Worn Out and Weary

Worn out and weary. 

Weak with burdens I don't have the strength to carry.

Lonelier than I've ever been.

Holding to a faith that's given and not seen.

Despairing at all the problems I can't fix,

Tempted by the Devil's tricks.

The world taunts me and death entreats,

God help me turn victory from these defeats.

"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Fallen Star

I'm sitting in the mall, sitting on the stairs, my back to the wall. The music's playing, and all the people are gone, but the world inside my head just goes on and on. Time stands still for a moment and then it runs in reverse and suddenly it all comes rushing back and that just makes everything worse.

*

You could have been her; I was stupid enough to think you were. This is just history repeating itself, but now, after so much time, I find out that what I thought were just the lies that I bought. Maybe the woman I fell in love with wasn't a fraud? Maybe I made a mistake. I wonder how that's possible, but now this is all just too much to take.

                        *

No, back to the present; somehow even that's more pleasant. I'm sorry that your life is complicated, but mine is, too. You can't use people; they'll use you right back, and soon you'll be just as empty as you feel. You are emptied out by what you steal.

                                          *

I wish you could see that love isn't made of three. Women are told this lie about the perfect guy. He should have everything, but there's always something missing, so you try to build prince charming with the bits and pieces you find. More than anything you should be looking for the piece that's kind.

                                                           *

I saw the stars and not the sky, but all those blank spaces in between are just as empty as they seem. You're as cold and dark as space, and sometimes, one can even see it in your face. I thought you'd fallen from above, and foolishly started to think that maybe this was love. Stars never fall, but when they do, we wish on them, because even a fallen star is better than everyone else down here by far. Just remember who you are.

                                                                                  *

I know I'm better off for having met her. That girl with the broken smile and those cold, cold eyes, so caught up in all her lies. She still has a long road to climb, and I think its going to be a long, long way to fine. But there's something good in her heart, and I think that gives her a headstart. No one is perfect, but she could be so much better. I just hope that someday she reads this letter.

Open Your Eyes

Open your eyes.

Let them see,

All the things that you could be.

Don’t stand by your wasted tries.

Or think you had your chance,

Now it’s gone, and you let it die,

Make your plans.

Hold on tight, and swallow that sigh.

A dream isn’t always what it seems.

Sometimes along the way you get lost.

You ask yourself why and what it means,

Or simply stop to count the cost.

Open your eyes.

Imagine what you could be,

If you silenced all the lies,

And could finally see.

Copyright © 2011 by Jonathan Eloff

On the Road

Streetlights flashing by, glowing vermilion, like candles in the dark.

Not really sure where I'm going,
Only aware that it's not enough to be on the road,
If I don't know where to get off.

The heater’s broken and the ice outside is creeping in.

Passing streets and passing towns,
Nothing to set one apart from the other.
Not really sure what I'm looking for,
Only aware that I haven't found it yet.

Streetlights flashing by—if only there was some warmth in that light to melt the ice.

Eventually I'll have to stop,
But if I only stop when I reach the end of the road,
Where will that leave me?

Copyright © 2008 by Jonathan Eloff

Broken Glass

 

All the tears I never let myself cry,
Turn to broken glass when they dry.

You might think you know me,
But we all keep our worst where others can't see.

When I think of all the things I could have done,
It just makes the anger come.

Hold on to yourself.
You never know when you might change.
Before you know it someone else is walking in your shoes,
And all the choices you would have made are no longer yours to choose.

Copyright © 2009 by Jonathan Eloff

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is where I will be
When you look on and say
That yesterday is not quite where
You want for me to stay.

Move on, move on Let the past, be past.
Move on, move on Let the past, stay past.

Tomorrow is where you’ll see
The waking roses bloom.
Yesterday isn’t what you thought.

Copyright © 2005 by Jonathan Eloff

Where am I?

Head down.
Feet planted.
Ready now.
Don't bother looking behind you,
Because I'm already ahead.
It just depends which way you're facing.
Where am I?

If you want to see, then look,
If you want to hear, then listen,
If you want to run, then catch your breath,
And if you want to write . . . find a pen.
Where am I?

A blank page.
A whistling wind.
Life all around me, yet I can't look.
There's no time to delay or I'll miss my flight,
But if you want to stay, I won't fight.
Where am I?

Hands shaking.
Mind reeling.
Not ready yet.
I look behind me, but no one's there,
Because you're already ahead.
It just depends which way I'm facing.
Where am I?

I'm with you.

Copyright © 2007 by Jonathan Eloff