Poems by Erica M L

Do we stay silent
Or raise our voices?
Do we give in
Or make our choices?

This is our chance.
This is our threat.
This is our choice.
And we're not finished yet.

We stand together
And await the light.
This is our chance,
This is our fight.

Here we're standing,
United and strong.
We're not giving this up.
We're not moving on.

This is our voice;
This is what we came to show.
This is our choice,
And we're not letting go.

This is our word.
You give what you get.
This is our world,
And we're not finished yet.

We stand beside you,
Ready to pay our debt
We stand united
Because we're not finished yet.

Children are born every day,
Waiting for someone to trust.
Dreams are dreamed every day
But left alone to rust.

Raise your voices; stand up tall.
You know this is unjust.
Make your choices; stand from the fall,
Because dreams are counting on us.

I know that you are scared to be strong.
You have every right to be.
Show the dreamers that you care.
Come and stand with me.

Think of our future; think of the truth.
Think of the lives we share.
Think of our beginnings; think of our youth.
We're all just a kid from somewhere.

Standing together, holding hands,
We all came from the same place.
Joined, we are forever;
We are running the same race.

Stand with me; we're not through yet.
We are getting what we gave.
Hand in hand with me, strongest together.
This can all be saved.

This is like our lifetimes;
This is more than just a game.
This is more than just the money,
More than ourselves, more than fame.

Speak up for what matters,
Because now it does; this love is caving.
Speak up before we shatter.
Think of all the dreams we're saving.

There are kids like us in Texas,
Out in Utah, up in Maine.
There are kids that are the future Crosby,
Skinner, Matthews, Kane.

From the mountains, valleys, cities,
Suburbs, hamlets and countryside,
There are the children of this future.
All around us they reside.

On the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins,
The Canes and Minnesota Wild.
We often forget that before they were champions,
Each one was just a child

They once stood watching,
Dreaming with this light inside their eyes.
Together we can save that light,
And return it to more lives.

Here we're standing, grasping hands;
Here we're standing strong.
This time we're not giving in,
And we're not moving on.

THIS is our voice;
This is what we came to show.
This is our choice,
And we're not letting go.

This is the world we live in.
You must give what you get.
This is our word we're giving.             
We're not finished yet.

We stand together, united.
This is our chance to repay this debt.
We stand beside you all, united.
We're not finished yet.

The first snow of the year falls around me.
I stare out my window. It never fails to astound me

How each flake is different. None are the same.
None try to be like others, just stay how they came.

And the frozen rain falls from the sky with no sound,
Gently drifting to rest and to sleep on the ground.

A cool white blanket hides the scars of the earth,
Covering the ground in a winter's rebirth.

And I wonder, is this beauty what you see every day?
This peaceful wonder that you overlook and say,

"This happens around me. So I walk away."
This is the beauty you overlook every day.

Outside, snow is falling. A beautiful white.
Pressing my face to the window. A beautiful sight.

All around me is beauty. But inside me is pain,
So I watch the snow falling. The frozen rain.

The surface untouched by small children's shoes.
They watch in astonishment from their window views.

Heavy flakes fall from a calming grey sky.
I'm hurting, so the sky continues to cry.

I still miss you. I miss you every day that goes by,
Knowing that I am the reason why.

So I watch the snow fall...hiding what I'm regretting.
I'm sick of remembering what you are forgetting.

I still miss you. I miss you every day that goes by,
Knowing that I am the reason why.

I still love you. I'll love you till the day I die,
Knowing that I am the reason why.

Sometimes at night I get up from my bed.
I go outside and I lay down my head.

On these cool fall nights, I lay in peace
Under the shelter of the old oak tree.

Leaning my head against its bark.
Looking up at the sky, things aren't so dark.

I can feel it... the oak is living, breathing.
The leaves are alive... its heart is beating...

I listen closer and wonder what it's seen
With its wise old bark and its leaves of green.

It cradles me closer. The leaves whisper to me,
So I sit there and listen to the old oak tree.

Gazing at the dark night sky,
The expanse of stars is breathtaking. I sigh.

Out there is a universe much greater than I,
But the place where I belong is where I reside.

One day I'll explore it. I'll touch every star,
And I'll find my way back to where you are.

One day I'll go out there, oh the things I will see.
Until then...I'll stay under the old oak tree.

Safe in its arms, I lay. The night is still.
It loves me, holds me, and always will.

Hush. It whispers. I close my eyes,
And I begin to drift as the moon does rise.

Hush says the tree. Everything is all right.
I let myself slip away on that cool fall night.

And I dream... I am far, somewhere up in the sky,

Exploring the universe that is greater than I...

Living, breathing, she whispers to me,
So I lay and dream

Under the old oak tree.

If there was one more thing I could tell you,
I'd tell you that you saved my life.
I'd tell you that you are my savior.
In the darkness you are my light.

If there was one more thing I could thank you for,
It would be how strong I have become.
I would thank you for the strength you gave
That helped me overcome.

If there was one more thing I could see again,
It would be your smile I can't replace.
I would want to see you come home again.
Never another tear to cross your face.

If there was one thing I could wish of you,
I would wish for you to come home.
I wish that once you would notice me,
Wish you don't leave me here alone.

If there was one more thing I could have from you,
It would be a moment. A second. A glance.
All I ever wanted from you was you.
All I ever wanted was a chance.

If there was one more thing I could ask you,
I'd ask if you would have cared.
If you could see, would you have cared about me
If you had known I was there?

If there was one more thing I'd want from you
It would be a memory to save
So when you're gone I could still hold on,
So I could still be brave.

If there was one more thing I could tell you,
I'd tell you I've loved you all along.
I've been here for you. I'll wait for you.

I'm going to miss you
When you're gone.

When you look in the mirror do you see what I can see?
Your body and your spirit so unbreakable and free
When I look at every one of you, I hope you know I care.
I hope you know you're beautiful and not a soul on Earth compares.

All around us in this world we are mocked by our reflections
That only show the things we hate and show our imperfections,
But when you look a little deeper there is so much that you hide
That you don't need to be holding in and bottling up inside.

If you have a passion, let it out. It's been waiting so long to shine.
If you love something, let it show. This is your chance. This is your time.
If you want to be an artist or you want to travel to Spain,
Don't let anything stop you. There is no such thing as shame.

If you dream of being Buddhist or you want to play hockey someday,
Forge ahead and carve a path. Don't let anything stand in your way.
If you want to make world peace or be a therapist or play clarinet
Head right towards your future because you're not finished yet.

If you have something you're hiding, that you cover up in shame,
If you're straight or bi or lesbian or transgender or gay,
There is nothing to be hiding! Show them what they've never seen.
You can do it! Boy or girl or not or somewhere in between.

Because you're beautiful, yes you're beautiful. And that is what I know.
You are unique and you are loved, and it is time to let it show.
You are wonderful and beautiful and infinitely so much more.
Love is love! It doesn't matter what gender your heart is beating for

Your dream is out there waiting, and so many people want to help.
You can achieve it if you really believe it and if you believe in yourself.
P-R-I-D-E spells pride. I have pride in you and that's something I know.

You have so many wonderful things inside!
It's time to let them show!