The Becoming

Chapter 1. She rises

Retrospect

Sometimes I think of my life in retrospect

I examine it as if it was an insect

I rewind it as if it were a movie

Then I press play at the edge of insanity

I guide my eyes to see all that I can

I hit slow motion with my own two hands

I walk through the hallways of my own my mind

Then I think of everyone that gets left behind

I turn the corner in the corridor

I stare down at the polished white floor

And I think to myself where am I going

My mind is like a movie that’s worth showing

This must be someone else's life

Or is it someone else's wife

Or is this dagger someone else's knife

Why are the people in this hallway so full of strife

These are the questions that get stuck in the brain

Like trying to hop on a moving train

Or trying to jump off of a very tall bridge

Just to see yourself at the bottom of the ridge

To close your eyes and feel the air while you’re falling

To hear your own insanity calling

To rip open your own box of madness

To pause the exact moment we kiss

To play this moment over and over in my head

To hear all the I love you’s that you’ve said

To replay every single time we’ve hugged

Just to inhale your spirit like a drug

To think of all the good times that we’ve had

To be able to pause the memory of my Dad

Just to see all of the shining faces turn sad

When they watched the last film he had

He would be proud of my life’s story

He was a military man with a lot of glory

He sometimes watches these shows with me

And in my heart he knows I'm happy

He wants me to continue this legacy with you

To bust open a chapter that’s new

To continue this movie we are making

To go on every adventure that’s worth taking

Because one day we will be walking through them doors

And we will leave behind the empty floors

We will say goodbye to all the faces

As we walk on to better places

And at the end of the hallway you will be waiting for me

You will hold the door open so gracefully

with that silly smile on your face

We will move forward into a new space

A.D. Small

June 16, 2022

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Prompt: Inside this mahogany box.

The Box

Carved out of exquisite detail

A simply crafted design

Carefully made with each nail

It's definitely one of a kind

Embossed with delicate ivory

Stained by the purest oil

An honest to God discovery

That causes your blood to boil

Each edge made out of pride

Cut from the strongest mahogany

What may lie inside

Depends on you and me

The carved wood holds so much love

As you graze the lid with your hand

Like a gift from above

You begin to understand

This is where your dreams go

When they have nowhere else to run

This is where the roses grow

When there is no more sun

This is where time slowly moves

Like raindrops down a steel roof

The liquid slides down each groove

A pitter-patter of honest proof

This is how clocks are made

When there’s no more time

Like all the plans that were laid

At the beginning of each rhyme

This box contains forces that are beyond us all

Forces that we can’t comprehend

Like reaching the bottom of a long fall

Or hopping across the rivers bend

Each moment etched upon its wood

For tired eyes to see

All to be labeled as holy and good

Brought here for you and me

If you want to open this box

Please use a wise hand

To open up all the locks

And pour out the golden sand

You will understand the meaning of life

And all its splendid glory

Because even the sharpest of knives

Can become dull and boring

So with time you too can grow

Like the roses in the field

And all through the valley below

Use them like a shield

To finally understand the truth

Is to understand life itself

To finally have all the proof

Is to restore your own health

A.D. Small

March 16, 2022

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Peacekeeper

Dark anubian princess

Daughter of the Nile

You ran from the process

Before you could be led down the isle

You were chosen for this role

To be the peacekeeper of the universe

To take the title as a whole

Chosen to endure this curse

Why do you hide from destiny

Why do you run from yourself

On the point of insanity

You run from your own wealth

You throw down your own crown

And turn away from your own alter

You run from your own town

Each step is steady you never falter

With the quickness of a serpent's tongue

You would throw all of it away

Just to breathe with your own lung

Inside of a hole you would rather stay

Instead of becoming this fate

You would rather run

Before the clock strikes too late

And your holding a shaking gun

If you stay you could do great things

You could become stronger inside

So flap your obsidian wings

And let all the anger subside

Embrace the cleansing rain

Become one with who you are

To trust outside of the pain

And rise up like a shining star

You don’t have to hold onto the pain

You can let all of that go

Wash it all off in this rain

And like a butterfly you can grow

A.D. Small

February 21, 2022

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Prompt: The fierce nature of a woman!

She’s Royalty

Dark of night and pure as day

Embodied by light in every way

Bat winged eyes and oval lips

Sashay to the rhythm of sensual hips

The coldest fires of Earth

Can be found within since birth

Bringing darkest times to the table

Or proudest glories when you're able

The fiercest nature that’s walked these grounds

A typhoon of stability without bounds

No shackles or chains can ever hold her tight

Laughing at danger or screaming at the night

Love and hatred as pure as oil

A fine tuned machine down to the last coil

A nest of butterflies beat from deep within

Deep rooted love can make a snowman grin

Wrapped up in the finest of lace

She's a wrecking ball inside any place

Hard work binds her soul together

To make a snowman grin in any weather

To make the saddest of hearts sing

To make even a marionette pull down the string

You show the kindest person so much truth

You speak no lies and only spill out proof

You throw rocks at the tallest of trees

Or gently hum along to the bees

With night of ember you radiate strength

For the people you love you’d go to any length

You rise up with the smell of roses at your feet

Even on your worst days your voice is sweet

You are the guardian of your keep

Your lullaby sings everyone to sleep

Your strong hands hold the galaxy

You become so much when you want it to be

The ocean moves along to your beat

You strongly walk down any street

You are fierce and strong and wise

You can calm down the strongest of cries

Use your fierce heart to make things change

Call out to the night if things get strange

Use your nature to rise above

Because the heart of a woman is full of so much love

We hear that fire burning inside of you

Now go do what you came to do

A.D. Small

March 18, 2022

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Who You Are

You shake it up, you break it down

You rearrange it, and this is what you found

Pieces of memories all scrambled together

Weaving in and out of each other forever

Being braided into life's tapestry

Creating a mixture of divine chemistry

A concoction as old as life itself

A swirl of passionate dreams and wealth

Explore the positive side of your soul

Walk slowly towards each goal

There's no rush in finding who you are

So let's take a chance and raise the bar

You can always dream big and take a swim

But the truth is to start from within

The answers will all come to light

just remember to treat yourself right

A.D. Small

February 8, 2022

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Chapter 2. She Climbs

Pocket

If I had one single pocket

I would turn this key to unlock it

I would cram in a rocket

And fly away from the world’s shit

If I could shove all of my feelings inside

I would fill it full and wide

It would burst like a rip tide

And flow out from every side

I would push all of the world’s hate over the edge

I would throw it off of a ledge

Stand over it and take a pledge

Then grow another hedge

I would let the moon shine over me

Dance in the glow freely

Laugh like I can’t see

Then kiss you slowly

I would give this pocket to you

So you can make something new

Maybe you can build something true

And put it back on me with super glue

I trust you with my soul

You could make this thing whole

Building with you is my goal

But this pocket takes its toll

A.D. Small

July 13, 2022

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Prompt: Bring the world to life

A Crayon’s Life

Do crayons wear pants too

Do they paint the sunset with a different hue

Do they drink their coffee in the morning

and do they paint it brown

Is life colorless and boring

Or do they have to paint the town

Do they see things in black and white

Or do they have to paint the stars in the sky

Can they see the moon at night

Or do they lay in bed wondering why

If crayons wore pants too

Would they have one leg or two

Would they paint the sun in tangerines

Or throw in a splash of yellow

Would they paint the grass in different shades of green

And would it all be done by the same fellow

Would they be kind in their pastel life

Or would they be angry and mad

Would they paint the edges on every knife

Or would they be bitter and sad

I’d like to think they’d be happy inside

They’d have lots of love far and wide

would they always live inside of the box

Or be risky and live on the edge

Would they run around without socks

Or just wear one instead

I would like them to paint my world

With brilliant pinks and gold

I would watch as the colors are swirled

And see the beauty unfold

If crayons did wear pants too

They would be in colors of red or blue

They would kiss their children before bed

And they would love themselves

They would have colorful dreams in their head

As I place their box on the shelf

A.D. Small

January 21, 2021

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Prompt: Wow!!! Did Crayola make this beautiful disaster?

A Crayon's night

If crayon’s did wear pants

Would they wear Levis when they go out to dance

Would they paint the colors on the blue jeans

With blue in every delicate stitch

Would they swirl the colors behind the scenes

The shades become so rich

Would they darken in the red of your old t-shirt

Or color in the white on your shoes

Would they change colors when they flirt

If they have too much booze

If crayon's did wear pants

Would they wear skirts if they had the chance

Would they hoola hoop for fun

Or hopscotch instead

Would they paint the rays of the setting sun

Or just be lazy and stay in bed

Would they walk their dog at midnight

And paint his fur brown

Would they go to bed with a night light

Or stay up dancing on the town

If crayon's could wear pants

You would notice at first glance

They would draw your attention

The moment that you look

And did I forget to mention

You can find them in the pages of a book

A.D. Small

April 1, 2022

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A Lizards’ Tail

Hi I’m a lizard named Sam and I live in a tree

And every year a million people come from around the world to see me

You may ponder what makes this lizard so special well I’ll tell ya!

I can talk to humans in the heart of Australia

It started out small at first and that was a doozy

I accidentally whistled at a red-head and she called me a floozy

She didn't know it was I of course

But I laughed so hard I got hoarse

The guy behind her was itching for a slap

So she turned around and gave him a good smack

Well that’s how it started and it went uphill from there

Now I’m on every TV a daytime millionaire

I met Oprah for the first time and she thought I was canny

Well until I made a joke and laughed at her fanny

I traveled from London to Paris Hell even Kentucky

I tried to meet the guy who invented fried chicken but I wasn’t that lucky

Me and the Geico guy play golf sometimes

But he needs pants and to read between the lines

Oh I didn’t know being famous could be so fun

But for being a lizard though I can only climb or run

How do I even spend money I don’t own a lizard pocket

And why does one of my eyes keep rolling around in it’s socket

I thought being a talking lizard would be cool

Until I lost my swim trunks one day at the pool

Well I guess for now I’ll chill in my tree

At least for now the birds won't bug me

I’m going to make my crazy eye fall asleep soon

And who knows maybe read part two under the moon

A.D. Small

November 18, 2018

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Prompt: Underneath these tangerine skies.

Around The Bend

Warm watermelon sun rise

A fierce storm in nature

The way time flies

A totally candid capture

We may move like oceans

When we are on the same page

Twisting in perfect motions

A controllable rage

We dodge every turn

Like lighting a match

Even if the pages burn

The flames would never catch

These ashes may float

Under this warm sky

But like a heavy coat

You will be safe and dry

So move in silence with me

Like the ashes in the wind

We will get there eventually

Just around the bend

A.D. Small

March 14, 2022

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Chapter 3. She Lives

Prompt: Alexander's Saga Part 1.

The Beginning

Butterfly wings beat against the window pane

Only silence follows the sound of the rain

Outside is dark and damp

The only light comes from an old lamp

Dad reads the evening paper on nights like this

Mom stops her knitting and gives Dad a kiss

The same simple routine comforts me

But the rain turns the silence to agony

There is something that Mom doesn’t want Dad to know

If words could turn into vines up the wall they would go

The tension hangs like tar on an old tin roof

The air in the room smells like stale truth

I almost thought of breaking open the silence

But the silent air makes my soul wince

My eyes quickly dart to Dad in his old chair

Looking calm as usual without a care

He softly chuckles as he reads the comics

I can hear the clock in the hall as it ticks

Minutes pass by and I turned my gaze to Momma

She smiled at me with the slightest comma

I looked at her with wondering eyes

And she shocked me with the sweetest surprise

For in that very moment my heart flutters

Momma looked at me and my mouth stutters

She said soon you will become a sister Sara Ann

And that’s how the saga began

A.D. Small

December 5, 2021

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Prompt: Alexander's Saga Part 2.

Waiting...

The smell of disinfectant brings me out of my reverie

I watch Poppa as he slowly counts each bead on the rosary

The lines on his face are etched with glass

His eyes find mine how long will this last

The concern is apparent on his loving face

Why tonight of all nights are we in this place

I can feel the walls tremble under their own weight

Maybe this is the time to turn life into fate

I scrunched up my hands lost deep in thought

Looking back at my life my stomach forms a knot

A nurse walks past pushing a faded yellow cart

Every minute I wait eats a hole in my heart

Poppa talks to the nurse but I can’t hear what's said

I just keep thinking of Momma in that sterile bed

Please give me a sign to Jesus I ask

Poppa comes back wearing a poker mask

I find his eyes in the dimly lit hall

If guilt turned into sorrow I would surely fall

Poppa I speak, is there any news

He stops breathing for a second and I’m utterly confused

My heart flip-flops inside my hollow chest

He tries to speak then reconsiders for the best

A solo tear slides down my cheek

He pulls me into his lap to speak

Sara Ann we just have to wait

You have your Momma's heart and that’s fate

We will know when the Lord gives us the sign

But, until then little girl your giggles are mine

Dad always knows how to find the giggles

I squirm about trying to escape the wiggles

And as my butt hits the ground escaping Dad's hand

A piercing cry fills the night and now I understand

I looked at Dad with curious eyes

And he said I believe that's your brother that cries

I said Dad can we go to her soon

He softly said once the doctors leave the room

And in that moment I understood Dad's love

It flies on the back of the highest dove

This marks a new chapter of our story

But tonight I owe Momma all the glory

A.D. Small

December 18, 2021

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Prompt: Alexander's Saga Part 3.

Long Road

Beep... beep... beep...

The sound of the monitors wake me from my sleep

I get up from my worn out comfy bed

As I walk down the cold hallway my heart fills with dread

It’s nights like this that I should have stoked the fire

If nerves were bricks I could build my own empire

I crept up to Momma’s room to do my nightly check

She was softly asleep so I gave her cheek a small peck

I look towards Alexander in his hand made bed

I place my delicate hand upon his soft head

His hair is the same shade of brown as mine

If love could turn into honey I would make my own wine

Momma has a long road to recover

She had a few complications after she had my brother

Poppa works twice as hard now down at the mines

But they say God gives you the best signs

It's just that sometimes you have to paint them by hand

It gradually flows through your fingers like sand

But the best blessing is hearing both their hearts beat

With each blip of the monitor the sound is so sweet

I couldn’t ask God for a better sound

Especially if it means keeping Momma around

So, I pray to Jesus tonight to keep them both in a safe place

to hold Momma tight with the finest lace

And to keep my brothers breathing strong

Because at home is where they both belong

A.D. Small

December 20, 2021

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Prompt: Alexander's Saga Part 4.

The Field

As I sit here on this old quilt that I helped Momma sew

It was a gift for me that we made a year ago

Alexander is three now he just started to walk

Momma is excited waiting for him to talk

Paradise is bliss in times like this

Its as if fate is a star-crossed lovers’ kiss

I watch my brother play in the field

His legs are still wobbly but he’s tough like a shield

His giggles are like music to Momma's ear

She hangs the clothes so very near

I can hear her humming float towards the trees

It dances on the backs of the smallest bees

It carries onwards towards my brother's feet

As she simply hangs another sheet

The warm sun causes freckles on my skin

I am almost thirteen now and I have Daddy’s chin

Momma says my eyes sparkle like his when I smile

With each step I walk I can add each mile

Daddy is out hunting trying to find food for the fire

He is helping Momma build this great empire

As I watch my brother I begin to think

Why does life move as fast as a wink

Before you know what’s next it's moving on by

Like when the sparrow flaps its wings to fly

It glides onwards towards each destination

until he gets to the nearest station

That’s how life is sometimes

Before you know it you’ve heard all the nursery rhymes

To hold onto each moment in life while you can

To look back on how it all began

Then look at what you've become

Like building a life out of bubble gum

My family is strong like super glue

What we have is amazing and true

I enjoy my brother's laughter it's truly the best

I close my eyes and I feel so blessed

I am glad that I have my family

May this chapter end happily

A.D. Small

July 27, 2022

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It’s You

It’s your love that surfaces a new beginning

It’s your love that keeps the world spinning

It’s your love that blossoms and grows

Your love keeps me on my toes

It’s your soul that flickers in the night

It’s your soul the brightest flashlight

It’s your soul that’s like a beacon of hope

Your soul is the strongest dope

It’s your eyes that reflect so much love

It’s your eyes that shine from above

It’s your eyes that hold so many things

Your eyes give me wings

It’s your heart that causes mine to stutter

It’s your heart that causes mine to melt like butter

It’s your heart that keeps mine thumping

Your heart keeps my blood pumping

It’s your lips that kiss me goodbye

It’s your lips that make me want to fly

It’s your lips that tell me it will be okay

Your lips say everything they need to say

A.D. Small

February 6, 2020

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Chapter 4. She Falls

Beautiful Storm

When my soul has died and there’s nothing left

I'd save you and give you my last breath

The trees begin to rot in this weather

And I can’t put the pieces back together

At times like this I turn to you

But right now that’s impossible to do

In this storm I can’t be freed

It's a whole different breed

You’ve always been the strongest person I know

But seeing you like this kills my soul

Pretty soon you will be called home

But don’t be scared you won't be alone

You are still strong and God needs you

He needs the good you can do

I will see you shine again one day

When the storm clouds aren’t so gray

The rain moves upon this ground

And inside my chest there’s no sound

The pounding storm shatters the silence

And in the dark my chest is tense

I just wanted to whisper my love to you

I would scream but my vocals are restricted too

Mom if you wanted to walk in the sun I will hold your hand

I’d even carry you across the sand

You’ve been my everything forever

And you’ve always held me no matter the weather

But if you need to go I understand

And I would gladly give God your hand

A.D. Small

September 25, 2019

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Jupiter

If we lived on Jupiter the air would be made of gas

The water would be clear as if it was made of glass

The environment would be so toxic that one could not breathe

You can get there only if you believe

Dreams do not exist here

It’s like walking through a crystal mirror

But to walk on this beautiful planet you would die

The mountains would surely fly

the sky would crumble at our feet

And the ground would radiate the hottest heat

I would not want to live on Jupiter with you

If it means dying then Earth will have to do

A.D. Small

December 30, 2021

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Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets can poop too

They can climb up the tallest buildings

And even work at the zoo

They can dance like a magician

And fly kites on Tuesdays

They can sing like the wind

Or you could just eat em' anyways

They sing karaoke down at Rudy’s

Or they could be shaped with the biggest booties

You could dip em' in honey or mustard or ketchup

You could even dip them in your frosty but wait a minute hold up, hold up

You could put little clown shoes on their little tiny feet

They could be made with gluten or chicken meat

If you throw them on your floor your dog will probably eat them

Yeah chicken nuggets you can’t beat em’

A.D. Small

June 12, 2021

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The Moon’s Call

If the moon was to hang low enough in the sky

Would it shine brightly or wither up and die

If it was within your reach would you try

To steal its beauty out of the sky

Would you keep it all for yourself

Or would you be kind enough to share its wealth

Would you take it with divine stealth

And keep it all for yourself

Its sad that I have to question you

To question what you would even do

When at one time you was ultimately see-through

But your colors aren’t so true

Why would you take the moon

When you can shine brightly in any gloom

When your beauty can light up any room

But you would do this even if it caused severe doom

That moon is for all to see

It's not just for you or me

To use it up so selfishly

Can cause so much catastrophe

But would you take it without a care

To use it for yourself because it's there

You would do this beyond compare

Even if the world couldn’t repair

You would take the moon in all its glory

Without hearing the rest of the story

All because your life is boring

But who would wake you up in the morning

See without the moon there is no sun

Without this clock where time began

If you steal the moon it's a loaded gun

All so you can have your fun

But what is the purpose behind it all

If you take the moon the sun would fall

Do you think of these things at all

Or do you just hear the moon’s call

A.D. Small

April 8, 2022

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Firestorm

You design triangles with my hands

Throw fire on my sand

then ask me if I understand

You never tried to reach me

Your fingertips were never there

You screamed at my insanity

and I pulled out each hair

If you like the way I dance then just tell me

Don’t scream at my insanity

And then set me free

To love pillow fights in the darkness

To spin and laugh at life

To die with every kiss

Is like thrusting upon a knife

I would die in this Hell beside you

To know I’d love you through

Because that’s what I do

I do miss the old us sometimes

To be young and hopeless

Before all the old crimes

were a lover’s kiss

To reach out to you is what I need

My eyes bleed

For a body that is dying in need

I can’t scream at you anymore

It blends into the background

Of every slamming door

And how a dying heart sounds

To fight is like a dying breath

That bleeds into what’s next

Until there’s nothing left

But my love for you overcomes it all

The purest of fine lace

Make it to the next curtain call

Just to rest upon your soft face

I love to love you past the pain

What is hurt without gain

Because I want to be with you in this rain

To set fire to this storm

To make it past them gates with you

Your my love's truest form

A dying that’s true

A.D. Small

March 16, 2017