America will never forget.

The sun shone bright,

The turnstiles rotated,

The people rushed to work.

Slotted timecards.

Nobody suspected anything,

Maybe it was an accident?

But no,

Two planes,

Two towers.

More than buildings were lost,

Lives were stolen,

Firefighters, workers,

Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters.

A broken skyline,

The skeleton steel,

The smell and burn of butane.

America will never forget.

-

Skylines and Turnstiles My Chemical Romance

Through the turnstile and towards the corner,

I stood watching as you passed by my eye.

Just looking at you made me think I’d die,

Black shoulder-length hair you are a charmer.

Ushanka on top and suit all over,

I averted my eyes so very shy.

Slim but strong I’ve never seen such a guy.

And on his nose a ring of a rocker,

But briefcase in hand he walked past me fast.

Certain he did not even notice me,

Why is the world so cruel to make me see,

Somebody who will always haunt my past.

A feeling came over me looking at him,

And wishing and hoping will make me grim.

Why are we like this?

Why do we harm others?

Who is hurting more?

The victim or the attacker?

We feel the need to be perfect,

The stress oppresses us,

It hold us back from who we are.

Stress has always been there,

Fight or flight?

It has developed like us.

Now the world turns on us,

It attacks vulnerability.

We don't realize until it is too late.

Too late to help:

Yourself,

That person,

A friend,

Stranger.

They disappear.

Death came fast,

I could barely hear,

The screech of tires,

And screams.

Now I sit in a little room,

There are other kids,

I look around.

Desks are everywhere,

Some kids are slouched,

Others alert and happy.

I guess it depends how long you've been here.

I'm confused as the teacher arrives,

She stands in front of us,

And writes on the chalk board,

Never talking.

The scratching hurts,

My ears are bleeding,

But there is no blood.

My head is ringing,

While I try to figure things out.

We are all dead here, aren't we?

Life is good,

Is that true?

Yes.

You may think differently,

And what does 'good' mean?

Definition of good:

To be desired,

Having the qualities required,

What is mortally right.

We desire life,

How many people,

Want to die?

And out of those,

How many have a,

Fully righteous life?

Life is unfair.

That doesn't mean it isn't good.

You have to look,

To the positive side,

Everything is positive,

And negative.

There is a balance.

This balance is what makes it good.

You don't have to completely,

Believe or trust me.

Just promise you will try to look to the positive.

Life is good,

So stay alive.

Please.

Friends since long ago,

Holding on to life,

Telling each other not to go,

Helping end the strife.

Then I got a call,

Raced to the bridge,

Couldn't catch the fall.

Down you went,

Then up you flew,

I felt spent,

Holding on to you.

Tears filled the sky,

I went to our spot,

To sit down and cry.

There you had tucked,

A fortune for me,

And wished me luck,

Because you are free.

Clutching the money,

The light paper bills,

I hugged myself close,

And sat very still.

You are gone,

But you left me,

All that we live for,

It's not funny.

"F*** A Silver Lining."

Every year we would pile more and more junk into the attic. One day I had nothing planned. My goal was to clean up. While digging through a box I found a lamp. It was pretty; one of the ones you would see on tv or in an antique store. Since it was so elegant, I brought it down. When I set the lamp on the table it started smoking. I jumped back, ready to grab a fire extinguisher from the other room. A ghost-like form appeared.

The 'smoke' then spoke.

***

Genie: You can have one wish.

Me: Anything I want? (*It's a genie!*)

Genie: No, I only solve problems.

Me: Ok... (*Let's see...*)

***

My wish for you,

Is to help me with,

Time and energy.

I want to do everything,

The world offers so much,

But we only do little.

Swimming, dancing, sailing,

Music, art, school, work,

Friends, family, lover.

How can I spread out,

My time and energy?

Will you help me manage and organize?

***

Wait!

Maybe I should ask,

For a better deed,

One that matters to more.

You could probably solve,

Many world-wide problems,

Or something important.

But could I pass you on, to someone else?

Could I get my personal wish,

Then give you to someone who,

Will wish for something better?