1. Ode to a Friend

You, friend,

are the shining light

of the sun.

You are shade

on a sweltering day.

You are the blissful wind

and the vital rain.

You are the roof

over my head

and the floor

under my feet.

You are the clothes

on my back

and the possessions

I always keep.

You are showers

after a long day

and homemade breakfast

on an early morning.

You, friend,

are a necessity

in my life.

2. Ode to a Mentor

You, mentor,

are a guiding glow,

acting like a beacon

of success.

You are an anchor,

holding me prisoner

when my motivation

is lacking,

with the guards of

conscientiousness

standing alert

at the door.

You are a dam built

by the strongest

of beavers.

A dam that will not

yield to my attempts

of laziness,

allowing me only to

move forward.

Each day I think of

you, my mentor,

and I try to show

the universe

what I’ve learned from

you.

You, mentor,

are appreciated

by more

than solely me.

Let go of your

finite facade

and show the world your

boundless potential.

3. Ode to a Loved One

You, loved one,

are the soft blankets

that turn my bed

into a warm cocoon,

trapping me.

You are the steaming mug

of coffee waiting

when I crawl

out of my bed

and into the world.

You are the magnetic pull

I feel radiating

from my mattress,

making it tempting

to let sleep

overwhelm me

once again.

You are the smell

of bacon sizzling

on the stove

and the sound

of pancakes flipping

on the griddle.

You are the feeling

of water

as it quenches

my thirst

and the cool breeze

caused

by an air conditioner

on the hottest days

of summer.

You are the relief
of home
after a long trip abroad.
You, loved one,
are the comfort
I crave.

4. Ode to a Stranger

You, stranger,

are the sight

of a flower bud,

marking the genesis

of spring.

You are the moment

the sun rises

above the horizon,

shining light

upon the landscape

that night had hidden.

You are the line

where land

meets sea.

You are the first

day of school.

The chance

for a new friendship

to form.

You, stranger,

are all the beginnings

we’ve spent our lives

waiting for.

5. Ode to the One Who Doesn’t See Me

To me,

you are the

dexterity

of a classical pianist

and the finesse

of a professional violinist.

You are the brilliant mind

of a prolific composer

with the skill

and proficiency

of a virtuoso.

You are the sound

of a serenade

or sonata

or symphony

singing its subjects

to the drums

of my ears.

You are the silence

after the last note

of the last piece

performed

during an eagerly

anticipated concert.

The blissful moment

when the notes

finish ringing

and everyone is

still.

You

are the beauty

that people see

in their favorite things.

And I,

I am the one

you

will never see.

Because sadly,

I am

only capable of being

me.