Thirty Years

Thirty years ago, today, we agreed

Best friends and lovers, we would always be

In front of Reverend Love, I took your name

Vowing to love you through good times and pain

We had it all figured out, the perfect plan

Retiring early, traveling the land

We’d stash away money, live like fat cats

Just work a few more years, then enjoy that

Somehow the Universe didn’t agree

That this would be the path of our journey

A mighty big detour around the bend

Had us rethinking our life plan again

Along came our kids, kept us on the go

That it’d be this way, we’d never have known

Soon a busy life with three girls, four boys

Bringing lots of pain and our greatest joy

Now some new names, Papa and Granny Jo

We wear them proudly, who’d ever have known?

With four grand babes, number five on the way

Yes, our life right now is pretty damn great

Through all we’ve been through, you’re still by my side

Whatever’s in store, I’m down for the ride

Happy anniversary, my best friend

If I could go back, I’d do it again

Shackles

I feel there’s something anchoring me

What’s confusing is I’m totally free

This structure and boundaries are what I love

They tell me there’s more I’m capable of

I’m pulling against these shackles of chain

Hungry for freedom yet very afraid

This structure has kept me safely in check

My inner child is screaming, “What the heck?!”

She’s got the keys, I’m finally released

But feel unsure in this new realm of free

Then she pushes me right into the mud

And squeals, “Relax!!  Getting dirty is fun!”

At first I resist, completely freak out

And then, in no time, I’m rolling around

Now I see the ones that are standing here

They’re the mighty ones whose judgement I feared

I now can stand up for what I believe

Not giving in to those who don’t agree

This has been my shackle, I’ve slowly learned

How others view me is not my concern

Real Deal

Assuming she had just been discarded

She stepped away keeping herself guarded

There was no way she wanted them to see

The damage just done to her self-esteem

“We don’t want you.  You will never fit in

Plus, you’re not good enough to be with him

If we had a clue that you would be here

There’s not a chance that we would have appeared”

She responded, “Fine, I’ll just step away”

The haters cheered, “Yes, we want it that way!”

So she stepped away and walked through the door

Listening, sadly, as their applause roared

She was stripped of her status, standing there

And realized she really didn’t care

She began making new plans in her head

Now opting for simplicity instead

I was observing this interaction

And was impressed with her calm reaction

Eventually I let myself be seen

Inviting her to take a trip with me

With nothing to lose, everything is gone

She said, “Sure, what the heck, I’ll come along”

She was hesitant going back inside

“Why must I do this?  I just want to hide!”

“They can’t see you in this high vibration

And you need to hear their conversation”

I convinced her as we slipped through the door

To visit this social nightmare once more

He’s standing up ready to bare his truth

She wanted to turn and flee from the room

I said, “Please listen you might be surprised

Things may be different than you realize”

“First, I love her unconditionally”

He began, “She’s the perfect one for me

All of you want me to be your puppet

I must perform when you sound your trumpet

“Now you’re standing here with your bribery

If I play your way, you’ll give me money

In my opinion, you’re not worth a damn

Living life simple, a much better plan

“As of this moment, you are all dismissed

Whatever you brought here will not be missed”

He came for her bringing only his truth

“The only one I belong with is you

“I want this adventure, just you and I

Living our simple easy going life”

She looked back at me, “Is this all for real?

I winked, “Damn straight, babe, this is the real deal”

                                                         Coco Moonbeam