Many performances the next 2 weeks!

Upcoming Poetry Performances:

Sunday 7/27: Pure Ink Poetry Slam at The Gypsy Parlor 376 Grant St. 6:30pm, "Anything Goes" slam which means I will have something different up my sleeve. $5

Tuesday 7/29: "Young Hearts and Old Minds" - Solo performance, 2014 Buffalo Infringement Festival, at El Museo, 91 Allen St. 7-7:30pm, FREE!

Thursday 7/31: "Wham Bam Thank You Slam"- 2014 Infringement Festival, at the Gypsy Parlor, 376 Grant St. 7pm, erotic themed night of poetry, song and burlesque. $5

Friday 8/1: "Young Hearts and Old Minds" - Eddie & Friends edition, 2014 Buffalo Infringement Festival, 8-9pm, at Code Blu Juice Bar 23 Allen St., FREE!

Saturday 8/2: "Young Hearts and Old Minds" - Solo performance, 2014 Buffalo Infringement Festival, at Melting Point (outside on sidewalk) 244 Allen St. 8pm, FREE!

Please come out and support!

My 2014 Buffalo Infringement Festival shows!

"Thank You" - a poem for optimists

Have you ever met someone so awful, so selfish, so terrible 

that you wanted to thank them?

They made you so angry

your hands became fists

your blood started to boil 

and your eyelids twitched

But afterwards

you’re kinda glad you crossed paths and they exist

wait what?

You’re left confused that someone who annoyed you 

could have meaning in your life

But I’m here to tell you why

There’s a reason we wake up in the morning

That’s nature’s way of showing us the bright side

I know the secret as to why life is so good

because it isn’t good all the time

Where would we be without a little adversity? 

We’d be lazy, complacent zombies

The bumps in the road and the people who have the guts to tell us no 

help us grow

I mean, I haven’t learned much of anything 

from those who always agree.

Who nod their heads

fill me full of hot air 

and follow me

Our failures… 

Being wrong

falling down

it makes us stronger

And that character we now embrace 

wouldn’t exist if everything fell into place

Could you truly have any joy without feeling pain?

We wouldn’t know the first thing about sunny days unless it rains

I’m not saying 

to embrace the storm

you should try to keep warm

But running inside to stay dry wouldn’t mean a thing without gray skies

I

wouldn’t know the joy of work 

without the stains in my shirts

I wouldn’t know a good workout 

without my body being hurt

No pain, no gain

I look at some of the scars I’ve attained 

and I just have to say thanks

Am I looking forward to pain? NO

but we need these things

Just not in extremes

I’m not talking about death or war

a lifetime alone 

or hopelessly poor

But you gotta go through at least one heartbreak 

to know what your heart is for

You have to lose something 

to understand what finding it means

Dreams

wouldn’t mean that much without a nightmare or two

Strange as it seems

they’re good for you

Before each day is through

vent

reflect 

or sleep confused

You have to let things out to know what was there

because happiness 

is best when it’s shared

What would coffee be without mornings?

What would a destination be without the ride?

We have to get embarrassed inside 

before we can know anything about pride

As much as I want to overcome adversity

a little bit goes a long way

to understanding the value of better days

What I’m trying to say 

is we have to get through the hard times

to find the good ones

So I wish you a few bumps in the road 

so you can learn to survive them

so you can learn to appreciate when the path is smooth

what winning is like after you lose

The next time you go through a rough patch remember

when you come out the other end

You’re going to come out wiser 

if you embrace the lesson 

I say thank you to those who are always in a rush

you remind us to enjoy our pace

Those who speak without thinking 

remind us to embrace our words

Those who hate show us the value of love

The louder you get

the tighter we hug

We’ll never let the darkness ruin our days

because nights only have half the say

so before you want to drop your head or look away

look up and say thanks

The sun is shining…

the bright side is on its’ way.

"Love is My Religion"

Love is my religion

I would like to lead us all in a prayer

but I can’t

because I am no longer a spiritual man

I used to have faith in something hard to believe

when the feeling overwhelmed and I dared to dream

But it ended before salvation began 

and left me trying to understand

the mysterious ways and illogical plans 

executed by empty hands

I’ve always found words like faith and belief scary

because they take an uncertain investment

The same way I wonder if good luck is always a blessing

Or if letting the chips fall where they may
is no better than uneducated guessing

All I found were unanswered questions 
 

During my weakest moment

my faith didn’t provide the answers I was thinking of

you see, my religion is love

And what I’ve done

in search of the one…

I’ve lived through the crusades

for the love that was made 

without emotional protection

Days spent looking for connections 

when she’s looking for exits

so

now when I breathe
it feels like I’m choking

After all

isn’t praying just some serious hoping?

I admit the secret of a good love is constant confessing

because good love 

doesn’t carry the benefit of guessing

So forgive me my love for I have sinned

and in your name 

I would do it again

Love doesn’t preach
but it will teach you the difference

Between involved and interference

Love doesn’t condemn

it doesn’t pretend

Love spreads

Love is everywhere and then

Love is gone.

It’s been too long 

since I lost my faith

but love doesn’t discriminate 

between the experienced and the beginners

I love my friends, neighbors
and even some of the haters

or should I say,
SINNERS!

I could never understand why bad things happen to good lovers

And the sheer number of those who have fallen in your name

the forgotten to the obsessed

Born-agains try to convert

but love could never be so overt

to love again is blessed

So instead of fixing up your friends

invest
in making sure yours never ends 

and then truer words will never be spoken:

Atheists
are just people who’ve had their hearts broken

Are you ready to pay for your sins all over again?

Are you ready to pay the cost

for the love that was lost?

No matter how rich

there’s always temptation

put your money away... love doesn’t ask for donations

I wondered before 

if love was anything more 

than a crutch for the poor

For those who are lonely

those who are lacking

For those who are trying really hard but it just isn’t happening

But those of us who’ve loved
are given the gift of seeing

There is no perfect being

If we’re lucky 

we’ll be drawn to someone who loves our flaws 

and that’s because
love attracts

it’s a known fact

I won’t have to convince you to switch

when you love
you’re always rich

Since I’ve seen the loving and the vicious

I’ve become spiritual but not religious

But what does that even mean? 

That I’m too proud to get on my knees?

That I’m afraid to love?

afraid to believe?

while she’s accusing me
of spiritual immaturity

I’m sorry

but I don’t need a sign to find
what my heart’s already determined

And you can save your loveless judgment 

because I don’t need another sermon

Just because I didn't believe 

doesn’t mean
I’m a bad person

All these years trying to find

now I learn love is blind

but I’m willing to call your name
one more time 

With a feeling you can’t find in your Sunday book

You can turn from hater to lover with just one look

So from this day forward 

I’m gonna be the love I want to see 

and maybe then

I’ll feel the joy and believe again.

So until then

I’ll keep living
and I’ll keep loving

In spite of a love life that turns up nothing

I’ll keep giving and I’ll keep loving

because salvation is coming

Salvation is coming

2014 Eddie Gomez