Broken Wings and Shattered Dreams

By D. J. Armstrong

Broken Wings and Shattered Dreams is a collection of poems inspired to provide those who live in glass houses a glimpse of the real world that surrounds them. The collection includes pieces of history, moments with God and the Devil, bouts of depression and other emotional tragedies and triumphs, along with love, hate and lifes challenging obstacles from different walks of life. The poems were inspired by actual events in various locations throughout the streets of America. From inspiration to dark sadness in the realms of reality, Broken Wings and Shattered Dreams shares pain and passion from the heart and soul. An excellent read for the poetry lover in all of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499019544

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by D. J. Armstrong.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908780

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4990-1955-1

Softcover 978-1-4990-1957-5

eBook 978-1-4990-1954-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 05/14/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

CHAPTER 1:   LOVE

Threads

Fire and Ice

Your Love

Now I know

You Make Me Love Again

You Knew

CHAPTER 2:   UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Color Us All Gray

Color My World

Another Mother’s Day

Your Glass House

The Con Game

Land of Make Believe

Who’s in Control?

Forgive Me

Is it Time Yet?

CHAPTER 3:   BATTLES OF THE HEART

A Lost Key

Devil’s Serenade

For Sale

Happy Birthday

Just For Tonight

Wounded with Words

The Battle

Reflection In the Mirror

To My Rescue

The Last Call

Pretend You Don’t See Me

Listen to the Whisper

Rape of the Heart

Of Course You Love Me

The Gypsy Life

Time

Like Father, Like Son

Don’t Attempt to Control Me

I Left that World Behind

So Close

CHAPTER 4:   PIECES OF HISTORY

Olympic Flame

Letter From Nicole

Escape

Caylee

America, Why Do You Ignore me?

A New Life

29 Die

City of Dreams and Desires

Dedication to Silvia Plath

CHAPTER 5:   SOUL SEARCHING

Acceptance

Eyes Don’t Tell Lies

At Your Gate

Free

Don’t Ask

Your Gift

Yesterday’s Rose

Nowhere to Run

Who Will Feed the Children Now?

Christmas Variations

Dancing with the Ocean Waves

No Excuse

The Last Dance

Silent Pain

Rose of Another Color

CHAPTER 6:   INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION

Power of the Pen

Live Your Dream

Carpe Diem

Pencil Dancing

Goals of Life

To You, My Child

I Just Did

Let me Count the Tears

This book is dedicated to all of my children who make life worth living. I also dedicate Broken Wings and Shattered Dreams to the people who actually experienced some of the events that inspired me to write; to you and your family, I wish to commend you for your strength and endurance. In addition, I dedicate this collection of poetry to those who encouraged me to write. Also, last but definitely not least, I want to dedicate this book to all who love, understand, and appreciate poetry. I thank each and every one of you.

Chapter 1

Love

Threads

This crocheted blanket created with love, patience and tenderness

Just as marriage needs the same to create happiness

Like the threads woven carefully within

As you tied the knot, a new journey you begin

Single threads slowly we unwind

Joined together and then entwined

To begin—you follow the pattern your working for

With patience, it gets better more and more

When complete, you’ve got something to be proud of

Made with hard work and enduring love

Relax-sit back and warm your feet

Enjoy the warmth through snow, rain and sleet

Now it’s up to you to give good care

Over time, it might snag and tare

Down the long winding and sometimes rocky road you travel

A thread here and there might unravel

At this point, take time to mend

Recapture the love and the purpose of your journey again

So relax and together stay warm

Safe and secure against all harm

Through thick and thin it’ll bring comfort to you

Just as your life long mate will do

As you tied the knot

Let love not be forgot

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Fire and Ice

He melts her heart, so cold with ice

So cold, yet next to him, so nice

Apposite they are

Compatible by far

Each destroyed as they clash together

Seeking to gain control of each other

Flickering rapidly after her

To catch her would destroy her

Sparks fly as his anger reaches the skies

Flames she melts with her icy blue eyes

Raging and without control

She soothes his very fiery soul

Wild and