My last two years in college I wrote pretty consistently. I think it was a combination of women, hormones, and free time. A deadly combination by all accounts. I've always been into music, but like a lot of folks from high school into college I perhaps made my closest ties to specific albums. Jeff Buckley's Grace is preeminent, but others include the Jayhawks the Sound of Lies and The The's Dusk. Occasionally back then when writing I would write a poem while listening to a specific album or song. This is from the opening track of Dusk.

True Happiness This Way Lies

True happiness this way lies…

the freedom of thought and action

from the unquenchable fire of desire and passion.

To want to Love

in order to Be

sets one up for a fall most inevitably.

Thinkable thoughts will plague thy mind

‘till you can’t think thoughts but of this kind.

Then, the occasional breath of fresh air

where all thoughts are clear

where you can feel without care

Soon, the clouds roll in

And doubts and darkness display their grim grin

All the while you try to convince yourself

that you don’t care.

Seemingly friendly thoughts then do tell

that your happiness hinges on some

girl’s heart over there.

And the cycle thus ends and begins.

True happiness this way lies…

where thoughts are clear and we can live our lives

Free from any suffering

We inflict upon ourselves.

True happiness this way lies

and love of life

and a life of love ye shall find.

Originally written 1998.02.25