This world is a scary place
Filled with people
Who don’t see your face,
And I have to wonder
How it is that you ask
Us to stay and ponder
What’s behind those masks?
When we grow weary,
Tired and sore,
Feeling certain
There is no more,
Again you prompt,
Telling us to give,
Reminding of our purpose,
Commanding that we live.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
Battered and bruised
Torn and misused
Empty and fused
Together wrong.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
We are only human
didn’t you say so?
What did you expect that we
would do with our humanity,
maybe lay it down
in the deepest ground
when we had taken our last breath?
For most of us
leaves many hours
for messing up your finest
despite your power;
we are clay in our deepest parts
unable to save the day,
rather in our romance
only carried away
with ourselves.
But you are you
and in divinity
do bless us anyway.
Selah.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
Oh my my my my…
Our potential for deception
Is ever reigning high,
How difficult our destiny
To wander through the mazes,
The tangled webs we weave
Leaving us in dazes…
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
She was born into a war
being waged in suburban America.
Its origins were untold.
Soldiers frequently forgot
on which side they had enlisted.
Skirmishes were frequent and furious.
The match had been on
at least these fifty years,
though battles were less often.
Sometimes there was a cease-fire.
Then came a loud lull…
She mistakenly believed
they were in a state of truce;
sent the watchman home and gave
the guard a well deserved night off.
Gigantic force
collided with her tired skull
before she knew the fight was back on,
and so made suddenly aware she sprang,
Further injury was abated for now,
but as time would tell only to her face.
Copyright 2014. L.L. Shelton.
Teddy bear rabbit friend
Books and books without end
Tractor truck twinkling stars
Green iron bed there you are
Holding your family safe in your arms;
I gasp for air punched in the gut
An invisible force I may throw up
I quickly turn before she sees
Hide in a corner make my plea
Unfounded strength my discovery.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
It’s so hard,
Living in the dark.
You can only see yourself,
That’s the hardest part,
And that’s messed up
‘Cause you can’t see
Who you were truly
Meant to be.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
Back ta reality girl-
You on earth!
Dat whack
Diddin crack you skull-
You ain’t hurt!
Get up!
Getta move on!
What be da matta wid you?
Keep suckin
Dat pacifiah
Won’t matta din
Who da liah
Ness one ta come up
Behind ya
Gonna kill ya right where
Dey find ya
Get up!
Getta move on!
Da demons dey done found ya!
So let loose
Till ya satisfied!
Leave no one
Alive ta complain!
Livin be betta
Dan dyin!
Maybe one day
Gonna be no pain…
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton.
Cleaning up for an honored guest
Always knew we loved you best
Floors are vacuumed
Windows dressed
My nerves are shot I must confess
They tell me you are packing these days
But I forgot I guess…
See?
The big front door stands open wide
To welcome you inside.
Now who will clean up this mess?
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.
I ate a bit of sunshine,
I drank some falling rain,
In only moments rejuvenating,
Recovering from pain;
As God has given all we need
We sing a new refrain,
And time will be when we
Will come to surely dance again.
Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton.