Seahorse
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove
Seahorse
Tethered to something one lost never to be found
never to be found
They float by you 
without making a sound
look down their snout at you
while the other fishes
mope around and pout
eyes shifting independently
seeing all to be seen
Pectoral and Dorsal fins
unlimited possibilities...possibilities...possibilities
keeps you swimming in circles
up and down
up and down
If the world is an ocean
where are you
Alone in the deep blue
forced out by the tide
in plain sight you hide
your shyness is your camouflage
soft sands from distant lands
beneath the sunken ships
of Ancient Civilizations
obsessed with war
Co-existing on the ocean floor.
If the world is an ocean
where are you?
tethered to something once lost never to be found.

Seahorse

I Know I'm Not Here For Long
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

Walk through the door
unaware of what's in store
finish what we start
watch things fall apart
watch things fall apart
missed a spot but hit the mark
can't simply by-pass my bleeding heart
I know I'm not here for long
I know I'm not here for long
We feel so right but end up so wrong
You wanted to be lifted up so your feet don't touch
can't escape the hush
accused of not caring that much
I regret not being enough
Not sure what any of this means
Draped across your face, your hair is a beautiful sheen
tangled wires and pull strings
hanging from your neck
I'm a wreck...I'm a wreck
White porcelain cloud skin
Sunrises and sunsets
unable to forget your delicate silhouette
swaying back and forth
keeping time of the last seconds
you were mine
I know I'm not here for long

I Know I'm Not Here For Long

Blacked Rimmed Barrel
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove
She Forgets to lie
she is an angel
who didn't deserve to die
buckle up
she is going forward even in reverse
sitting in silence
waiting for
the ominous figure to speak first
pull over
she is moving on without you
she is moving on without you
she barely made it across the county line
veer off by the railroad track sign
couldn't quite see the big city lights skyline
her fingernails dug in
traces of his skin
in her mind it wasn't how she dreamt it to be
a fallen star that burnt so bright
they said she put up a fight
disposed of 
in the bottom of 
a black rimmed barrel
she is moving on without you

Black Rimmed Barrel

Undamaged
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove
I crack a smile
and pretend to be
undamaged
undamaged
I see you there
Do you even care?
lucky you
were able to
walk away from this
wreckage
undamaged
We laugh together
we cry alone
I need to get out more
but I don't want to leave home
I had friends
I had friends
their funerals
I couldn't bring myself to attend
people say I should forget about her
and maybe get a pet
I haven't been able to yet
Undamaged 
Will she wait for you?

Undamaged

Trying
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

Together forever
Together forever
we're dying
When did we 
When did we
Stop trying
Take away
take away
tomorrow
and replace it with
replace it with
today
I see you less
and less
and less
I love the other version of you the best
here I am
here I am
at my worst
unable to escape my fate's curse
but Christ
I won't stop trying

Trying

Doing Fine

By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

An endless sunset
in a jagged skyline
your defiant spirit
has gone silent
closed off from everyone
refuse to partake
in harmless weekend fun
like demanding peace
while waving a gun
you tell them
that your doing fine
even when they witness
you collapsing at the finish line
cordially invited to be left behind
me and death share the same astronomical sign
she defines beauty and she'll never be mine
Gravity falls away from me
a quick glance and
depression took a patent out on me
that's okay with me
I'm doing fine

Doing Fine

Summer To Remember
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

There's excitement in the air
Young, wild, and free of care
She runs her fingers through
her sun kissed hair
You drink until you feel confident
Now, you're puking your guts out 
on the ground
This is the summer to remember
the last together
slipping off your shredded jeans
this is the shit that only happens in your dreams
An angelic face
trying to find her place
everything is a blur
bracing for failure
yearning for success
hoping for the best
whatever can go wrong...will
tired of waiting for the weekend
for a thrill
we glance back
as we go our separate ways
having second thoughts
on whether we should stay
the day after we graduate
no one knows their fate

Summer To Remember

There Will Be No Peace
by Christopher D. Hillsgrove

Unjust
This is your chance to speak
Honestly
There will be no peace
Chaos
People gather in the streets
Wide awake
How can you go back to sleep?
History will be written by the bold
We refuse to be under their control
They'll Try to silence us
once and for all
Divide us 
our bodies will lay where they fall
Unjust
This is your chance to speak
Honestly
There will be no peace

There Will Be No Peace

Hallelujah
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

Hallelujah Hallelujah
Riding shotgun in a hearse
loneliness brings out the worst
we're driven by more than lust and this unquenchable thirst
Trace your intentions
to the moment when
You felt it was slipping away
Hallelujah Hallelujah
I've known for awhile
Your hand conceals your unapologetic smile
An unwilling sacrifice
part of your off beat plan
This misguided flesh that alone can barely stand
She asks "Are you a religious man?"
Hallelujah Hallelujah
I need to get something off my chest
Its always been you and me; who created this mess
She patiently waits and contemplates...as you drift off
Do you dream of her? Do you dream of her?
Picking wildflowers on the countryside
some will truly live while the rest try not to die
Hallelujah Hallelujah
We finally made it
the last piece of the puzzle
bend the corners to make it fit
The fire in us will always remain lit
We reach for one another and burn our finger tips
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Where Is The Feeling
By Christopher D. Hillsgrove

Where is the Feeling?
Looking up at the dingy motel room's ceiling
lets begin the "Healing..."
My normal mask has started peeling
muffled voice in the corner pleading
Change Of Heart
I couldn't leave you... there bleeding.
Reckless no one will ever control you
or know you like I do.
Where does this dark road lead to...
I'm lost with you.
Where is the feeling?
Where is the feeling?

Where Is The Feeling

Violently Free is Christopher D. Hillsgrove, it began as a composition of poems that gradually morphed into songs (rough demos).  Within each song there are elements of the artist and bands that influenced me as a person and a musician.   Bands such as brand new, taking back sunday, hum, neutral milk hotel, vision of disorder, machinehead, at the drivin, social distortion, pixies, nirvana, slipknot, dropkick murphy's, flogging molly, joy division, iggy pop, modest mouse, the honorary title, deftones, manchester orchestra,  rancid, mars volta, blink 182, and violent femmes. As a song writer I try to convey complex social and life issues into a simple metaphor.  I always thought there is something to be said about a simple catchy song that people can take something from. 