My Best Friend

He's one of those people who is never there specifically for you
but he's always there
in the background
hovering nearby
so still he could be mistaken by anyone else as scenery
He's always watching as I pull myself back onto my feet
and we continue our walk
and he mutters "idiot."
under his breath
just loud enough that I can hear him and hit him for it
And then he whines cause 'I'm a girl and he can't hit me back'
I just grin
and laugh at him
he talks to another girl
and I cry cause I'm jealous
and he panics cause I'm crying
I settle for a hug and an awkward pat on the head
and life goes on
through smiles and laughs
and pain and tears
against all odds
through hopes and fears
he's a shoulder to cry on
something that is always the same
he evolves and he grows older
but he some how never changes
I try to hug him
and everyone laughs
because his hand is on my fore head
and my arms are flailing comically in an attempt to reach him
We are similar
but aren't the same person
I can't read his emotions
I can't predict what he'll say
but I know he won't abandon me
that's a sort of unspoken promise
something we have in common
He's strong, and he will stand when I can not
I'm weak, but I will defend him if I must, with everything inside of me
He tells me I smell like strawberries
and I stammer out rude comments and excuses because I don't take well to compliments
he doesn't point out my rudeness
maybe he gets it, maybe he doesn't, who knows?
either way he forgets about it.
he doesn't bring it up.
We graduate together
and I cry cause I don't want it to end
he just ruffles my hair with a laugh and a hug
and it takes a few days for me to learn
that we can be a million miles apart
and still be right next to each other.

© 2010 Sarah Hale

The Mirror

I looked into the mirror
and it was a foggy gray
as if just beneath the glass
swirled the foggiest of days

So I splayed my fingers out
and touched against the glass
Far too curious to doubt
and I slipped into the mirror

and my eyes they gazed in wonder
at the wonders they had found
and I took a few more steps along
the softly sanded grounds

and with my hand outstretched,
it was a wonder I could see
another person standing there
with his hand stretched out towards me

His eyes were sad, his body worn
and as far as I could see
he was the only person
waiting there for me

and so I stepped forward
with my hand outstretched to his
til I wrapped my arms around him
and then I felt him tense

with my ear to his chest I could hear
the dull beating of his heart
and as I gave him a smile
he shoved me away with a start

And so I stood there staring
with a hurt look in my eyes
until I saw in his features
The clear signs of surprise

"What was that?" he asked me
as he stared straight back at me
"A hug" I answered softly
grinning tenderly

"Why did you reach out to me?"
I asked him with a smile
"I felt lonely." he answered
and I thought for awhile.

"Perhaps you've never had a hug,"
I replied with a frown
"could we try it again?" he asked me
as I glowered at the ground.

And so I wrapped my arms around him
and he, his around me
but then the hug was broken
as he was torn from me

and I fell back through the mirror
and I landed in my room
and I bolted to my feet
and I found my hopes in ruin

for where before the fog had been
the glass was crystal clear
and my own reflection stared at me
through the glass that was the mirror

and as I touched the glass again
I could only hear his voice
as he touched where my fingers were
and whispered me this verse.

"When you feel you need a hug
just reach out for my hand
and should the mirror let me
I will come into your land."

"And do not be surprised," he said
"If I call you here to me,
for only you and you alone
have caused my heart to beat."

And I stayed beside the mirror
long after he was through
and I dreamt that I was with him
every cold dark afternoon

and each day I would touch
the mirror's solid glass
and with each and every tear drop
another day seemed to pass

And every now and then I see him
where my reflection should be
and I try to touch his face
as he stands and stares at me

and his saddened eyes they tell me
that the mirror won't let him through
and our hands outstretched to each other
says to me our hearts are true.

and so each day I rise now
and I fog up the glass
and I write to him a letter
and wait as time goes passed

And If I wait there long enough
my letter disappears
and scrawled upon the mirror then
his own words persevere

I've quickly learned to read backwards
the words he always scrawls
in perfect swirling letters
that keep my heart enthralled

"Do not feel discouraged
though the glass won't let us through
for someday, somehow, I know
that I will find my way to you

and when you're feeling weary
just remember this I plead
that you and you alone
have caused my heart to beat"

My heart it's beating faster
than it ever was before
and it's all because my mirror
became an open door

and when I'm feeling weary
I remember just one thing
the reason I keep going
and keep dealing with the pain

is I know that someone's watching me
and trying to find a way
to return the hug I gave to him
and I know he will one day.

© 2010 Sarah Hale

The Wish

In ancient Eygpt
I made a wish,
to meet my other half
and when I did,
He smirked a bit
and gave me a cruel laugh
I loved him so,
and he loved me,
though he refused to let it show
and as I died in that man's arms
again I made a wish
that I would live
a million lives
and in each within
I'd find the man I loved so much
and stay until the end.
And so a wish was granted
the last one just for me
and one hundred years later
I awoke
clear across the sea
I lived my life
through war and strife
and then he came along
the man who cruelly laughed at me
and forced me to be strong
and two hundred years
after that life was done
I met him yet again
and realized rather suddenly
that our love would never end
and so I go on living
in search of each cruel laugh
and I will go on living
as long as he comes back

©2010 Sarah Hale

Adventure

I’ve danced upon a silver spoon
I’ve jumped until I touched the moon
I swam until my arms grew numb
I’ve fought the old to save the young
I played with dragons
Flown with larks
Talked with beetles
Drawn with bark
Swayed with treetops smooth and swift
Held the ocean at my fingertips
I’ve flared with fire in my veins
I’ve even chuckled with the rain
I’ve ridden Nessy through Loch-ness
I taught a bird to build a nest
I reached across the sea so blue
And that’s what brought me ,love ,to you

©2o1o Sarah Hale

Lessons

The moon taught me to dance
Barefooted in the rain
The rain taught me to smile
Gave me strength through all the pain
The pain taught me to live
As if tomorrow wouldn’t come
Tommorrow taught me swiftly
To learn to love the Sun
The Sun taught me to shine
As brightly as the day
The day taught me that laughter
How to keep my fears at bay
My fears taught me to reach out
As often as I can
And reaching out has taught me
I don’t have to have a plan
Lack of plans has taught me
Spontaneity is best
Spontaneity has taught me to give
Without regret
And all these lesson I have learned
Have proven just one thing
That giving freely of yourself
Can get you everything.

© 2010 Sarah Hale

Killing Me Softly

Killing me softly
can't take a breath
hearts been barely beating
ever since you left
crying on the inside
won't let it show
hasn't been long
since I begged you not to go.

©2010 Sarah Hale

Memory

This memory
is the sweetest of them all
you
me
and the rain.

© 2010 Sarah Hale