Ups & Downs
By: Tyler Ross
I see you trying, but you’re lying
to yourself.
There’s no other way,
but I promise you today,
there is.
Take those feelings and release them
into the air.
And breathe in and out slowly
because you care.
I say this with love and no disrespect.
You got to remember all the lives you affect.
It’s more than a count on just one hand.
The world is a better place with you in it.
I hope you understand.
Hunger Pains
By: Tyler Ross
I know that you don’t see me,
but I love you still.
I’ve found my time is needy,
and I’m lacking the will.
To see outside of me
and my selfish ways.
We just pretend to be strong,
while caught up in our own waves.
Tumbling and crashing,
trying to take the reins.
Struggling and disconnecting,
feeding our own hunger pains.
I know that you don’t hear me,
but I love you still.
I’ve been working on myself,
trying to stabilize this commitment pill.
To know its hurting to see
and feel these words.
This distance isn’t just torture.
It’s crushing and for the birds.
Tumbling and crashing,
trying to take the reins.
Struggling and disconnecting,
feeding our own hunger pains.
Like Paper In The Wind
By: Tyler Ross
Its funny how you say it,
like you have my back,
but when its time to be a friend
there’s just too much slack.
When trying to bridge this gap,
it becomes too much work.
I can’t seem to find the balance
limboing between the surface and the murk.
It drives me berserk
walking this constant one-way street.
Basic expectations become a luxury
when phoniness is a broken record on repeat.
I hate feeling like a freak.
A fiend yearning for a normal fix.
Where are the genuine people at
who want real friendships?
C’mon, let’s take a trip
down memory lane.
You know that place
where your type run this fucked up game?
You’re all the same,
but that’s been said before.
I won’t see any positive results
knocking at your door.
Maybe it’s a talk we’ve been putting off.
I can’t dodge anymore of your toxic molotovs.
A quick rip from the table cloth.
Can you see how much still remains?
For me, not enough.
I’m out and once your smoke clears
you won’t find me lingering about.
Won’t be hurting myself anymore
looking in mirrors.
Cheers!
Don’t let your shitty behavior hit you on the way to hell.
Respect is give and take,
can't you tell?
Maybe I’ll finally stop putting quarters in LA’s friendship well.
I don’t want to attract any more phonies to my nice.
Next time you cross me and fuck with my time.
Think twice.
No more questionable ties.
Word to the fucking wise.
Goodbye.
Re-Learning To Love Thy Self: A.P.C. Part 2
by: Tyler Ross
Still figuring out how to love myself.
I try to look deep down
and there’s a sadness
affecting my health.
I know it’s there.
Love lost because I decided to
tear at my heart
Dared to part
with the warmest I’ve known
from my life’s start.
I fucking ruined what I had
because I was scared of my new home.
The sweetest love.
Ready, aimed and soared above
the unknown
out of my mind
and away from the ultimate love possibilities.
Accepted and protected,
I was.
Lost my second chance all because
I had it all and I dropped the biggest ball
one can get in this life.
I feel antsy almost every night.
Tight in my chest and in my mind,
alright?
You don’t leave my mental site.
And that’s all right.
I’ve tried and you always seem to be
the brightest light.
I’m still so far,
so far from being.
From loving me again.
So I can fully love again.
Okay?
I was wrong. So wrong.
You were right.
It’s time to say…
Good night.
My own hell, I set.
I’ve still got so much regret.
Stuck in a life full of inner hurting debt.
Gambled. Lost it all the day I jet.
I’ve still got so much regret.
I'M SO SORRY!
Back in time to the day we met.
Rewrite the day I left.
Was It Even Worth It?
By: Tyler Ross
We take it in and accept its stay.
A powerful tool, but just a tool,
okay?
It runs our lives and measures our worth.
So we believe in the validation
forgetting our limited time on this Earth.
Counting the numbers like currency
It’s absurd.
Depressed from as little as one word.
We bully ourselves just as much
as we torment each other.
Ego to the brain, destroying the sane,
smothered by this addiction.
You’d think this was fiction.
Or a junky’s depiction,
the way we’re controlled
by these lies.
Be pretty, loud, and proud, more fit,
less wit and more superficial bullshit!
Heads lost in the clouds.
It’s not legit, so quit
while you’re ahead.
Instead of checking out
unaware of what reality has fed.
A life logged in
consuming significant amounts of time.
One day real eyes will visualize real lies.
Word to the wise before your soul dies.
You’re worth more than a tap on the screen.
You’re worth more even if you aren’t being seen.
You’re worth more than the amount of friends you’ve got.
You’re worth more than
all this distraction has taught.
You’re worth it, and that’s a hell of a lot.
Distractions
By: Tyler Ross
Feeding the rush of addiction
Honing in, the description
Another mission
Worm holed, goin’ fishin’
Troubled waters,
Richard Nixon.
Guilty and off the tracks
Listen up, face the facts
The will power you lack
Obsessing, no turning back
Caution tape snapped
Beyond,
that’s a wrap
Too many thoughts,
Explosion
Under attack
Vision scattered all over the map
No cap
Hey normal, where ya at?
Consciousness is taking a nap
Distractions turned satisfactions
Primal reactions
Glued to rhythmic actions
Until the beat stops
And shame spills from
Inside out your lap
10 to 20 minutes
Then welcome back
Wipe, rinse, and repeat
Distraction complete
Reenter the world
From getting beat
Hey normal, where ya at?
I’d like to meet.
BLM (Say It, Live It)
by: Tyler Ross
Black Lives Matter, why can’t you see?
Why is it hard for you to treat civilly
and equally
like you would to me?
Our police intimidate our streets,
and with institutional racism,
our brothers and sisters find it hard to compete.
A leveled life playing field everyday.
Opportunities like you and I have,
the privilege to control their own way.
And still, you find it hard to understand or say,
Black Lives Matter
Every fucking day!
Just like yours, just like mine.
Stop trying to shadow the shine.
This should have never taken this much time.
Are you an ally
or are you ignorantly uneducated?
What will it take?
For you to bring your walls down,
showcase real respectful love over the hatred.
This isn’t political.
Protecting Black people is critical.
Humanitarians, raise your fist in the air.
Time to reach for the pinnacle.
And for all you speaking cynical,
Your lack of presence is visible.
Lacking an understanding to the basic human rights principles.
Fighting for equal justice will resume.
Elevate the unheard and allow their voices to bloom.
Since the evil in people won’t fully die
Like Pac said, we gotta make these changes
and do what we gotta do to survive.
Give back, open your mind.
Protect All Black Lives!
Let’s help keep people of color alive.
Today, tomorrow, forever we will continue to strive
for everyone
to have the chance at life’s giant piece of the pie.
