you've discovered the center of me and I have nowhere to hide. you pursue that elusive part of my soul which has never been touched. you gently, endlessly probe my inner mystery seeking to know, to feel, to share. your voice calls to the wildness of my spirit, enticing me to come dance and be free with you. your heart beats a hard, throbbing rhythm that draws a haunting, soulful song from mine to harmonize extasy. night flows without time as your warm voice hums over and through my body promising mindless flight, satin steel and sweet surrender. you have the rare power to render me speechless but you manage not to abuse it or me. moments of quiet are peaceful, with no need or desire to add words. we share friendship, trust, openness, laughter and the pleasure of voices. I enjoy you.
© 1/31/98

how did you?
how did you manage to slip past all the walls I'd built up around my shyness? how did you find the wildness in my spirit that I keep hidden deep inside? how did you manage to find the desire that fires my soul? how do you make me hum and climb walls simply by speaking my name or breathing? how did you get my heart and soul to open to you, to share what I feel and want? how do you make my mind shatter into a million pieces? how do you make me want so much so badly? how do you inspire the feeling to confide in you, to share my dreams, wishes, desires, hopes and fears? how unfair it seems that you know me more than I know you. at times you scare me with how much you make me feel, emotions never felt before, nameless. can't help but wonder if you feel at least half of what I do... or if all of this is only a dream.
© 2/1/98

For Hugo. This isn't a poem that I've written for him, but a song that I've shared with him that is special to us both.

All I'll Ever Ask
Love means so many different things,
But you're all that matters,
And this is all I'll ever ask of you.

Tell me your dreams, so they can be mine too.
Let me be there, to help them come true.
Tell me your fears, when you feel afraid.
Come to my arms, let me rock them away.
That's all I'll ever ask of you.

Come to my shoulders, when you need to weep.
Wake me up, when you cannot sleep.
Talk to me, when you want to be heard.
Be silent with me, when you can't say a word.
That's all I'll ever ask of you.

And I can swear you'll never have to cry another tear,
But whenever you want someone to hold you, I'm always right here.

So just come to me, for anything at all.
Call my name, it's yours to call.
Feel my faith in you, when you can't find your own.
And always remember you're never alone.
That's all I'll ever ask of you.

Najee and P. Bryson

You are the star that guides me in the night. You have been the warm heart that held me deep inside when I needed a friend. You are the one who can give my spirit flight, bring ease to a troubled heart, peace to restless soul, smiles to my face. We have a special friendship that brings so much joy, comfort and light to my life. I thank heaven every day for blessing my life with you. It hasn't been easy but the work we put into it makes it even more important. I try to tell you how much you mean to me every chance I get, during rough times and smooth. You have my heart and soul. You are a true friend of my soul, heart and mind. Thank you for the gift of friendship. I hope we will have many more years and gifts to share. I love you dearly and hope to have you in my life for always.
© 11/1/97
To Hugo

Thank you.
Thank you for saying hello.
Thank you for sharing a part of yourself
and reminding me that there are no strangers in this world,
but only friends who haven't met yet.
Thank you for your words of poetry,
written from deep inside.
Thank you for calling me "friend"
and allowing me to be honored to do the same.
Thank you for your patience when I disappear at times
but you're never far from my thoughts or heart.
Thank you for the precious gift of your friendship.
Thank you.
© 1/5/98