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Ode To Books
By Becca Barer
They are survivors
They are survivors
Working their way through history
Created, destroyed
Coveted, burned
Withering pages
Peel back like onion skin
Gossamer, golden
Fragile, weightless
Black ink
Pulled straight from the night sky
Even, orderly
Formatted perfectly
Stories formed
The seed of an idea
Tended, growing
Sprouted, blooming
Great power
Contained in thoughtful binding
Knowledge, information
Imagination, creativity
They are love
And love is everything
So much more than
Just two books, sitting on a shelf___________________________________________________________________________________
Shatter
By Becca Barer
warm summer colors swarm my vision
warm summer colors swarm my vision
turn down the street to meet the division
the fork in the road it may appear
and even though we sit nowhere near
I feel your voice right in my ear
and know your thoughts are still right here
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
Icy blue winter freezes the door hinge
hands so cold my touch makes you cringe
out of my hands the icicles fall
my phones not ringing but I hear you call
the reflection says short but we stand so tall
my words stumble and trip as they ring through the hall
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
you fracture my breath
you ignite my heart
the glimmer in my eyes was yours from the start
you capture my aura
you unlock my soul
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
crisp fall wind blows away stray hair
dance through the meadow, anyone can see we don’t care
the sky is raining leaves colored like blood
tight cotton shirts stained with mud
wherever you walk flowers start to bud
visions blind me as I fall into your arms with a thud
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
you fracture my breath
you ignite my heart
the glimmer in my eyes was yours from the start
you capture my aura
you unlock my soul
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
and I shatter as your words unravel my mind
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Focus
By Becca Barer
I'm sure there were loud screams
I'm sure there were loud screams
Coming out of her mouth
When I gave my sister her first bath
I'm sure there was soap and warm water
Covering her in a tub
But I'm not sure
It's all black tinged in my mind
My almost three year old brain didn't focus
On any other details
Not focused again until
It's a hot summer day in
my striking pink corvette
only four though I feel
like so much more when
I meet my first friend
Not focused again until
Otter pops, one a day
Sticky hands, sticky day, playing cops and robbers
Lighting off fireworks
In the street, popping in the blackness
Nighttime still light, eyes rubbed red from battles previously fought
Not focused again until
Loud bustling bumper cars in bright colors
Desire to crash, fear of impact
Fear to fall off the boardwalk along the beach
Seaside, rolling waves, sand
Everywhere, my toes, my swimsuit, my hotdog and s'mores
Not focused again until
Clanking nickels and number calling
The glares, the consequence of beating
The old nursing home ladies with their hearing aids
Where we eat our pinwheels and mint chocolate ice cream
Sit in great grandpa's chair so calm and happy
Not focused again until
The hissing air of blowing up the bed
Lights from the bridge keeping me up but really
An excuse to read all those classics
In the little bookshelf, on the yellow walls
Of my grandparents house
Not focused again until
The wet grass soaking my shoes while
We pace with each other, talking, imagining
Our game, the four of us best friends always
Playing, creating more, taking on more roles only
Waiting for the bell to ring and end our fun
Not focused again until
The crunch of gravel, cementing the feeling
Of the first day of middle school, truly
Realizing that only three of us will be there
One in another school just waiting
To be united again
Not focused again until
High heels too tall, tripping and
Recovering last minute making it a more
Memorable 8th grade graduation than
The speech and solos I performed causing
A surge of relief of moving on
Not focused again until
Three months in and
I’m staring at the wall
Of my freshman health class
The impact of high school
Only just then taking its hold
Not focused again until
My hands are on the wheel
Of my car where tears
Stream down my face in
The hot weather of my
Last day of sophmore year
Unfocused again
Will probably stay
Until the realization hits
That life is real
And I am not
Only a dreamer lost in a deep sleep
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Paradise
By Becca Barer
Take me to a far away place, far away from here
Take me to a scream and shout place, scream till I can't hear
Take me to a dance all night place, dance the night away
Take me to a sing it loud place, sing till my voice breaks
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
Take me to a sweet and sour place, sugar and spice won't do
Take me to a spend all day place, spend the day with you
Take me to an adrenaline overload, energy overload state
Take me to an outcasts only, I shouldn't see no exclusive face
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
Don't tell me that you, have given up on what you know
Don't tell me that you, have let paradise take control
Don't tell me that you, have given up on our dreams
Don't tell me that you, think that paradise is on our team
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
Take me to a far away place, far away from here
Take me to a scream and shout place, scream till I can't hear
Take me to a dance all night place, dance the night away
Take me to a sing it loud place, sing till my voice breaks
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
Take me to a sweet and sour place, sugar and spice won't do
Take me to a spend all day place, spend the day with you
Take me to an adrenaline overload, energy overload state
Take me to an outcasts only, I shouldn't see no exclusive face
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
Don't tell me that you, have given up on what you know
Don't tell me that you, have let paradise take control
Don't tell me that you, have given up on our dreams
Don't tell me that you, think that paradise is on our team
You say we're in paradise, feel the summer breeze
So it looks like paradise, is not as sweet as it seems
You say we're in paradise, looking like kings and queens
So this is paradise, I can't wait to break free
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My High And Mighty Opinion
By Becca Barer
If I was labeled
If I was labeled
I would be a goddess
the creator
of all things
The written language
flew from my mouth
to my hand
spurring all of history
I was born from the big bang
I took nothing
and made it
everything
I am a finch
crawling into Darwin’s head
heck I invented evolution
knowing when the weaker man should bow out
I am destruction
the disease on the flee
on the rat on the boat
from China to Europe death followed
I am redemption
the scale that weighs
a souls worth
before opening the gates to the Underworld
I am Mnemosyne
I birthed the nine bringers
of inspiration
for all art
I am love and hate
war and peace
every contradiction
that rules our universe
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Why Must I Always?
By Becca Barer
Why must I always study?
Cause I'm not ready?
Am I in a hurry?
To complete the last years of adolescence
Secured with the message
That I am in first place?
Why must I always use a schedule?
Cause I'm not reliable?
Am I that undisciplined?
To complete my important tasks
Yet still remain flexible
Without being slave to a bell?
Why must I always worry?
Cause the future is always blurry?
Am I so scared?
To complete a simple task
And recognize my ability
To be truly independent?
Why must I always use a pattern?
Cause I'm not sure how to flatter?
Am I creative enough?
To complete my life goals
And stay true to myself
Without being a cliche?
Why must I always write poems?
Cause I'm not really broken?
Am I so tapped out?
To complete no songs for two years
because poetry is easier
than finding the right tune?
Why must I always doubt myself?
Cause I'm not up high on a shelf?
Am I willing to accept change?
To complete my happiness
Because new passions can arise
And sometimes we need to move on?
But have I really changed?
I'm still forcing myself into patterns
into schedules
into insane goals
pretending my passions wouldn't have a chance
But I'm breaking the rules
And the old me would never
break the continuum of a poem.
Why must I always study?
Cause I'm not ready?
Am I in a hurry?
To complete the last years of adolescence
Secured with the message
That I am in first place?
Why must I always use a schedule?
Cause I'm not reliable?
Am I that undisciplined?
To complete my important tasks
Yet still remain flexible
Without being slave to a bell?
Why must I always worry?
Cause the future is always blurry?
Am I so scared?
To complete a simple task
And recognize my ability
To be truly independent?
Why must I always use a pattern?
Cause I'm not sure how to flatter?
Am I creative enough?
To complete my life goals
And stay true to myself
Without being a cliche?
Why must I always write poems?
Cause I'm not really broken?
Am I so tapped out?
To complete no songs for two years
because poetry is easier
than finding the right tune?
Why must I always doubt myself?
Cause I'm not up high on a shelf?
Am I willing to accept change?
To complete my happiness
Because new passions can arise
And sometimes we need to move on?
But have I really changed?
I'm still forcing myself into patterns
into schedules
into insane goals
pretending my passions wouldn't have a chance
But I'm breaking the rules
And the old me would never
break the continuum of a poem.
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Moving On
By Becca Barer
Sometimes it's hard
to move on
to forget
to stop the obsessing in my head
Why do you have to be
the person I want to share it all with
to talk with
to listen with
Why do you have to inspire my stupid poetry
why can I always come back to you
I want to scream at you to let me be
stop leading me on
I know you don't mean to
But it sucks
it really does
you tell me to wait
you disprove of them all
pick something already
friends or more?
you say the former
yet you won't let me move on
its really hard
to move on
Sometimes it's hard
to move on
to forget
to stop the obsessing in my head
Why do you have to be
the person I want to share it all with
to talk with
to listen with
Why do you have to inspire my stupid poetry
why can I always come back to you
I want to scream at you to let me be
stop leading me on
I know you don't mean to
But it sucks
it really does
you tell me to wait
you disprove of them all
pick something already
friends or more?
you say the former
yet you won't let me move on
its really hard
to move on
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Why Time Flies
By Becca Barer
They say time flies when you are having fun
And it crawls when you wish it would sprint
Time and I are friends you see
But it has never been good to me
Leaves me behind while it soars
My knees still pressed against the ground
Just three weeks left
Feels like more
But summer has to end some day
Summer and I have a love hate affair
Work to be done
Time to be wasted
I can't deny the sounds
The creaks and the shakes
Can't blame the elements of winter
The rain, the heaters, footsteps in night
Makes me know I'm not alone
Pull the covers over my eyes
But I am alone
At least for two more days
Or three more weeks
Until I see them every day
I see him every day
Beautiful torture
Time and summer have ganged up on me
Left me with boring forced words to write
And wonderful stories itching in my mind
Forced me into a schedule
Forced me into society and responsibility
Leaving lazy days behind for months
They say time flies when you are having fun
And it crawls when you wish it would sprint
Time and I are friends you see
But it has never been good to me
Leaves me behind while it soars
My knees still pressed against the ground
Just three weeks left
Feels like more
But summer has to end some day
Summer and I have a love hate affair
Work to be done
Time to be wasted
I can't deny the sounds
The creaks and the shakes
Can't blame the elements of winter
The rain, the heaters, footsteps in night
Makes me know I'm not alone
Pull the covers over my eyes
But I am alone
At least for two more days
Or three more weeks
Until I see them every day
I see him every day
Beautiful torture
Time and summer have ganged up on me
Left me with boring forced words to write
And wonderful stories itching in my mind
Forced me into a schedule
Forced me into society and responsibility
Leaving lazy days behind for months
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