Looking hard within herself, she wondered and pondered if she needed help.

She thought with her head and her heart. She was well educated and considered smart.

For the life of her she couldn’t believe That all of the chaos involved no one but he.

Weeks passed and she knew what to do. Building her strength she knew she was threw.

So, she shrugged and turned with a smile. For the truth had been there all the while.

The alluring dove, a symbol and an amazing confirmation of their love.

As we seal our love with a kiss, I pray, we will always continue in this marital bliss.

I ponder if our love will stand the test of time. You’ve always said… I am yours and you are mine.

I also realized love can be blind. But in the end I’m so happy that you are mine, My Sweet Valentine.

“So she shrugged and turned with a smile For the truth has been there all the while.”

I couldn’t tell if she was friend or foe She was beautiful head to toe When I was around her I felt manic And led me to a state of panic I couldn’t tell if with me she was coy I think she’s into a boy Beautiful scent, beautiful mind I doubt that she’s ever be mind She was popular and I was not Very much not the popular lot One day something felt odd She was walking with this guy, Todd To me, mean and rude And often quite crude He’d been mean to me for years Very much ignored by my peers As he walked by, he knocked my books out of hand Such a maliced move on brand He moved on and laughed Whereas she stopped in her path She helped me pick up my things And slid back on my finger my pride ring She patted it and winked I just stared and blinked She for a second held my hand As she helped me up to stand I said, “I must know on this day” “Are you like me, gay?” Looking back, seeing how she always looked at me It was always clear to see So, she turned and shrugged with a smile For the truth had been there all the while

Worries of the day heaped in a pile Whilst the crumpled comforters beguile

Sleep is a remote and craggy isle Lost in an anxious mist erstwhile

Wild strivings to fold, stuff, and file Her map of hope tensile

So she shrugged and turned with a smile For the truth had been there all the while

“Ofelia Belmont is a monster”,they would say “She’s pure evil in disguise and will lead you astray” The people of this village hate me for some reason They fear me the most during the fall season They think they know who and what I am When truly I really don’t give a damn They can call me names and hate me And keep believing I’m a banshee They’ll never guess my true identity For I am the most wicked witch of the century With a wave of my hand and a sprinkle of magic I control the entire village, how tragic So, she shrugged and turned with a smile For the truth had been there all the while

I told her that one day Who knew she’d fell the same way But there was this one other girl And who knew she rocked the others world

They both secretly liked each other But only I could tell So I pestered and pestered and pestered Until they both told me well

I fought with her because she lied It took an entire two day ride She admitted she liked the other I stood there and started the shudder

So I shrugged and turned with a smile, For the truth had been there all the while

She stares from the window Waiting for dreams, Written in blue sky Colored serene.

Life rolling by, A crash of a wave Beating the sand, Which shells to save?

Dip them in ink Beneath sinking sun. Words tickle pink Is this what they call fun?

It’s all a mirage Among desert storm clouds The ocean is calling Wailing her sounds.

So, she shrugged And turned with a smile For the truth had been there All the while

I wondered why she looked at me, When I stood at the urinal and tried to pee.

She batted her eyes and started to flirt, Which interrupted my ability to squirt.

She looked at my junk and started to laugh, I didn’t appreciate the embarrassing gaffe.

Why was she there? What was she after? I had no clue. It was a disaster.

Why did she enter the wrong door in the hall? Why hadn’t I chosen to stand in a stall?

She seemed not to know and appeared not to care, That this was the men’s room, it wasn’t for mares.

I turned and pointed at the sign on the door, An accidental stream was peed on the floor.

So, she shrugged and turned with a smile For the truth had been there all the while.

For a while, all that was there was smiles, Vacant eyes and white lies,

For a while, she was just, For a while, she was lost.

For a while, she smiled with lies at the helm, Letting the lies pull her along in blissful calm,

But then it struck her like a stormy sea to a cargo ship, She was ripped in half like the hull of the ship, Stripped and ripped, Bare and exposed, Not posed with any dignity,

Lost and exiled in her own mind, Blind to the line she crossed, The botched attempt to settle her trauma,

The aroma of a trauma refusing to kneel and cower, A trauma so deep and ingrained in herself, Her health fell, Her mind dwelt in the deep recess of her brain,

But there it was, the flame, The flickering flame that was born from pain, From The torment and chains,

“So.” She shrugged and turned with a smile, To look at the frail pale child of her younger self, For the truth had been there a while. She was the Nile, strong and agile,

“So.” She shrugged and turned with a grand smile, For the truth had been there a while.

Sitting alone, with no one near

I lean back and sigh, at the past year.

A loud voice calls

And I look for the source

The sound slips, falls

And they know no remorse.

Handful of gold,

Covered in mold;

It’s only for show,

I think I now know.

The voice was never there.

But they called for everyone else.

They said they did care.

But that promise just melts.

When I sit down, I hear her voice

I look up, she’s made a choice.

She passes by, ignoring my presence;

It leaves between us mere quiescence.

I stand to my feet.

She’s not reliant.

She smiles so sweet.

Leaves me, so silent.

So, she shrugged and turned with a smile

For the truth had been there all the while.