Enter my cage

There's a cage not far from here,

it holds all the pieces of my heart,

that have been swept into dustpans,

and deposited along with the memories;

nobody can put all that back together.

 

Pieces of heart lay on the cold, damp metal,

and sparkle when the light hits them right,

pieces of sanity sit there just the same,

those pieces smile in a devilish fashion,

they know what each loss means to the whole.

 

One step closer,

one mile further,

from it.

 

One more day,

one battle won,

against it.

 

It's important to win the battles,

even if the war is open for debate,

it's the only course of action for me,

save for abandoning the campaign.

 

Come ride my sanity,

come into the cage with me,

I promise I don't take hostages.

your lust isn't lost

 

you whisper to me sinfully,
but I'm not much of a saint either,
your lust isn't lost on me,
my troublesome angel down from aether.
 
We'd fly to such great heights,
if only we had the time together,
to take in the bright star lights,
under the night bare of cloudy weather.
 
I know I'm not always happy,
but love me and you can have me,
and that's the best offer I've made all night,
suffering from a case of post-mortem stage fright,
that stops me when I try to act right,
but what's wrong?
 
Is there a problem if I stand here singing the same song,
I don't care what the audience thinks they'll be gone,
soon enough.

Leave it alone

Leave it alone,

just let it die,

some attempts were meant to fail,

some mistakes were meant to look honest.

 

The perception isn't always far away,

from the reality,

but sometimes there's a world of difference.

 

I watched you change,

or maybe I watched my perception fall apart,

and you were revealed again.

 

This isn't about anger, sadness, or betrayal,

not about who feels what or when they feel it,

this is about truth and expression,

and as long as I breathe I'm going to record my life,

for everyone to learn from my mistakes and success.

 

What a breakdown from my poetic voice,

I wish I could justify it as freedom of choice,

but I can't,

it just happened, 

I kept writing while my poetic soul was napping,

and my rational being came out to play,

I fear he's gone away,

again,

just like a lot of the people in my life,

there's a build-up of personal strife,

dating back to the time I was young,

when memories would stay forever,

and now it's just the scars that last,

I don't think that's too far-flung,

or rather, far-fetched,

I know in your memory I'll remain etched,

because I threw you my life and dreams,

catch!

And you dropped them,

which was kind of ironic,

considering the way we used to throw around a baseball,

and we were so close,

until we left our ambitions, dreams and hopes fall,

so far away from one another.

 

We worked so hard to exclude each other,

We were both too egotistic,

Lex Luger style narcissistic,

Each other's worst habit,

that we refused to help kick,

out, and there was nothing more to talk,

about,

when our egos occupied the room,

white elephants,

and we'd have shouting matches,

on that old used-up mattress,

where I wasn't your first love,

and won't be your last,

and that's the past,

so it can't touch me now,

I lie to myself,

just like you did,

all those years,

and through all those tears,

when life broke down,

and all you need was to have me around,

but I left you there,

crying by yourself on the ground,

walked away as you fell apart,

like I had no heart,

but that wasn't true,

and that's the hardest part.

 

You had your hooks in my heart,

and you ripped it out as I walked away,

and that was my most difficult day,

or maybe most difficult year,

but who cares about that?

I look at you now and see ribs from the back,

so what's happening to you?

You're wasting away,

malnourished,

living off fake love,

and the young boys who think you're pretty,

and they're not wrong,

but they can't sing a tune to match your song,

but that's where reality kicks in,

you better notify his next of kin,

because you're going to destroy him,

like you tried to do to me,

but he won't handle it,

unless he's too unintelligent.

 

The part was never resisting your manipulation,

it was the fact that you'd try such extreme mutilation,

on the one that you loved,

and that's humanity,

and the soundest argument for the absence of the man above.

 

I wonder what runs through your head,

and if you're just the blackest of widows,

who still wants me dead.

 

Well guess what,

I survived you before,

and I'd do it again,

because in the end,

I'm back on my feet,

and I'm stronger than ever,

that's not just a line in a poem,

where I'm trying to pretend to be clever,

Leave it alone

Leave it alone,

just let it die,

some attempts were meant to fail,

some mistakes were meant to look honest.

 

The perception isn't always far away,

from the reality,

but sometimes there's a world of difference.

 

I watched you change,

or maybe I watched my perception fall apart,

and you were revealed again.

 

This isn't about anger, sadness, or betrayal,

not about who feels what or when they feel it,

this is about truth and expression,

and as long as I breathe I'm going to record my life,

for everyone to learn from my mistakes and success.

 

What a breakdown from my poetic voice,

I wish I could justify it as freedom of choice,

but I can't,

it just happened, 

I kept writing while my poetic soul was napping,

and my rational being came out to play,

I fear he's gone away,

again,

just like a lot of the people in my life,

there's a build-up of personal strife,

dating back to the time I was young,

when memories would stay forever,

and now it's just the scars that last,

I don't think that's too far-flung,

or rather, far-fetched,

I know in your memory I'll remain etched,

because I threw you my life and dreams,

catch!

And you dropped them,

which was kind of ironic,

considering the way we used to throw around a baseball,

and we were so close,

until we left our ambitions, dreams and hopes fall,

so far away from one another.

 

We worked so hard to exclude each other,

We were both too egotistic,

Lex Luger style narcissistic,

Each other's worst habit,

that we refused to help kick,

out, and there was nothing more to talk,

about,

when our egos occupied the room,

white elephants,

and we'd have shouting matches,

on that old used-up mattress,

where I wasn't your first love,

and won't be your last,

and that's the past,

so it can't touch me now,

I lie to myself,

just like you did,

all those years,

and through all those tears,

when life broke down,

and all you need was to have me around,

but I left you there,

crying by yourself on the ground,

walked away as you fell apart,

like I had no heart,

but that wasn't true,

and that's the hardest part.

 

You had your hooks in my heart,

and you ripped it out as I walked away,

and that was my most difficult day,

or maybe most difficult year,

but who cares about that?

I look at you now and see ribs from the back,

so what's happening to you?

You're wasting away,

malnourished,

living off fake love,

and the young boys who think you're pretty,

and they're not wrong,

but they can't sing a tune to match your song,

but that's where reality kicks in,

you better notify his next of kin,

because you're going to destroy him,

like you tried to do to me,

but he won't handle it,

unless he's too unintelligent.

 

The part was never resisting your manipulation,

it was the fact that you'd try such extreme mutilation,

on the one that you loved,

and that's humanity,

and the soundest argument for the absence of the man above.

 

I wonder what runs through your head,

and if you're just the blackest of widows,

who still wants me dead.

 

Well guess what,

I survived you before,

and I'd do it again,

because in the end,

I'm back on my feet,

and I'm stronger than ever,

that's not just a line in a poem,

where I'm trying to pretend to be clever,

the first picture

The first picture is the dagger,

not meant for killing blows,

meant for suffering and pain.

 

Suffering and pain is fine,

that's what fuels the fire,

or passion and growth;

nothing builds like the bad,

times and all the bones I stomped,

on my path to the top of the ant hill.

 

What love comes for the king ant,

can not be described simply,

in your kiss of death;

it's in the past.

 

Hearts have moved on,

but some feelings remain strong,

like those of hatred and volatile reaction,

and he way my body convulses at the thought of it.

 

These kid gloves refuse to come up,

permanently sewn onto my weak flesh hands,

with barbed wire soaked in sulphuric acid and vomit,

a mirror of my corrupted soul;

still trying to get better,

better times happened,

in a past life,

or forgotten memory.

 

Your ghost is weak,

and my resolve is weaker.

 

There was a time I was built for this;

mucking my way through some resemblance of hell,

fueled by a passion fallen out of favour,

long ago.

 

Do you remember it?

It doesn't remember you,

passion forgets quicker than sunsets,

on the boulevard where innocence was lost some time ago,

in its place resounds a soft, unsure echo,

fighting for its own space,

in this timid rat race,

where corpses wed,

the good are dead,

and my soul pukes up daisies,

symbolic of the lies it was fed,

it must have been something that was said,

or the mindless blood that was shed,

ridiculous,

blood doesn't have a mind,

and maybe you're over-exuberant rush of it,

explains something.

 

maybe the mirror's judging you,

again.

Shadows hang from these walls

The shadows hang from the off-white ceiling,

made of aged tiles with their black paint spatters,

held together by cheap metal supports,

never moving or changing much,

save for the almost-yellow glow age gives white.

 

The shadows seem to roll down the walls,

pressing their weight down upon my shoulders,

forcing me to question my lofty dreams and ambitions.

 

These are the days people don't talk about;

the words never add up;

that sinking feeling,

in the pit of your stomach;

a thick belt of lead,

limiting everything you do,

impossible to ignore.

 

Anxiety has a way of destroying a person;

the slowest erosion, 

a harsh wind scraping the bare, unprotected rocks,

and throwing all the soil away,

until vegetation is impossible;

nothing lives there anymore.

 

The wind refuses to give up its assault,

my rocky exterior is smooth like glass,

and just as transparent and fragile;

where has all my soil gone?

Sleep begs my surrender

You occupy my dreams;

is that a good omen,

or a warning sign?

 

Sleep begs my surrender,

but the words come first,

the words are always first.

 

Could tomorrow be important,

or will it be another day on the calendar,

where nothing of consequence happens?

 

I feel the warm, fuzzy happiness,

or not truly caring either way,

as I drift off in between these lines.

Sleep begs my surrender

You occupy my dreams;

is that a good omen,

or a warning sign?

 

Sleep begs my surrender,

but the words come first,

the words are always first.

 

Could tomorrow be important,

or will it be another day on the calendar,

where nothing of consequence happens?

 

I feel the warm, fuzzy happiness,

or not truly caring either way,

as I drift off in between these lines.

Sudbury, Ontario: A Beginner's Guide to the Nickel City

I often hear complaints about there being "nothing to do in Sudbury." After becoming connected to some great individuals and organizations over the past few months, I'd like to take the time to highlight a few of them. For a great general resource on what to do in Sudbury, try checking out My Sudbury. If you're looking to keep up with the news in this city, I highly recommend joining the Sudbury Press Club's Facebook group. Links are posted frequently, and it serves as an aggregator of important news stories in the city. It is also an avenue for discussion on local topics.

Sudbury is filled with many great restaurants, and I want to take the time to highlight a few of the local ones. My personal favourites are Bella Vita Cucina, Respect is Burning, and Eddie's Restaurant. I recommend trying these three, because they showcase some of the variety available when dining in Sudbury.

After dining out, there is also plenty of entertainment available. If you fancy a chill place to have a drink, and also eat some great food (you'll be hungry again at some point!) I strongly recommend the Laughing Buddha, which offers both. The Buddha (as we refer to it) is currently featuring some great art by Sudbury's (and Cambrian's) Tennille Heinonen, who is a phenomenal artist. If you're looking for great music, I strongly recommend the Townehouse, which features great talent every night!

Speaking of music and art, I want to draw your attention to someone who is deeply devoted to both in this community. Frank Chartrand is a graphic designer by day who, along with Nico Taus, successfully runs Bureau Group. These guys are extremely talented, and local. They are also incredibly involved in the local music community, and their hardcore/punk/experimental band, Vicious Cycle, just completed a month-long tour of Europe! Aside from playing in the band, Frank also promotes several local acts, and puts on shows throughout the community. If you're looking for local shows, I encourage you to contact Frank through his Facebook (linked above), as he broadcasts local shows though that.

In terms of education in this community, we have some great institutions that are worth looking into. Having spent time at two of the three major post-secondary education institutions in this city, I can vouch for them first-hand. Those looking for information on Cambrian College (which I attended this past year) and College Boreal are encouraged to do so through my links. I want to take the time to discuss Laurentian University (which I attended for four years) in a bit more length. Laurentian's President, Dominic Giroux, is a man who is very in-touch with the community. He focuses more on Laurentian specifically, but with Laurentian being such an important part of our community, it is worth reading his blog. Laurentian often hosts interesting speakers, and wonderful events, and it is worth keeping tabs on what is going on at the University.

If you're reading this, and you're interested in sports, you're also quite fortunate. Although I am not familiar with every sport being played in this city (sorry folks, I try my best!), you should check out Randy Pascal, who runs the website Sudburysports. His extensive coverage will help you identify which sports are being played in this city, and hopefully help you join your sport of interest. I specialize in soccer in this city, and ball hockey. For soccer, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League during the summer months (full disclosure: I sit on the executive as a Director-at-Large), and the S.C.C. Sudbury Indoor Soccer Club during the winter. For ball hockey, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Ball Hockey League (full disclosure: I am the Director of many things with this league).

If you're looking to get involved in the community, there are numerous opportunities to do so. I want to take the time to highlight a few organizations that will help you get involved in the community, for many of my friend that have the desire, but may not now how, to get involved. First off, there is Green Sudbury. Green Sudbury is an organization that is focused on improving Sudbury at a very grass-roots level (quite literally). They focus on environmental issues, and other issues of advocacy for the community. They also help promote local events.

 

Volunteer Sudbury is another group that is doing great work in this city. They are also always looking for volunteers. They help volunteers find meaningful volunteer work, and also help events find volunteers. Anyone who is looking for a place to start volunteering in this community is encouraged to contact either one of these organizations.

In closing, I want to make a few general comments about our community. My current job, as the Community Development Officer for the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, has me focused extensively on our community in the last couple weeks. It has been an eye-opening experience. Not only are there several businesses around the city that are looking to help improve the community, but there are tonnes of volunteers looking to do the same. The amount of passion some of these people show in improving their community, is in a word, heroic. They're not doing all of these great things because it will lead to wealth. They're doing it, because they care. I hope their integrity will spread throughout the community, and light a fire of passion and empathy in Sudbury! That being said, I strongly encourage everybody to get involved and help shape our community for the better.

Sudbury, Ontario: A Beginner's Guide to the Nickel City

I often hear complaints about there being "nothing to do in Sudbury." After becoming connected to some great individuals and organizations over the past few months, I'd like to take the time to highlight a few of them. For a great general resource on what to do in Sudbury, try checking out My Sudbury. If you're looking to keep up with the news in this city, I highly recommend joining the Sudbury Press Club's Facebook group. Links are posted frequently, and it serves as an aggregator of important news stories in the city. It is also an avenue for discussion on local topics.

Sudbury is filled with many great restaurants, and I want to take the time to highlight a few of the local ones. My personal favourites are Bella Vita Cucina, Respect is Burning, and Eddie's Restaurant. I recommend trying these three, because they showcase some of the variety available when dining in Sudbury.

After dining out, there is also plenty of entertainment available. If you fancy a chill place to have a drink, and also eat some great food (you'll be hungry again at some point!) I strongly recommend the Laughing Buddha, which offers both. The Buddha (as we refer to it) is currently featuring some great art by Sudbury's (and Cambrian's) Tennille Heinonen, who is a phenomenal artist. If you're looking for great music, I strongly recommend the Townehouse, which features great talent every night!

Speaking of music and art, I want to draw your attention to someone who is deeply devoted to both in this community. Frank Chartrand is a graphic designer by day who, along with Nico Taus, successfully runs Bureau Group. These guys are extremely talented, and local. They are also incredibly involved in the local music community, and their hardcore/punk/experimental band, Vicious Cycle, just completed a month-long tour of Europe! Aside from playing in the band, Frank also promotes several local acts, and puts on shows throughout the community. If you're looking for local shows, I encourage you to contact Frank through his Facebook (linked above), as he broadcasts local shows though that.

In terms of education in this community, we have some great institutions that are worth looking into. Having spent time at two of the three major post-secondary education institutions in this city, I can vouch for them first-hand. Those looking for information on Cambrian College (which I attended this past year) and College Boreal are encouraged to do so through my links. I want to take the time to discuss Laurentian University (which I attended for four years) in a bit more length. Laurentian's President, Dominic Giroux, is a man who is very in-touch with the community. He focuses more on Laurentian specifically, but with Laurentian being such an important part of our community, it is worth reading his blog. Laurentian often hosts interesting speakers, and wonderful events, and it is worth keeping tabs on what is going on at the University.

If you're reading this, and you're interested in sports, you're also quite fortunate. Although I am not familiar with every sport being played in this city (sorry folks, I try my best!), you should check out Randy Pascal, who runs the website Sudburysports. His extensive coverage will help you identify which sports are being played in this city, and hopefully help you join your sport of interest. I specialize in soccer in this city, and ball hockey. For soccer, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League during the summer months (full disclosure: I sit on the executive as a Director-at-Large), and the S.C.C. Sudbury Indoor Soccer Club during the winter. For ball hockey, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Ball Hockey League (full disclosure: I am the Director of many things with this league).

If you're looking to get involved in the community, there are numerous opportunities to do so. I want to take the time to highlight a few organizations that will help you get involved in the community, for many of my friend that have the desire, but may not now how, to get involved. First off, there is Green Sudbury. Green Sudbury is an organization that is focused on improving Sudbury at a very grass-roots level (quite literally). They focus on environmental issues, and other issues of advocacy for the community. They also help promote local events.

 

Volunteer Sudbury is another group that is doing great work in this city. They are also always looking for volunteers. They help volunteers find meaningful volunteer work, and also help events find volunteers. Anyone who is looking for a place to start volunteering in this community is encouraged to contact either one of these organizations.

In closing, I want to make a few general comments about our community. My current job, as the Community Development Officer for the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, has me focused extensively on our community in the last couple weeks. It has been an eye-opening experience. Not only are there several businesses around the city that are looking to help improve the community, but there are tonnes of volunteers looking to do the same. The amount of passion some of these people show in improving their community, is in a word, heroic. They're not doing all of these great things because it will lead to wealth. They're doing it, because they care. I hope their integrity will spread throughout the community, and light a fire of passion and empathy in Sudbury! That being said, I strongly encourage everybody to get involved and help shape our community for the better.