No Matter How

 I'm lost in a gaze but can't be seen

Illuminated haze that's not so keen

Arms stretched far to feel the way through

No matter how I strain, I can't see you

Tender songs that I don't hear

The melodic tone that falls to the rear

I cradle my ears to cling to what's true

No matter how I listen, I can't hear you

Sweetness her breath I just can't smell

Bland aroma makes it hard to tell

Roses and perfumes never break through

No matter how I inhale, I can't breathe you

Velvet petals are numb to the touch

Each finger stretches but not too much

Soft and supple is the skin so new

No matter how I touch, I can't feel you

Radiant smile and eyes that invite

Softly motions like angelic sprite

All my senses have become askew

No matter how I dream, I can't have you

Shoeless Pain

We don't know what it's like to be in their shoes

Or how much life they stand to lose

We really don't know the pain that they felt

Or understand the reasons on why they knelt

We don't get it, we're in our bubble

Deflecting blame for all the trouble

Focusing on the looters and not the speech

Missing opportunities for us to teach

Maybe the preachers were right all along

Trust in God to make everyone strong

Get to know your neighbor without a good reason

For the act of love is never out of season

So take a deep breath and gather your wits

Suppress all the hate and don't call it quits

Remember the lessons our parents had shared

And remove all reason for us to be scared