AA is for Quitters, So Where do You Go?

Choke on the words then spit them out.
There's no cure to this flourishing addiction.
To you, quitting just isn't an option.

It's the scent of your late night words
When they confuse me and make me agree
To this problem, a vile monster in the making.

I've come to a controversial conclusion--
We could fight it, but no one would win.
This demon could be the end of what we know.

I could never blame this on you, however,
Only to the extent of your self-inflicted addiction,
But keep me in mind, don't blow it off.

Too deep into this for medication or therapy,
The doctors can only treat the sick, not this.
They'll grimace and pretend they don't know.

We know, they're lying through bloodstained teeth.
Just keep this between us, under the wraps of
Tomorrow's conversation, and I'll lie for you, too.

Never mind the sighs, you knew what they meant.
Keep this to yourself, things won't change soon.
The broken quitter's promise is for my ears only.

We Play Games, but This Time I Win

The game is over--I can show you the score.
Seven days, zero passion, I think I've won this fair.
I'll show you what it's like, though you've no care.
This time we can't lose, in the end I'll gain more.

Though that bit of you remains, I don't believe
The rumors that spread; my mind stays, you go.
Let me have this glory, you'll pay no mind, I know.
I know in the end that we'll both pay a fee.

Let me brag, just one night, reciprocate the pain.
You won't feel a thing, just smile till it ends.
I won't blame you for the loss your grin send
Down my spine, your words wash out like hell after rain.

Scream until your lungs give out, don't understand
Why I've left you no note, no trace of my heart.
Next time you'll see me, we'll shake from the start,
Back to square one we go, you know it's all planned.

No more misunderstood, no more late night cravings.
I'm done and I've left you to dwell in the dust
Of what you made me--a mess, and you're the must-
have of the summer, but this time, you're losing.

You Want Publicity? You'll Make Headlines When We're Through

Doubt.
A word that crosses the mind,
A word that hexes the heart,
A word that stains the lips.
For once, don't let it stop
You from what is right.

Far-fetched.
A cliche word that hurts,
Scars like the realization
You might never get to where
You truly want to be in life.
When did this affect you so?

Never.
A time period beyond me,
The possibility of never
Getting there, getting to
The place everyone else said
You would never ever reach.

Persevere.
A true verb to take to heart,
Something I know you know
Will get people far in life.
You say you want to make it.
Will you stay long enough?

Us.
A pronoun that never meant
More than a collective term,
But now it stands for fate
Of where you can take this
With us right beside you.

Unsent Love Letters

Dear stranger,
It seems that I must introduce myself.
I am your latest nightmare, it's true,
But I am not your worst. That's you.
I am sure you have met me before,
In a place that not even I remember.
All I know is how we relate, and how
Our two circles share a common point.

Dear stranger,
We've yet to talk formally, casually,
About the wage at stake for your hand.
Every card is on the table, no regrets.
Let go of everything you knew before.
There's only two choices left for you--
Pick me up, or let me fall back down.
Either way, you know you'll win the bet.

Dear stranger,
It seems that we should meet someday,
For a cup of coffee, a card game or two?
Discuss the future, or ours, your pick.
I just don't think I should let this go.
I always thought there was something.
Let's clarify our current relationship.
Was there even anything there to start?

Dear stranger,
I'm sorry if I've rushed into this.
You don't seem comfortable here.
Neither am I, if you aren't either.
Let's start from the top, if you will.
I am your latest problem, biggest mistake,
Something you'll want to take back.
But I know you won't because neither will I.

VIP Passes Never Sounded So Sweet

I've never been good at waiting in line.
Never for something I've wanted so badly.
Occasionally, I'd let someone skip me,
The courteous kind, but not with you.

You were different, you were something
That even if I stepped out to get popcorn,
I had a feeling that the wait would be
More than worth what I had paid for.

I guess that's the reason for all this.
I've created a mess of my own fault.
My selfishness once again the cause to
Argue, to forget, to live without this.

I didn't think you'd ever get to the
Point in my thoughts so vitally thought
Of that you'd seep into my fingers.
You're all that's on my mind for now.

It's the pattern of weather that nears
Every time a hurricane forms offshore,
The tropics just giving me an excuse
To build up my heart for the heavy winds.

I want to hesitate, but I don't want
To wait for you to come around anymore.
It's caused a one-sided battle between
Two best friends. What have you done?

So I'll give you all the time you need
To answer the letter I never got to send.
I don't expect a response anytime soon.
But don't keep me at my mailbox forever.

And Then There Was You

Closely-knit from the seam to create a stitch
too tight to break, too close for comfort.
You are the best friend I'd never have again.
Our odds from the start were slim to none.

The pick me up on those Wednesday nights,
Where my first instinct was to rather hide
Than face the hell ahead of me come tomorrow,
You painted a permanent smile that would last.

Just like the old story of the good girls who
Became the "in crowd" and suddenly, cool was
A matter of name-calling and rumor-spreading,
Why have you become another one of them?

This is not the person who could obsess over
His idol for hours and never think of another
Or sing songs that he wished he could write
Even though I knew he could do it himself.

This is not the same person who told me that
One day, no matter what, he would be the one
On stage, singing and doing what he loves,
But now he doubts what he has, what he wants.

You have become a different person, an identity
Unknown to my system, unwelcomed at the least.
The in crowd has corrupted someone I love.
This is not the first case I've seen, however.

I'll give you time to reflect on this new
Choice you've made, this changed person who
I used to adore absolutely, because I know
You know better than what you're up to now.

You're changing, I know, and I can't keep you.
But I want to hold on to what I can just to
Remember that at one point, there was you,
And there was no problem with that.

Mercy

We'll spit into our sweaty palms and shake hands,
Money on the table for whoever wins this time.
Flip the coin, it lands on your call, heads.
I'll sit back and grin with too much confidence.

You grab my arm and twist, the hair on my neck is
Raised by the pain this game of Mercy lends me.
A sudden flashback of everything you've ever done
Spins through my head, and I cry Mercy yet again.

You let go, that smirk is on your face once more.
Take your winnings, my summer's savings, look away.
I've lost for what seems like the billionth time.
I've learned to stop fighting for what I can't have.