For Anna Yannessa

Poetry by Ellison Land

Duration: 9’30”

DEAR DANGER

Dear Danger,

How have you been?

It seems our paths have crossed again.

A different time, a different form.

It’s weird, you're changing from cold to warm.

In the past we’ve met and gone

And in in the past the same old song.

Terrified beyond belief

A feeling to which there’s no relief.

But now you come the way you do,

So suddenly and out of the blue.

You hold me close and feel so right,

A thought that keeps me up at night.

You’ve changed, my friend, you’ve changed a lot,

From distant and cold to close and hot.

A side of you I’ve never seen,

Now the king and I your queen.

This brand of you almost scares me more,

Leaving my heart and soul so sore.

But when you leave it hurts the most,

I’ve befriended you, I like to boast.

A friend in Danger, a safety of sorts,

I hope your image no longer contorts

To oceans and sharks

Or the things in the dark.

But stay just like this, in the mask that you wear

Your deep brown eyes and your sweeping brown hair.

Stay just like this, just at my side,

Don’t leave me alone, don’t run and hide.

Don’t get me wrong you scare me to death,

Every word and every breath.

The danger, Danger, in your newest design

Is that you are fair, beautiful, benign.

What changed you so much, is it still really you?

To want you this much has been so taboo.

But I want you and need you like people need air.

I remember you, Danger, when you’re not there.

I remember just why you picked this new pose,

What hurts even more is it’s a danger I chose.

I knew the risks I knew the rewards,

But the risks are all blades, cutting sharp swords.

Danger, you’re cunning, more than you know,

For this class of you leaves fear dark and low.

Every once in a while it grows from within,

Don’t know where it ends or where it begins.

It’s all consuming, and drives me to cry

But I run to you and all the tears dry.

When people see Love, they don't see you.

They see something beautiful, powerful new.

Love is rain-soaked kisses, and saying I do.

It's coffee and late nights, and something that's true.

Love is "Honey I'm home," and "How was your day?"

Love's a feeling so filling, you just have to say

I love you, I need you, I want you to stay.

Danger, I need you to stay.

Love is terrifying, exposing, and hard.

You can only love, when you let down your guard.

Dear Danger,

What do I do?

Now that I know I can't live without you.

You've changed, my old friend, you've changed a lot.

A future with you, was never something I sought.

But it seems to me now, such an obvious thing

You can't have Love without the Danger it brings.