the retreat

and even now you just look so old to me
it's hard to believe your time is almost spent
but it's okay i guess
by the end of the day
there is little left to do but rest

you were the last of the wolfpack
that once roamed these woods
bloodthirsty
but now the full moon's last call
is beckoning you over the horizon
leaving me to explore these woods for myself

but we've always sang this song
for every scarlet sunset
for every open casket
we pushed out to sea
in hopes it will carry with it our most sacred memories

so i hope when the time comes
the fire wont be too high to leap over
and my sorry sunken eyes will tell you how much it meant to me
behind every candle's glow

but i'm glad you hear the music from all the way downstairs
cause i played this one just for you
it's not a goodbye, just a postponement of time
but it's strong enough to feel
the turning of the tide

so rest softly, my prince
and let me whisper my farewells
and remember
the sweetest dreams are procured from our fondest memories
i am confident your answers will come to you in your sleep
do not hesitate to lay down your weary body
for it's time for me to finish what you've started
until it is my turn to make my last strides through these streets
until it is my turn to lay down my body, to retreat.

stolen dreams

We'd awaken to find morning cold and spent
bagged eager eyes constantly searching
quickened breath so fatigued
but with focus so concise
from a night spent
crawling home, cursing the clock
our bodies blessed with broken thoughts
inhaling the exhaust of a tarnished city
where our heroes have risen and fallen

trainrides spent trembling
beneath winter layers
recalling nights youth flourished
with hopeful eyes on that distant april
awaiting that welcoming spring wind

to dance and to dream
laughing lips beneath sparkling eyes
dare to determine the essence of the moment
taking back that which has long been ours

to expell the memories
of nights spent in ignorance
we, the everlasting children of the stars
dare to capture the beauty in each taken breath
to rid ourselves of the nights spent doubting
from the highest hills we'd scream at the sky
daring to run barefoot on spring blossomed fields

lips in the dark
daring to whisper our forefathers words
"this is the moment." we'd smile
and let nothing else be said

the march

the frozen morning dew clung close to the dead grass
as my hopes for a swiftly returning spring withered
so i continue to walk
my steps tapping that familiar winter beat
i begin to hear the whispered words of a prayer
solemn echoes that dance between my chattering teeth
i tell myself to believe
that it truly is only a matter of time
before i reap the fruits
of the dreams i've sown

you see
the days don't end so early now
the sun has chosen to stray above the horizon
which is where my eyes choose to stay
with the darkest of days behind us
still i keep my hopes
to outlast the most solemn of seasons

i as well cling to that horizon
looking twoards a night spent
in winter's strangling hands