a story to tell

#13 Don't Look Down! (up is far more interesting)

When I was younger, I used to look at the night sky and see nothing there.

It's just blackness and nothing, as substance-less as air.

And while that may have been true, it wasn't in the way I intended

See while the sky may not have friendly aliens which can be befriended

(at least as far as we know about)

There's still a lot of stuff to make you shout

"My God, how on Earth(?) does this stuff exist

And how can life on this planet even persist"

See there's big balls of flames

Many countless infinities of chemical reactions

And it was to my eternal shame

How long it took to garner my attraction

And now it has, I'm not letting a second go to waste

Because the night sky is so much more than a copy and paste

Each part of it is unique, a scientific miracle

Most of it real, and only part theoretical

And if you've not done so thus far

Just lay back and the ground, and look up at the stars

As the entirety and eternity of all of outer space

Can be reflected into your eyes, as you realise the wonders you now face.

Context: An Astronomer friend of mine, when asked for a random topic, gave me the night sky. She liked it, so I hope anyone reading this does as well :)

#12 In case you weren't aware

In case you weren't aware, there's a world outside your window.
In case you weren't aware, there's places on this earth you need to go
In case you weren't aware, life is more than work and a computer screen
In case you weren't aware, I'm about to elaborate, and tell you what I mean

Too often, we get trapped in our own little earth
Much smaller than the big one, which we were given on birth
A little personal place, that doesn't stretch out far
With familiar faces, and nothing bizarre

A world where nothing happens that you don't expect
Where everyone has similar ambitions and regrets
Your philosophy is only ever reinforced
And from a familiar vein is everything sourced

Stop it. Break out that cage.
It doesn't have to be done with anger or rage.
It just takes a second, and to be a tiny bit brave
To break out from the usual habits in which you behave

Do something different, no one's stopping you
Break the pattern of what you usually do
Make your own path, you may be surprised where it leads
And do something different.

#11 You haven't seen anything yet

To those spys sent by the government to track every second of my life,
Let me assure you - you haven't seen anything yet.

I know you think I'm just a distinctly average guy, little strife
In the game of life, I'm a high stakes bet

But I assure you, tomorrow, it's all going to change
I'm going to make my stand

To everyone who knows me it's going to feel strange
As I become known throughout the land

Yes I'm going to be big
And you'll all want to shout
About this small little twig
Who's branching out

You'll see me inspire the new generation
And be the next big thing
I'll be the name people give under 'inspiration'
I'll be close to a king

Honestly, tomorrow it's going to happen
I'm finally going to break through
I know I can hear everyone else laughing,
But I swear to you it's true

I really am going to make my move
I'm going to be the best I can be
I'm going to be better. I'm going to improve

This time I mean it.
Honestly....

#10 The Beat

I don’t know if you’ve heard, the drumming of the air

You may call it absurd, but I assure you that it’s there

That simple beat, that carries on the wind

Always to repeat, never to rescind

It’s the pulse of life, the marching of time

Sharp as a knife, its point is prime

You may not know, but you march to it too

Wherever you go, it’s all that you do

You can’t break free, there’s no point trying

It’s all you can be, until you’re dying

The rhythm is strict, the dance is tough

A sound to restrict, you can’t struggle enough

But just once in a while, it may get loose

And then why not smile, with less of a knot on the noose

You can step back and see, everyone else in their dance

While you can be stationary, see everyone else advance

Take advantage.

This wont last long.

You’re briefly free.

Go wild.

Go mad.

Go Anywhere.

Break the rules.

Reality will restore itself shortly.

When it notices you’ve gone.

Don’t let it.

And though it may, catch you up again

Don’t let it cause dismay, it wont be long 'til when

You can see the pace slow, can see what you must do

That’s when you’ll know, you'll feel the déjà vu

Take your encore, step out of time once more

Trip the step

Beat the drums

And be your own rhythm

#9 In

Its an in joke that I’m not proud

That I’ve never been in with the in crowd

I’m a proud outsider

A socially awkward collider

Making social situations so difficult and strange

That there’s no one left who wouldn’t say I’m deranged

But that’s fine. I’m an introvert at heart

You’ve got to go down to discover my genuine emotional part

I act like a tough guy

But flat out that’s a lie

I’ve been damaged too many times, don’t cause it’s tough for me to reveal

Like any human being I’m a guy that can feel

So if I seem cold, ruthless or hostile

I’d beg you, just give me a while

I may not be popular, blessed with a prom king fate

But if you get to know me it’ll be worth the wait.

I had the word 'in'. This is what I wrote about

#8 My Darkest Desire

I wish that I could name countries, that I could read maps,
That I could write essays, as well as I can rap.
That I could go on field trips and get muddy, I guess I'm trying to infer,
My darkest desire is to study and be a geographer.

Know I know what y'all are thinking "the boys gone mad,
What ever happened to him, he used to be such a promising young lad,
Full of hopes an ideals, aspirations and dreams,
Now he's gone so far wrong you can hear his parent's screams."

I'm going to stop you right there because I think you're being a little dramatic.
And I can sense doubt in the audience. So let me state and be emphatic:
Geography is really the means by which I wish I could pay my bills,
But I didn't have the nerve or the colouring skillz.

Yet I really do care about the environment and the energy debate.
About the Geology and Sociology of the planet we habituate.
But I have to say when it comes to the thrust of the earth's crust causing tidal surges,
And red hot magma and volcanoes, they all give me urges.
Yeah it really is one of the most urgent of course,
I run out of air when I talk about the limitations of earth's resources.

I'd love to go on a field trip to someplace nice and exotic, but also quite expensive,
But I think I'd be nervous, I'd sure be apprehensive.
And I feel I'd have to stand up to my stereotype with defiance,
I know all of you view me as just a guy that studies science,
But I'm more than just the math, more than just the equation.
I'm not trying to make you laugh, but win you over with persuasion.
Because although it goes against my engineering core, I've got no wish higher,
Yeah to study Geography really is my darkest desire.


***

Context: We had an auction of promises, where people sold services and items for charity. I offered a poem, and much to my surprise and delight it was actually bought by 2 second year geographer friends of mine, James Fisher and Dan Tarry. The only limitation they gave me was the poem's subject - my darkest desire. Who knows what they had thought I'd write about. After some thought, I'd decided to do it about studying Geography. Originally it was meant to compliment them show Geography as a complex subject, covering many disciplines and highlight it's importance to the modern world. I feel I only deviated slightly from that in my final piece...

Sorry.

But nevertheless, this poem is still dedicated to them. Whether they want it to be or not.

#7 Ambition

If you love what you do, you'll never have to live a day in your life.
But if you do then what you love will cause you trouble and strife.
Because then you depend on it for survival, it becomes a chore.
What once was great becomes no fun anymore.

And then, also, you care so much if you succeed.
You have real tears to cry, real blood to bleed.
You can't do the 9-5 shift, not really caring.
Not if your desire is collapsing and tearing.

See, a lot of people I know thought they loved what they did.
Thought they'd known what they'd wanted since being a kid.
Thought that there was no way they'd ever grow tired or sad
Of doing the thing they had done since a lass or a lad.

The real world ain't like that though, you see?
It's constantly twisting and turning, welcome to reality.
Ideals and morals are going to be put through the mill
Every desire is to be tested, but for every way, there is a will.

It's tough, and it ain't the easiest path.
And though others may decide to point and laugh.
If there's something you really want, there's nothing I'd more strongly recommend,
Than taking the hardships on board, and pursuing it to the end.

#6 Tomorrow Will be Kinder

When Mother Earth is getting you down, please don't mind her
This day will soon be through, and tomorrow will be kinder

I understand, dear sir, you've had a rough day
Work has been hard, nothing has gone your way
Go back home, lay your head to rest
Life will get better, I can clearly attest


For Mother Earth will stop soon, please don't mind her
This day will soon be through, and tomorrow will be kinder

And madam, I know you've been under a great deal of stress
But I care not if your clothes are dirty or your hair is a mess
For all dark clouds will soon clear the sky
If you just wait, the darkness will drift right by


Mother Earth is just being herself, please don't mind her
This day will soon be through, and tomorrow will be kinder

Dear friend, this world can be a very strange place
Big and scary, and intimidating to face
But all fears will pass, all dangers will release
Hold my hand, and together we'll wait for the dark today to cease


Mother Earth is having a rough time herself, please be kind to her
This day will soon be through, and tomorrow will be kinder


***

Inspiration: Tomorrow Will Be Kinder - The Secret Sisters

#5 The Nod

We don't often acknowledge the existence of people we don't know

Those we don't find safe to talk to

But very occasionally, we give a brief gesture, mumble or glance in their direction

Signals which can mean anything from 'stay off my territory' to 'I find you attractive, but I'm too scared to act on this inclination'

But there is one type of engagement with strangers which I really treasure.

One that looks like nothing to the mere outsider.

The Nod.

Not just 'a nod' but 'The Nod'. The one that says:

We are both insignificantly small beings, on an insignificantly small piece of rock hurtling at many miles an hour through space.

And on that insignificant rock there are billions and billions of humans, all of whom have an entirely unique perspective on life and history of experience of their time on this earth.

That out of all these billions and billions of beings, our paths, yours and mine, have happen to cross just once.

They may do so again, but we wont realise so it doesn't count then.

But this time, we share the moment, not only of how unlikely and insignificant we are, but of how unique and how special we are as well.

That our past, our decisions and our experiences have bought us both to this point are both different and will take us different places in the future, but right now we're at the same point in time and space, and experiencing this same moment of life together.

And we acknowledge that with The Nod.

#4 A risky rant, A risky pur-suit

They say that beauty isn't only skin deep
That beneath the surface is what really counts
The bit still alive in the dark when we sleep
It's certainly important, by all accounts

But then why is presentation everything?
Why should it ever matter at all?
If all that truly matters is the presence you bring,
Then why on earth should we have to dress nice for a ball?

Now this is an annoyance of a personal type
One that I've struggled to attack after many a pursuit
It may be Oxonian blasphemy, but I've never believed the hype
That comes when you dress in a well-tailored suit.

It's impractical, can't you see?
It's only through society that it claims it's pride
It's with us throughout life, the bizarre formality

In birthday suits we're born, buried formal in suits when we've died.
If I ever go, it'll be how I lived, in something I'd naturally wear

But it's hard to escape, there's suits on everything you see
Even a banana in a tuxedo, I swear!

So let's end this, I plea.
I've never had the grandest of ambitions
But we'll never escape this suit-fixation unless
We work together to make this plan come to fruition
And formally end this madness.