<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' version='2.0'><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:35:12 +0000</lastBuildDate><title>bittersweet release</title><description>This site is dedicated to the poetry of Tracy Lynn Schafer</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/index.htm</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>168</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-4424525388858548422</guid><pubDate>Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:24:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-01-04T02:35:12.303-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Sentenced&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps this is her punishment&lt;br /&gt;an existence heavy with remembrance&lt;br /&gt;The lone lover&lt;br /&gt;stuck to her pages&lt;br /&gt;solemnly confronting the idea of solitude&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pushing back -&lt;br /&gt;staining sheets with smells she hopes will never dissipate&lt;br /&gt;No longer holding on to moments&lt;br /&gt;but simply living in them&lt;br /&gt;Scarcely&lt;br /&gt;one by one&lt;br /&gt;no matter how quickly they come and go&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Her heart shattered and aching&lt;br /&gt;frozen in some other time&lt;br /&gt;the chill overwhelming&lt;br /&gt;Redefining lonely&lt;br /&gt;she is now homeless&lt;br /&gt;without shelter&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Banking on forgiveness seems utterly hopeless at best&lt;br /&gt;What then?&lt;br /&gt;The mark was made&lt;br /&gt;Her consequence this:&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp A lie&lt;br /&gt;For truth is ruined&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp so he says&lt;br /&gt;Who is she to argue&lt;br /&gt;Merely the contravener&lt;br /&gt;shamed&lt;br /&gt;a victim all by her own doing&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yet - Love&lt;br /&gt;still unmeasured&lt;br /&gt;no matter what the transgression may be&lt;br /&gt;they Love&lt;br /&gt;An adamant, stubborn, outspoken Love&lt;br /&gt;existing without fail&lt;br /&gt;without try&lt;br /&gt;Effortless&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While this Love may not recognize error&lt;br /&gt; - and the human heart will still beat with one direction&lt;br /&gt;the mind fails to practice with the same conviction&lt;br /&gt;Spinning circles &lt;br /&gt;creating reason thick in conflict&lt;br /&gt;They're torn apart&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He faithlessly marches on&lt;br /&gt;while she stands still mistrusted&lt;br /&gt;numb and naked&lt;br /&gt;in fear of what may not come&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps her punishment - is this&lt;br /&gt;Living life&lt;br /&gt;parallel to having it all&lt;br /&gt;sharing Love with no beginning and no end&lt;br /&gt;yet never finding the way to stand on common ground&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-4424525388858548422?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_12_27_archive.html#4424525388858548422</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-939678921249191971</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:25:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-11-13T16:58:41.844-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Cancer&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Quite literally burned on the inside I am crippled and swaying attempting to breathe My heart a metronome waiting to be wound Time the only concept working against me Cast aside and in disguise Salt in a wound which has never truly healed Broken open All the while broken under Simply Plainly Sadly broken I am shaken and shaking Attempting to understand science When rhyme is the only logic which speaks to me Diagnosis misread Dealing with nothing Yet reeling in the midst I am denying struggle While charred black remains release themselves Reality settles in Excusing nothing and losing the fight I lift denial on high Marching forward with false strength and borrowed time I am aching and pacing and panicked and afraid and searching for clarity When this muddled mess is mine and mine alone &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cannot feel guilty for this fear&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-939678921249191971?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_10_25_archive.html#939678921249191971</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-347686315786942693</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:02:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-07-29T14:06:34.071-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>My Sweet Heart&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tablespoons of discontent pepper nimble limbs&lt;br /&gt;dancing gingerly against a skin ripped clean at the seams&lt;br /&gt;torn like a paper-thin fabric&lt;br /&gt;revealing barren bones &lt;br /&gt;and a fevered heart: trapped by a brittle ribcage&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She violently yearns to be set free&lt;br /&gt;Escaping the confines of a body abused by careless whispers &lt;br /&gt;and expired promises&lt;br /&gt;Never resting&lt;br /&gt;she beats and bellows&lt;br /&gt;calling out in silent reverie&lt;br /&gt;Her frequency misunderstood by many &lt;br /&gt;but loud and clear to one &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Sing out!&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Believe!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is a rhythm sought&lt;br /&gt;yet not yet found&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My sweet heart: &lt;br /&gt;Your fight may not yet be won&lt;br /&gt;However the company you keep&lt;br /&gt;stands unmoved, embodying you&lt;br /&gt;No matter how this body bends and breaks us&lt;br /&gt;we shall seek and we shall find&lt;br /&gt;While there may be strength in numbers&lt;br /&gt;I believe just we two&lt;br /&gt;will write the words&lt;br /&gt;to right the wrongs&lt;br /&gt;unbinding the chains which bind you&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Captive no more&lt;br /&gt;you shall break down my walls within&lt;br /&gt;welcoming heat and life&lt;br /&gt;Surrounded no more by barriers&lt;br /&gt;we shall travel far and wide&lt;br /&gt;running wild&lt;br /&gt;but never reckless&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My sweet heart:&lt;br /&gt;A world so cruel has no room for our ways&lt;br /&gt;But know this&lt;br /&gt;There is no such thing as measure between we two&lt;br /&gt;Circumference is a foreign word&lt;br /&gt;Time is referenced&lt;br /&gt;but never recognized&lt;br /&gt;And while your heaviness has a weight&lt;br /&gt;there is no number attached&lt;br /&gt;So be it tablespoons or metric tons of dirt and flesh&lt;br /&gt;you and I will win this fight&lt;br /&gt;with no room for remorse or regret&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My sweet heart:&lt;br /&gt;This declaration is sound&lt;br /&gt;like your permanence beneath my breast&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I am held captive&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp only by you&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-347686315786942693?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_07_19_archive.html#347686315786942693</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-5022212662607796980</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:23:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-07-14T17:33:47.011-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Bravery&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tangled in words and rhymes&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp (&amp; subtle hues of blue)&lt;br /&gt;I find I am paralyzed&lt;br /&gt;Wanting to wax poetic&lt;br /&gt;yet plain&lt;br /&gt;This is my existence:&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Head strong and dauntless&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Standing on my own&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No matter how magnetic&lt;br /&gt;the pull is not withstood&lt;br /&gt;I long for more&lt;br /&gt;but I knowingly live inside less&lt;br /&gt;Boldly betraying the unspoken&lt;br /&gt;Dancing with demons&lt;br /&gt;no one else will embrace&lt;br /&gt;This heart, I have dissected&lt;br /&gt;Resurrecting circumstance&lt;br /&gt;Posted to a claim I did not stake &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Melting into transgression&lt;br /&gt;I am stunned by nothing&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp when presented with conflict&lt;br /&gt;I dare not cower&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp when normal is nothing short of this&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Masquerading as the chosen one&lt;br /&gt;but going it alone&lt;br /&gt;I'm  married to a memory&lt;br /&gt;and widowed all the while&lt;br /&gt;While something is not nothing&lt;br /&gt;I want it all&lt;br /&gt;I talk myself into circles&lt;br /&gt;Never releasing that which dizzies me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pretty to look at&lt;br /&gt;Soft to the touch&lt;br /&gt;I am that prized fighter&lt;br /&gt;who sparkles in lights&lt;br /&gt;and is the publics promised hope&lt;br /&gt;Yet outside of the ring&lt;br /&gt;I am merely the martyred punching bag&lt;br /&gt;destitute while appearing cavalier&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Will I ever again be swept away&lt;br /&gt;Will the chosen ever again truly choose me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One like me grows tired of living alone within words&lt;br /&gt;no matter how impetuous they may be... there is an emblematic permanence&lt;br /&gt;worn willingly for all the world to see&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Freedom is a funny thing&lt;br /&gt;it's design is not flawless&lt;br /&gt;but the strength required to obtain the ideal&lt;br /&gt;Well...&lt;br /&gt;Simply consider me the victim of circumstantial paralysis&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-5022212662607796980?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_07_12_archive.html#5022212662607796980</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-4427596488845727722</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:42:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-06-12T23:54:44.836-04:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Haiku's</category><title></title><description>An Exercise for Writers Block and Boredom&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1.&lt;br /&gt;To experiment&lt;br /&gt;With a form which is unknown&lt;br /&gt;This is the whole point&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2.&lt;br /&gt;Poet's exercise:&lt;br /&gt;Playing with the syllables&lt;br /&gt;Letters meet numbers&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3.&lt;br /&gt;Static from speakers&lt;br /&gt;Listening to the divine&lt;br /&gt;Sending messages&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4.&lt;br /&gt;My wallet is empty&lt;br /&gt;Sugar daddy come find me&lt;br /&gt;My pride can be masked&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5.&lt;br /&gt;Too lazy to read&lt;br /&gt;Although it would behoove me&lt;br /&gt;The pages: heavy lids&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6.&lt;br /&gt;She stares with eyes green&lt;br /&gt;Furry, filled with attitude&lt;br /&gt;Feline Royalty&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7.&lt;br /&gt;A painted body&lt;br /&gt;An outline leading to truth&lt;br /&gt;Read her limbs and breathe&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8.&lt;br /&gt;Sentimental fool&lt;br /&gt;You should know better by now&lt;br /&gt;The heart wants it all&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9.&lt;br /&gt;Stars meant for wishing&lt;br /&gt;They're wasted on folly&lt;br /&gt;Luck is lost on me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10.&lt;br /&gt;All is said and done&lt;br /&gt;Ten Haiku's to exercise&lt;br /&gt;My pen and my palette&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-4427596488845727722?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_06_07_archive.html#4427596488845727722</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-7352532763447002569</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:05:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-06-12T00:31:19.375-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>For a Friend ... and to My Lovers&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I want someone or something to rest beside me without regret or hesitation&lt;br /&gt;a second thought to be stricken from any record&lt;br /&gt;a hollowed ground to land upon and rest within&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp The only illusion is illusion itself&lt;br /&gt;Where my backbone is the cornerstone to all that makes this shit spin&lt;br /&gt;and while I'm spinning&lt;br /&gt;I trust&lt;br /&gt;destined to fall upon soft ground&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We misplace truths &lt;br /&gt;only to rely on fiction&lt;br /&gt;for some false sense of comfort&lt;br /&gt;Bending ourselves &lt;br /&gt;our bodies&lt;br /&gt;our beliefs&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This canvas is imperfect and beautiful in spite of that reality&lt;br /&gt;With a past so thick with indecision&lt;br /&gt;it's hard to move forward&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp To believe in hearts beating for you&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp toward you&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp near you&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp due to the breath you've wasted&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp and laid upon others&lt;br /&gt;Partially reluctant&lt;br /&gt;I lose myself in the myriad&lt;br /&gt;Actively reminded&lt;br /&gt;yet denying the reminder&lt;br /&gt;All in one silent attempt to find reason within denial&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have travelled&lt;br /&gt;by ship and sea and star&lt;br /&gt;Blinded by the light life often emanates&lt;br /&gt;With every failure that light bleeds brighter&lt;br /&gt;Strapping the weight of worlds created to my insides&lt;br /&gt;I march on &lt;br /&gt;never dimming&lt;br /&gt;Dispatched to dictate madness through lyrics declared as Scripture&lt;br /&gt;knowing my luck in Love is nothing shy of brilliant strategy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With all the twists and turns &lt;br /&gt;how do you disregard the heart&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp -the rhythm that keeps your soul in step with the universe&lt;br /&gt;Many have tried&lt;br /&gt;but failed&lt;br /&gt;Learn to accept&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp -the truest triumph is the failure itself&lt;br /&gt;For if we never leapt&lt;br /&gt;we would simply be standing still&lt;br /&gt;     &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Gravity: what comes up&lt;br /&gt;     &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp will  come down&lt;br /&gt;However&lt;br /&gt;the risk of letting go of ones heart &lt;br /&gt;transcends science&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-7352532763447002569?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_05_31_archive.html#7352532763447002569</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-2397004192857497216</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 05:02:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-05-05T13:32:50.913-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Side Stepping&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am amped &amp; annihilated&lt;br /&gt;beaming from the outside in&lt;br /&gt;Backwards and browbeaten&lt;br /&gt;Whips &amp; chains &lt;br /&gt;castrating pieces of me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No ones Penelope&lt;br /&gt;Precious to none&lt;br /&gt;I am nothing&lt;br /&gt;yet everything&lt;br /&gt;Misplaced&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I actively seek reason&lt;br /&gt;within a web&lt;br /&gt;where answers cannot be found&lt;br /&gt;I m naked &amp; uncovered&lt;br /&gt;cowering&lt;br /&gt;Where do we go from here?&lt;br /&gt;even up is not an option&lt;br /&gt;I back peddle&lt;br /&gt;screaming words of Love &amp; redemption&lt;br /&gt;requesting validation&lt;br /&gt;when even validity has lost its allure&lt;br /&gt;I am speechless &amp; denied&lt;br /&gt;I am loud &amp; undermined&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We cast ourselves &lt;br /&gt;far wide &amp; wise&lt;br /&gt;Reaching for stars&lt;br /&gt;that are already ours&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Spinning circles&lt;br /&gt;We are no more&lt;br /&gt;but&lt;br /&gt;we are no less&lt;br /&gt;The lesser of the two:&lt;br /&gt;me versus you&lt;br /&gt;How do we move forward?&lt;br /&gt;when only one wants to move on&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-2397004192857497216?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_04_26_archive.html#2397004192857497216</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-5770834529159043093</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:48:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-04-13T17:18:08.749-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>The Clown Show&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the midst of captivity&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp dissolved in resolution&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp you left long before I leapt&lt;br /&gt;With footsteps depicted so profoundly&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp existed stories of limitless abyss &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp amongst shattered glass and picture frames&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Simply characters on a canvas&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp (I find myself on repeat)&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Forever broken and bleeding&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I asked you to go&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp or&lt;br /&gt;I asked you to stay&lt;br /&gt;My instructions ill-fated &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp muddled&lt;br /&gt;You abandoned me&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Betrayed yourself&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Punishing us both&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Still&lt;br /&gt;I grasp at some trembling hand&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Some heaving breast&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp  torn by indecision&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I wrestled with a beast you cannot afford to recognize&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Nor would you possess the strength&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp All the while&lt;br /&gt;You sit still&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp unshaken&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp numb and uncompromised&lt;br /&gt;You feign resistance&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp convincing us both of too many tall tales told&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The lesson in those lies:&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp The ‘lost’ slowly equating to - just another coward&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Cowering behind a disguise&lt;br /&gt;A friend&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I know now&lt;br /&gt;My foe&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I placed myself before you&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp or rather&lt;br /&gt;You always came before me&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp no matter how pristine my presentation&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp you doubted my worth&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp my meaning&lt;br /&gt;We clung to an illusion&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp or &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp perhaps it was only I&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It takes a fool to rush in&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp yet a clown to stay the course&lt;br /&gt;My face still ignorantly painted&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp the crowd is no longer laughing&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-5770834529159043093?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_04_12_archive.html#5770834529159043093</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-2428980485304838895</guid><pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:09:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-03-19T02:41:43.773-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Scribbles &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I live alone&lt;br /&gt;inside myself&lt;br /&gt;Dedicating the better parts of me&lt;br /&gt;to the lost and better off forgotten&lt;br /&gt;I am strong&lt;br /&gt;for all of the wrong reasons&lt;br /&gt;Feeling responsible&lt;br /&gt;for everything&lt;br /&gt;Yet acknowledged by nothing&lt;br /&gt;Some ill fated attempt at character suicide&lt;br /&gt;I took a step back&lt;br /&gt;Hoping your wrists and limbs could carry me&lt;br /&gt;My weight&lt;br /&gt;a burden no one is willing to admit&lt;br /&gt;too heavy&lt;br /&gt;We disengage&lt;br /&gt;Barricading that which feeds me&lt;br /&gt;leaving me parched &lt;br /&gt;and incandescent&lt;br /&gt;I cannot sleep to dream&lt;br /&gt;for the sake of reality&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-2428980485304838895?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_03_08_archive.html#2428980485304838895</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-4945760680350326594</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:26:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-03-19T02:29:02.092-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Pieces of the Past&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She realigns her limbs&lt;br /&gt;Displaying affection for all the world&lt;br /&gt;As if sin was in style&lt;br /&gt;and penetration was for sale&lt;br /&gt;She allows the spotlight to accentuate the mis-steps&lt;br /&gt;Pirouetting her way into the forgotten&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love is an addiction&lt;br /&gt;she can no longer afford&lt;br /&gt;For the price cannot be distinguished by numbers&lt;br /&gt;and letters have been known to betray her&lt;br /&gt;She earmarks the memories &lt;br /&gt;as they slip away&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Demonstrating madness&lt;br /&gt;she slams into familiar territory&lt;br /&gt;and finesses the mess before her&lt;br /&gt;Serenading the remains&lt;br /&gt;of this truncated misfortune&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wipe away the unwanted&lt;br /&gt;and get on with it already&lt;br /&gt;Life is for the living&lt;br /&gt;the Lost get left behind&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-4945760680350326594?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_02_22_archive.html#4945760680350326594</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-1115827416902060977</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:58:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-01-08T18:01:54.150-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Limitless Abyss&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She knows no limit &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Driven &lt;br /&gt;Stewed deep within omen and obstacle &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp she can manipulate &lt;br /&gt;however finds truth in its antithesis &lt;br /&gt;For life is not meant to be orchestrated &lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp The crescendos we reach on our own in unmeasured time&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; While her body and mind distract &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp her heart: redirects the lost and keeps the wondrous ones at bay &lt;br /&gt;She treads lightly now on the bridges she’s rebuilding &lt;br /&gt;her manifest destiny broken beneath her bare feet &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She carries on &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp What else would you have her do &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In untimely progression &lt;br /&gt;she bares witness to the wake she leaves behind &lt;br /&gt;An unending sea &lt;br /&gt;raging with passion and envy &lt;br /&gt;crashing against possibility and scenarios of what might have been &lt;br /&gt;With this perspective: &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp on the calm side of the chaos &lt;br /&gt;all that exists is what is &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp What might have been surely seems diluted&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;True to form &lt;br /&gt;she still walks the thinnest line &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Testing waters &lt;br /&gt;contemplating wading &lt;br /&gt;for a ship that leaves her sunk &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She stands up &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Allowing her tears to fall&lt;br /&gt;Heartbroken&lt;br /&gt;but better in the end&lt;br /&gt;Significant to a fault&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What can be broken and truly repaired? &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp We transcend machinery &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Yet the shell, so delicate &lt;br /&gt;even a mended heart is battered &lt;br /&gt;barring scars to tell it’s tale &lt;br /&gt;She leaves doors unlatched and words unspoken &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Rhyme and reason were never a good match anyway &lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Making do with one &lt;br /&gt;she releases reason &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is safety in numbers and comfort in between &lt;br /&gt;Magnificent in her own unraveling &lt;br /&gt;she knows what she is &lt;br /&gt;but wonders if anyone else can see&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-1115827416902060977?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_01_04_archive.html#1115827416902060977</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-2720299045139805410</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:48:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2009-01-05T16:48:43.300-05:00</atom:updated><title>Green for Not Much Green: Testing</title><description>&lt;a href="http://www.greenfornotmuchgreen.com/2008/03/testing.html"&gt;Green for Not Much Green: Testing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-2720299045139805410?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2009_01_04_archive.html#2720299045139805410</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-2034020428360280178</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:25:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-17T03:04:33.410-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Unspoken&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Words like thick rigid glass pierce straight through me&lt;br /&gt;I used to drink you&lt;br /&gt;Wholly&lt;br /&gt;Holy Holy Holy&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp  Farce&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I attempt an escape into tonight’s rising moon&lt;br /&gt;and recognize a galaxy filled with constellations &lt;br /&gt;better left denied&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My skin crawls with omission&lt;br /&gt;When did truth become transparent?&lt;br /&gt;If words are left unspoken&lt;br /&gt;do we then deny action&lt;br /&gt;or how about the lack thereof?&lt;br /&gt;Or better still: the bold and the blatant&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Responsible for no one&lt;br /&gt;we take for granted&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp    LOVE&lt;br /&gt;Something I’m beginning to recognize I am the sole defender of&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I fight&lt;br /&gt;and claw&lt;br /&gt;while my emotions dance about&lt;br /&gt;Making me the jester&lt;br /&gt;in a court I no longer belong to&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp -I bare witness&lt;br /&gt;But the stakes are no longer the same&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We can recount our scorecards&lt;br /&gt;deciphering who’s to blame&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp  But for what?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I broke down and rebuilt a broken masterpiece&lt;br /&gt;I chose: Us&lt;br /&gt;While you bided your time&lt;br /&gt;you brushed against another’s naked skin&lt;br /&gt;All the while&lt;br /&gt;knowing&lt;br /&gt;you were breaking the broken&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A foolish girl behind a fading counter&lt;br /&gt;I awaited your arrival&lt;br /&gt;Ready to turn the page&lt;br /&gt;Willing to go left if you forced my hand&lt;br /&gt;Wanting to go right&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Disguised&lt;br /&gt;Unrevealed&lt;br /&gt;Better left unsaid&lt;br /&gt;One step forward&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Three steps back&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We carry on&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This beat beneath my chest desires a rhythm&lt;br /&gt;I no longer know if you deserve&lt;br /&gt;The ache, which sweeps over my entirety&lt;br /&gt;has your handy-work attached to its price tag&lt;br /&gt;with a fee of unyielding uncertainty&lt;br /&gt;I cannot fear what is yet to come&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They say knowledge is power&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp   Now I know&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-2034020428360280178?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_09_14_archive.html#2034020428360280178</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-6595720625411274063</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:49:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-08-14T02:51:43.567-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Heavy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I built a world out of lead&lt;br /&gt;-on shaky ground&lt;br /&gt;yet still question my heavy heartedness&lt;br /&gt;I wish for same-page something&lt;br /&gt;&amp; find short hand non-sequiturs that don’t add up&lt;br /&gt;When I am finally standing still&lt;br /&gt;-breathing you&lt;br /&gt;(surrounded by chaos)&lt;br /&gt;you are running circles around (on) me&lt;br /&gt;Or perhaps it is my orbit&lt;br /&gt;that leaves you weightless&lt;br /&gt;and the gravity you once wished for &lt;br /&gt;is that which you now deny&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I scribble&lt;br /&gt;maddened&lt;br /&gt;(once again relatively muted)&lt;br /&gt;I let the days play out&lt;br /&gt;never knowing fluidity&lt;br /&gt;What once was comfort&lt;br /&gt;is now un-trusted&lt;br /&gt;-untrusting&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My peace is present&lt;br /&gt;all the while the biggest piece of me is growing cold&lt;br /&gt;like stone&lt;br /&gt;in a jacket pocket&lt;br /&gt;weighing the foundation&lt;br /&gt;like lead&lt;br /&gt;Heavy&lt;br /&gt;-hearted&lt;br /&gt;Slowly breaking (after I finally found my way back) down&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-6595720625411274063?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_08_10_archive.html#6595720625411274063</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-6792312938012063608</guid><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-07-23T00:53:30.693-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Unfinished...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With every aching moment&lt;br /&gt;my life moves in and out of focus&lt;br /&gt;When concept and practice fist fight &lt;br /&gt;-- gloves off --&lt;br /&gt;I am left broken&lt;br /&gt;with a bleeding heart&lt;br /&gt;swollen from exposure&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I play with old flames&lt;br /&gt;and finally I've learned...&lt;br /&gt;I will get burned&lt;br /&gt;I invite the 3rd degree&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What we wish to be&lt;br /&gt;and what we are&lt;br /&gt;are too often not one in the same&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Words are my one defense&lt;br /&gt;the ally I claim&lt;br /&gt;Filling the void you choose not to&lt;br /&gt;Yet you disarm me&lt;br /&gt;disengage&lt;br /&gt;walking some fine line&lt;br /&gt;silencing me&lt;br /&gt;without response&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can give you answers&lt;br /&gt;to questions&lt;br /&gt;but only if you're listening&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can give you reasons&lt;br /&gt;for believing&lt;br /&gt;but only if you want to&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can finally give you &lt;br /&gt;what you have asked for&lt;br /&gt;but only to take it for granted&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I lie beside eskimos and sand&lt;br /&gt;breathing deeply&lt;br /&gt;bleeding deeply&lt;br /&gt;swollen and aching&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Questioning you&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-6792312938012063608?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_07_20_archive.html#6792312938012063608</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-984476567757232663</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:51:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-07-09T11:43:59.577-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Westside Rendezvous&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Snapshots from days gone by&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp parade the exterior&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp -I meet you- &lt;br /&gt;Declaring the middle of America &lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp the half way point&lt;br /&gt;between what was&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp &amp; what might have been&lt;br /&gt;I dance circles around you&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp while you silently sit still&lt;br /&gt;We leave agendas to those&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp better suited for desk jobs&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp in high rises&lt;br /&gt;Carrying on&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp speaking in a language which requires&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp only lips &amp; limbs&lt;br /&gt;I find myself penetrating&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp and missed  &lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp if only for the moment&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp -We move forward-&lt;br /&gt;Naked in my solitude&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I find strength in this &lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp dysfunctional romance&lt;br /&gt;I am calm&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Perhaps the storm has yet to break&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Or perhaps it has already broken&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-984476567757232663?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_06_29_archive.html#984476567757232663</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-8819946609232584072</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-04T00:10:45.629-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Lassoing the Stars&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps I hung the moon while you weren’t looking&lt;br /&gt;crediting someone else&lt;br /&gt;placing stars in your palm&lt;br /&gt;then soft shoeing off stage right&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Time passed – Life lingered and continued – Love? – Without warning: fantasy met reality&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You fought for fantasy&lt;br /&gt;Is that what you’ve chosen to believe?&lt;br /&gt;Is this the final verdict?&lt;br /&gt;Feeding me honesty and sincerity&lt;br /&gt;til’ I’m choking on this familiar taste&lt;br /&gt;We planted trees out west&lt;br /&gt;and watched them wither from afar&lt;br /&gt;I tried to believe&lt;br /&gt;consuming barren fruit&lt;br /&gt;allowing your poison to run back into my veins&lt;br /&gt;knowing change is a tricky Catch 18&lt;br /&gt;You whispered words of sorrow and regret&lt;br /&gt;retribution delivered in such a Precious package&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Can one be blind yet still see?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I buried you&lt;br /&gt;your bones: replanted into my richest soil&lt;br /&gt;thirsty and parched&lt;br /&gt;I gave you more than you really noticed&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I needed time&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the end&lt;br /&gt;there you are again:&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Jekyll&lt;br /&gt;revealing &lt;br /&gt;Mr. Hyde&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am the fool who fell-- Lassoed the stars – Awoke alone&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even still&lt;br /&gt;convinced fantasy and reality are one in the same&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-8819946609232584072?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_06_01_archive.html#8819946609232584072</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-3043933362346231292</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 00:14:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-04T00:49:47.540-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Modern Medicated Science&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I fail to recognize the face behind the glass&lt;br /&gt;Suddenly&lt;br /&gt;Stunningly apropos&lt;br /&gt;the etymology of façade&lt;br /&gt;is the only thing certain&lt;br /&gt;Crystal clear&lt;br /&gt;Blinding&lt;br /&gt;On the surface: ink &amp; flesh &amp; paint &amp; pen&lt;br /&gt;I keep trying to lacquer over the ugly parts&lt;br /&gt;The aesthetic appears to be perfect&lt;br /&gt;but underneath it all…&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This aching mirrors the ancient lament of the Grecian goddess’ that came before me&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp My heart swells&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp My veins pulsate&lt;br /&gt;    &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp My breath&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp Shallow&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I swallow hard&lt;br /&gt;while the chemical digestion makes way within me&lt;br /&gt;melting &amp; swirling&lt;br /&gt;Erasing my delicate nuances&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp &amp;nbsp I become a tiny white milligram&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Crumbling&lt;br /&gt;Torn open&lt;br /&gt;Left bruised and broken&lt;br /&gt;with an open wound&lt;br /&gt;refusing to heal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cannot face this face&lt;br /&gt;I am seeking answers to riddles yet written&lt;br /&gt;Knowing&lt;br /&gt;I know&lt;br /&gt;nothing&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-3043933362346231292?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_05_04_archive.html#3043933362346231292</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-7392609836580951341</guid><pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:47:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-15T11:01:10.759-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Fading Fantasy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I get lost in ancient text&lt;br /&gt;Finding hieroglyphics more familiar&lt;br /&gt;than this flesh upon my bone&lt;br /&gt;When did Love become an alternate world&lt;br /&gt;A fantasy written&lt;br /&gt;in tenses we later refer to&lt;br /&gt;Reflecting upon the way things were&lt;br /&gt;to explain and assess the present broken infrastructure&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our words: were gospel: you should know that&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Babylon became second nature&lt;br /&gt;Writing itself&lt;br /&gt;in rhyme &amp; paradigm&lt;br /&gt;You laid your pen to rest&lt;br /&gt;and placed my heart beside it&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Prince or Pauper&lt;br /&gt;Fact or Fiction&lt;br /&gt;Human or Divine&lt;br /&gt;I married you years ago&lt;br /&gt;and you gave me the freedom to walk away&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;but my faith remains: permanently etched: racing through my veins&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If it crumbles&lt;br /&gt;I still believe&lt;br /&gt;If it survives&lt;br /&gt;I know who holds the key&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fantasy is a lonely place when it comes to Love&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-7392609836580951341?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_03_30_archive.html#7392609836580951341</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-6022034059374400919</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:53:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-03-03T23:27:37.300-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Concrete Devotional&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I roam these city streets&lt;br /&gt;turning corners&lt;br /&gt;meeting faces&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp They allow me to safely brush past you each day&lt;br /&gt;In a stare&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp In a smirk&lt;br /&gt;In a sigh&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I relive nothing&lt;br /&gt;Creating an out of sight&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp out of mind&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Universal&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Cerebral&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Truth&lt;br /&gt;Not alone and unafraid&lt;br /&gt;my friends upon my back&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp in books and rhymes &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp We cross-town:&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp L Train&lt;br /&gt;Playing with the faces&lt;br /&gt;Dancing to the blue-light friction&lt;br /&gt;Subway rail&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Electricity&lt;br /&gt;My constitution shifts with my hips&lt;br /&gt;Up&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp &amp;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Over&lt;br /&gt;The numbers rise&lt;br /&gt;as this outlined grid whirls around me&lt;br /&gt;Underground spilling onto some &lt;br /&gt;bumble bee lined Avenue&lt;br /&gt;I find the crowds do not crowd me&lt;br /&gt;and I walk alone among the masses &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Dylan in my left ear reminding me I can have my cake and eat it too all the while Dylan in my right urging me to press pen to page and ache on lovelorn paper&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Passing possibility&lt;br /&gt;Praying for the path to provide a time and divide&lt;br /&gt;which justifies the downfall&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I walk barefoot&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp still bleeding&lt;br /&gt;Hopeless and holding on to something I cannot see&lt;br /&gt;Yet&lt;br /&gt;It will not falter&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp In a city that never sleeps&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp It is good to dream&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-6022034059374400919?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_02_24_archive.html#6022034059374400919</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-1936172849936879564</guid><pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:12:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-02-03T23:19:39.714-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Ghost&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She falls asleep&lt;br /&gt;beside some vague&lt;br /&gt;reminder&lt;br /&gt;Some ancient past &lt;br /&gt;she has once again&lt;br /&gt;unearthed&lt;br /&gt;A life once led&lt;br /&gt;yet forgotten&lt;br /&gt;Smelling the familiar skin&lt;br /&gt;she skims the surface of a lie she left behind&lt;br /&gt;Walking upon eggshells&lt;br /&gt;in hopes to not disturb the hopeless&lt;br /&gt;All the while&lt;br /&gt;replaying anthems long overdue&lt;br /&gt;and out of tune&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I find myself naked&lt;br /&gt;alone&lt;br /&gt;and frozen&lt;br /&gt;Praying for forgiveness&lt;br /&gt;Pleading with a disease&lt;br /&gt;The right&lt;br /&gt;is not mine&lt;br /&gt;or yours &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Neither is the wrong&lt;br /&gt;Yet our will:&lt;br /&gt;mine to weep&lt;br /&gt;yours too strong&lt;br /&gt;Painfully we remain mistaken&lt;br /&gt;aimlessly ashamed&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When&lt;br /&gt;did the dreaming die…&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-1936172849936879564?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2008_02_03_archive.html#1936172849936879564</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-6527624413626991324</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:51:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-12-28T04:54:04.598-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Where Did We Go Wrong&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Questioning ones self:&lt;br /&gt;A plight&lt;br /&gt;or human condition?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If I walked on water&lt;br /&gt;wouldn’t I wind up exactly where I am?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Where am I?&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Not standing in any one place&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am decorated with a past&lt;br /&gt;thick like quick sand&lt;br /&gt;paralyzing me&lt;br /&gt;from a heart that has reached full capacity&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I replay &lt;br /&gt;I rewind&lt;br /&gt;I recycle&lt;br /&gt;I regurgitate&lt;br /&gt;Old words and familiar fantasy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I feel you touch me&lt;br /&gt;and&lt;br /&gt;I feel you touch me&lt;br /&gt;and&lt;br /&gt;I feel you touch me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tonight &lt;br /&gt;rain on my face&lt;br /&gt;a liquid beauty&lt;br /&gt;You intoxicate me without a sip&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wonder&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Where did we go wrong?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tonight &lt;br /&gt;A seaside exclamation&lt;br /&gt;sand still spills from a shoe&lt;br /&gt;that since has walked upon snow&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wonder&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Where did we go wrong?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tonight&lt;br /&gt;A club scene backdrop&lt;br /&gt;your knee against my heartbeat&lt;br /&gt;we do “coy” injustice&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wonder&lt;br /&gt; &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Where did we go wrong?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I melt into the many molds I’ve known&lt;br /&gt;finding nothing &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Shapelessness&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Unfamiliar and alone&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-6527624413626991324?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2007_12_23_archive.html#6527624413626991324</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-6239217679038084722</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:39:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-12-24T17:59:58.142-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Faulty Wiring&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp GIRL&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp “Remember that time we fell in love?”&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp (beat)&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp “That was a lot of fun…”&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp BOY&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp “It was magical”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It came and went&lt;br /&gt;No returns&lt;br /&gt;No money back&lt;br /&gt;No customer satisfaction guarantee&lt;br /&gt;We take risks&lt;br /&gt;when we play with chance&lt;br /&gt;in hopes that our chances&lt;br /&gt;don’t run the risk of factory default&lt;br /&gt;And I suppose&lt;br /&gt;buying top of the line&lt;br /&gt;only paves the way for a greater degree of disappointment&lt;br /&gt;leaving us with more to lose&lt;br /&gt;If we invest in the broken&lt;br /&gt;we should expect trouble&lt;br /&gt;A rapid decline in performance &lt;br /&gt;can’t take the consumer off guard&lt;br /&gt;The proof is in the pudding&lt;br /&gt;The blueprint may be one of a kind&lt;br /&gt;but truth be told&lt;br /&gt;the parts are simple &lt;br /&gt;sticks and stones&lt;br /&gt;that break my bones&lt;br /&gt;  &amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp and words …&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Will leave you wanting&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp My torment is not yours&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Your torment is not mine&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Still, you torment me&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Tickling my insides so violently&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Leaving me raped&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Unaccompanied and&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Restlessly aware&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp (FADE TO BLACK)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-6239217679038084722?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2007_12_23_archive.html#6239217679038084722</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-9151476669339294291</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:37:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-11-29T22:38:15.561-05:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Glimmer&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I chased a sunset out West tonight&lt;br /&gt;Leaving behind a cold and pale New York&lt;br /&gt;I watched the colors fade&lt;br /&gt;And found myself in Austria&lt;br /&gt;Some foreign fortress granting me shelter&lt;br /&gt;During a time&lt;br /&gt;In a place&lt;br /&gt;Where the language escaped me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While the burning blue rests heavily between &lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp The fading gray&lt;br /&gt;And an orange mixed on a palette heavy with deep hues of red&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am a blatant voyeur&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I find myself juxtaposing time&lt;br /&gt;All the while&lt;br /&gt;Embracing the distance&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp You cannot run fast enough&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp When it is easy to see you’ve been left behind&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A lifetime ago&lt;br /&gt;I sat still&lt;br /&gt;The sunsets—they chased me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My deep blues allowed the oranges and reds to filter through my green disposition&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seeking nothing from no one&lt;br /&gt;I let light in because…&lt;br /&gt;What the world wants—the world gets&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Only now I sit and reminisce&lt;br /&gt;While two worlds collide&lt;br /&gt;I chase sunsets across a continent&lt;br /&gt;Stubbornly&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Still believing&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp  I will not be left behind&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-9151476669339294291?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2007_11_18_archive.html#9151476669339294291</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6417189.post-433802096842592696</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:27:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-10-23T23:28:17.363-04:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>Blue&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I dove in...&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp deep end&lt;br /&gt;Feet first&lt;br /&gt;Now...&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp I'm drowning&lt;br /&gt;In over my head&lt;br /&gt;My lungs&lt;br /&gt;Filled with something&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Foreign&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Unfamiliar&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp Diluted&lt;br /&gt;Depleting my ability&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp To breathe&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp To think&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp To stay still&lt;br /&gt;I'm collapsing from the inside out&lt;br /&gt;My body&lt;br /&gt;Surrounded&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp but alone&lt;br /&gt;I'm numb&lt;br /&gt;Somewhere between a state of frozen and inferno&lt;br /&gt;I stop flailing&lt;br /&gt;Inhale&lt;br /&gt;One last ounce&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp&amp;nbsp ... blue&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6417189-433802096842592696?l=www.tracyschafer.com%2Findex.htm' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.tracyschafer.com/2007_10_21_archive.html#433802096842592696</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Tracy)</author></item></channel></rss>