The Chosen Family

Friends may come and go
but family is here to stay,
you can see your friends when the sky is blue
but where do they go when the sky turns grey?

Traveling down your troublesome road
you feel alone and afraid,
your friends seem to have taken a different path
but your family is in front of you showing you the way.

When the road of Life takes a turn
for the worst and trouble is abound,
you stop your journey, as you whimper
you fall to the ground.

You look for help and your
friends have turned and walked away,
it is then your family appears
to show you the proper way.

With a vote of confidence
and a sincere pat on the back,
you smile again as you
continue your journey without slack.

It is then you realize that family
will always be there in the end,
family doesn’t mean only by blood
but chosen family that are close friends.

-Robert Louis Vanelli

Once a Champ

As the lights start to dim
curiosity fills the air,
the room develops a low rumble
as a young man appears.

His determined face hides the
fear he feels inside,
so many people watching
so many people with critical eyes.

His performance shocks the crowd
as he takes the champion down,
a new champion is born
a new champion holds the crown.

As the old champion passes his title
he feels like he’s lost his best friend,
the crowd always demanded more
and when he failed, their clapping came to an end.

The old champion realized that the
new will give the crowd their demands,
but such as Life the cycle must always be
and crowns will continue to change hands.
- Robert Louis Vanelli

The Count Begins

Never count your friends on sunny days
for they all will be around,
Count your friends on the rainy days when
the clouds are grey and lightening shakes the ground.

It is then you painfully see the
type of friend they really are,
when Life delivers a sharp blow
do they stay and try to heal the scar?

The friends you count during
this storm are ones to commend,
these people stood their ground
these people are labeled “True Friend”.

When the rain finally stops
and your new day is here,
you will be amazed that after a
violent storm a rainbow can appear.

Be careful not to begin your count
see what friends the rainbow can make,
remember, these are not your true friends
their loyalty is fake.

Keep sight of the friends that
remained when the rain poured down,
now begin your count of real friends
ones you know will always be around.

-Robert Louis Vanelli