Trapped

                                                       **********                                  By Keith H. Seymour

                                 Trapped…. Yes, Often,  I Feel…. Trapped.

                                        Inside this un-gilded cage

                        Of this insecurity that makes me feel secure.

                            Yet, I know more is out there, and I want it!

                       Even  if it means giving up the security of seeking

                            What is unsecure, because it is unknown.

                                    Not only to me, but  to others.

                                     Others… continually claim

                It is safe and therefore logical to stay with what is known.

                       To stick with those who always… or at least usually

                                      live, think or look like me

                                      If all are created in God’s image, 

                then isn’t the world already a mirror image of you and me?

                       Why can’t people see that colors co-exisitng  in a rainbow

                       Is God’s message of our differences complimenting 

                                  EVERYONE…. Not just you and me?

           The constant need for everyone’s approval is what keeps many in society

                                            So Unfortunately…Trapped.

                           I want to be Free… Like the man who battled windmills

                               Because the eyes within his mind, heart and soul

                                           was real and honest and good.

                                  Those who doubted him used only exterior eyes

                                   So,  Could not see the greatest gift of three:

                                            Faith, Hope, and Charity.

                          As children our minds and hearts are open.

                             So, to save an unseen… imaginary fairy

                                  Our hands are collectively clapped.

                           So, why as adults do logic and proprierty

                                        Cause so many once free wills  

                             To avoid what is unknown and different 

                              Making them… so comfortably… and securely

                                                           Trapped?

XENOPHOBIC PRONOUNS

 XENOPHOBIC PRONOUNS

                                   *********************************

                                                                                 BY: Keith H. Seymour

                                                                                 ***************************

                                              I, me are from here.

                                                You, he, and she

                                              Are from over...there.

                             Pronouns...replacing nouns… in a non-pro way.

                                              All those other people

                            Different from you, me, us...are unwelcome to stay.

                             Irish immigrants were once similarly treated.

                                              “Irish Need Not Apply!”

                       At such discriminatory notices, the American Government

                                                   Turned a blind eye.

                                Even so-called political leaders proclaimed

                                        “We want no drunken Irish Micks!”

                                     Even Californians socially persecuted

                                                  People the termed

                                              Dustbowl “Okie Hicks.”

                                  Once, we tore a country’s physical wall down.

                                         Now, physical and psychological walls

                                                          Globally-go up.

                    Once, we cheered “Solidarity,” and our African Sisters and brothers

                                         When “Apartheid” was forced to its end.

                                   Yet, many of the same people of then cheered

                                 Now, seem to endorse a more Xenophobic trend.

                                              I,and you, We and them.

                                       Together, they compliment differences,

                                                      and create us.

                                          Yet, used as “opposing antonyms.”

                                                Create a xenophobic fuss.

    I Tried…..

                                                                        BY: Keith H. Seymour

                                                                        **************************

                                   I Tried, I really did.

                                          I Tried...to be what you wanted

                                                        Me to be,

                                                        But…. I failed.

                                          So, I tried again!

                                             Really! I did!

                                          Only, this time.. I tried to be me.

                                             Or what I thought was what

                                                         I thought

                                                   Was… is… me

                                                              But

                                         That was not good enough either.

                                         Not for you… Not even for me.

                                                        How Pathetic!

                                         I cannot even be… what I want to be!

                                        I even tried to combine and be…

                                        A little of what we both want,

                                                           But still

                                                           I failed.

                                       I know why I failed too,

                    I became wanted not only what I wanted, but what you wanted too.

                           My compromise made me a house divided within myself.

                               I cannot serve two masters and have you respect me

                                                 When I am not sure,

                    No! Scared, of who am becoming, of if that is what I want to be.

                                                 I tried! I really did!

                        This inner conflict has me more afraid of my inner-security

                                                  Than it does of you.

   I tried, I really tried

                                     To please individually, and collectively

                                                    Both me and you.

                                                      So, now I ask:

                                                 What now do I do?

                                             Yes! I really, really tried!

The Laughter in My sleep

                                         THE LAUGHTER IN MY SLEEP

            ****************************************

                         BY: Keith H. Seymour

                         *****************************

                  Last night,

                                                               I was oddly awakened-

                                                               by...laughter.

                                                               The laughing voice...so distinct

                                                               that I realized …

                                                               IT was...mine.

                                                               Yes, I accidentally thought of you,

                                                               which caused me

                                                               to spontaneously laugh...

                                                               during my sleep.

                                                               After all,

                                                               it seemed so absurd

                                                               that years of friendship

                                                               could possibly become

                                                               something more.

                                                               So, under the circumstances,

                                                               I couldn't help

                                                               laughing in my sleep.

                                                        

                                                              That some sobering spirit

                                                               should cause  me to unwittingly...

                                                               profess my love, and ask for yours in return.

                                                               Then  learn that I only

                                                                            might

                                                                             get it.

                                                                You  say that you think

                                                                 you may feel

                                                                 the same undying love for me?

                                                                 But need time...

                                                                 to find out for sure?!

                                                                 Which means

                                                                  you may find out

                                                                 that... you don't love me-

                                                                 eventually.

                                                                 What  a terribly ironic joke.

                                                                 So, I laughed...during my sleep.

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                                                              I am sure God laughed too.

                                                              Only, HIS laugh

                                                              was likely louder.

                                                              For, I merely asked for

                                                              a stress free love.

                                                              Yet, HIS answer

                                                               was...you!

                                                               Then I find out that should these feelings

                                                               mutually exist,

                                                               we might...only

                                                               be able to express them from afar.

                                                               Meaning,

                                                               the prospect of your continuing love

                                                               I may eventually lose.

                                                               This thought

                                                               causes me to laugh

                                                               at myself.

                                                               Awake---and in my sleep.

                                                               I laugh

                                                              at... how

                                                              I foolishly admitted

                                                                       that

                                                                “I love you!”

                                                             Then again,

                                                             for regretting my revelation

                                                                         to you.

                                                                 Yes, as I slept...

                                                             God probably laughed too.

                                                                 With me? At me?

                                                             I'm not sure which.

                                                          

                                                             All I really know... is that HE knows

                                                             that you know...that

                                                                “ I truly love you!”

                                                             Also, unlike us... HE

                                                                   presently knows

                                                                         your...heart.

                                                              Except, HE won't tell me.

                                                              No. HE has left that task

                                                                         to... YOU!

                                                              I guess... the joke is not on me.

                                                              The joke...is me.

                                                              So, I laughed,

                                                              I laughed within... my...sleep.

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                                                             Oh... if I had  already been “conscious”

                                                              of how happy you make me feel,

                                                             even when we're apart.

                                                             Even when I'm asleep.

                                                             Maybe, I'd have been happier

                                                             sooner, and consciously laughed aloud

                                                            and with greater frequency

                                                             Then again...

                                                             Maybe not.

                                                             Anyway,

                                                            what a waste!

                                                           Such a loss of potential laughter.

                                                             Oh, how extremely sad.

                                                           Yes, our lives may soon depart from one another,

                                                           and then... we may or may not find

                                                                                    that

                                                                           time will heal

                                                                any newly discovered  feelings

                                                                into... at least...one set of

                                                                open-heart wounds.

                                                                Such good... or not so good fortune

                                                                laughs at me, as I become aware of this newly realized     

                                                                                   love.

                                                                So, I happily think of you,

                                                                while I also laugh... as I sleep.

                                                                Last night I thought of you,

                                                                and awoke

                                                                to my own laughter

                                                                of irony.

                                                                Yes, I really did.

                                                        

                                                                Maybe we will never know

                                                                 if my timing's too late,

                                                                or if a future romance

                                                                we will at some point obtain.

                                                                But we already know

                                                                our friendship will still forever remain...

                                                                or so we think.

                                                                This I guess,

                                                                is why I laugh

                                                                when I think of you.

                                                                 Even... when I'm asleep.

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