The following is actually a “Ballad” in the sense that it’s poetry that tells a story, not necessarily slow pop songs that we have come to know as ballads, and all the poems have the same muse. Each poem has its own title as you will see, but I refer to the overall ballad as “Waiting”. I hope you enjoy it.

J. Brian Terry

It’s so late no I don’t wanna look at the time
I can’t sleep because she is still here on my mind
Now I’m feeling like some silly crazy freak show

Every moment since then I am caught by surprise
Even though I know my heart is the king of lies
It will stay here inside where I will never know

Cause I am no Romeo to her Juliet
I am just a guy who still can’t seem to forget
Or let go of the things that I know I can’t hold
I’ll just lay here and dream

And soon it will fade
Fade away
Crossing the line
From aware to asleep
It will fade
Fade….

I would if I could only turn my heart to stone
Pictures in my empty room where I’m so alone
Caring, memory, and truth are life’s best torture

Though it’s not nearly all bitter awful frustration
When she smiles at me it’s the sweetest sensation
Inspired me to lift my self-imposed censor

Suppose it is so Romeo and Juliet
Took my breath when I noticed her silhouette
Wonder what a sight it is I am to behold
Walk to the ledge and scream

Soon it will fade
Fade away
Crossing the line
From asleep to awake
Like a dream
It will fade….

I’ve gone from A to M
Searching for her in REM
Can’t escape I’m stuck at here
For a wish or three
Can’t go from M to G
Could be the final frontier

Brainwrap on our frame to stay
Rest of it can melt away
What is possible is unclear

 For tonight I no longer care about the time
She was with me in a dream and now I feel fine
But the smell of her hair is quickly receding

I am too tired to hold onto this hook for long
It is too no and way insane and right and or wrong
Though the slightest chance makes it worth believing

Still I am no Romeo to her Juliet
I am the one who is left to explore my regret
Time always counts keeps counting and I’m getting old
Hope is both slight and extreme

But this will fade
It always fades
Crossing the line
From light into dark
It will fade

And soon it will fade
Fade away
Crossing the line
From aware to asleep
It will fade
Fade
Fade
Fade….

“Fade”
J. Brian Terry
7/27-28/07

Her eyes are like the ocean
Maybe blue, maybe green
Here and there and
Somewhere in between

As I stare within
I see where I have been
Where I must always remain

And I am drowning there
Within her stare
No matter what I see
Have to keep it to me
Is it in my eyes
Reflecting my disguise
It is for the best
That it all proceeds this way

Inside I’ve been dead
Shut myself away
Now it’s all flooding back
Healing this decay

In every way I’m caught
Where she is not
Life complicates
And desecrates
I’m sterilized
And paralyzed
In many ways
The truth betrays

That I am drowning there
Within her stare
No matter what I see
I will keep it to me
Is it in my eyes
Reflecting all these lies
Is it for the best?
That it all proceeds this way

We can never help who looks into our soul
We can never know when it may be seen again
Or if it will
And now I know
That I don’t know
If I will live again
Fly again
Breathe again
Hold again
See again
Feel again
Float again
Love again?!

Or if I will want me to
And all my wants are few
But they all seem to end this way

With me drowning there
Within her stare
No matter what I see
I must keep it to me
Is it in my eyes
Can she realize
That it’s for the best…

That I am drowning there
Wonder would she care
If she saw what I see
Within her within me
But what can I do
That’s right for me and you
Other than to never rise
From the ocean in your eyes

No shore from this ocean
(Ocean in your eyes)
No shore from this ocean
(Ocean in your eyes)
No shore

Her eyes are like the ocean
And I am drowning

“Ocean”
7/23 – 25/08
J. Brian Terry

Wavy dark dances in the wind
Teases the pain and smiles pretend
Fancy getting lost at first sight
With no chance and forced to fight
Perfection is all that I can see
And sweet is her disregard of me
Bleakest hope I will forever hide
The darkest storm turmoils inside
Forever naught can set me free
For always in my way is me
Wavy dark and she is divine
But dark is the light that now is mine

“No Chance”
12/28/2008
J. Brian Terry

You're on my mind
Exactly every day
Magnify singularity
Exactly every day
Seek faith and hope
Exactly every day
It breaks my heart
Exactly...

...every time I breathe
Every time I breathe
Breathe

You ring my ear
Exactly every day
There's no inverse
Exactly every day
Am I ringing you
Exactly every day?
I feel so lost
Exactly...

...every time I breathe
Every time I breathe....

I'm writing in a notebook where you signed your name
I didn't know it was there
I picked it up to write this song about you
And there's your name
Life is so strange

Could be this empty
Exactly every day
Could be that perfect
Exactly every day
Could be reflected
Exactly every day
Could be less than three
Exactly...

...every time we breathe
Every time we breathe
Could be less than three
Every time we breathe
It could be

"Could Be"
2/8/09
J. Brian Terry

Sometimes I’m sad
Sometimes lonely
Because you’re not here
And you’ve never been
But I know you’re getting here 
As fast as you can

It keeps me movin’ on
When I think what’s the point
It keeps me holdin’ on
When I would rather fall

God reminds me you are close
Though you’re so far away
I don’t have to miss you
Anymore today
We’re not together now
But we will be
As soon as we can

Whoever you are
Maybe I haven't even
met you yet
But we’re looking through the glass
Darkly
As always
It doesn’t matter
Because I believe
Oh I believe
You’re getting here
As fast as you can

And we are
As we’ve always been
As we’ll always be
As we’ve never known
As we’ll forever remain
We are

I keep reaching for you
Reaching hoping you’ll say
That if it had been possible
We would have found us yesterday

Find me, Find us
(Oh I’ll be here)
Find me, Find us
(I’m waiting for you)
Find me, Find us
(As fast as you can)
I will wait

Sometimes I’m sad
Sometimes lonely
Because you’re not here
And you’ve never been
But I know you’re getting here 
As fast as you can

All the waiting
For this ocean to become our sea
I know once we’re together
These years will be like a breath to me

As fast as you can
(God reminds me)
You’ll be here
(As fast as you can)
I know you’ll get here
(As fast as you can)
I’m waiting for you
Find us
As fast as you can….

…I will wait….

“As Fast As You Can”
J. Brian Terry
5/12/09

Waiting….
For us
Waiting….
For you
Waiting…
For me
Waiting…
For this ocean to become our sea
No shore…
From this ocean
No shore…
I’m waiting for you, baby….

“Waiting”
J. Brian Terry
5/15/09