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Author: Lee Under the Cedar Trees

I'm a middle-aged nobody breathing one day at a time in Ontario, Canada.

This tiny corner of the Internet is an outlet for unmasking random thoughts and creations surrounding life in general, adventures in budō, and any other topics that come to a ridiculous mind.

"Through journaling, your voice cannot go unheard."

Resting Here Now

I see it in the face now
I hear it in the talks now
I hold it in the hugs now

Please let me keep this now 

I feel it in my hair now
I keep it on the desk and in the bedside table now 

Friends will come and friends will go
It’s the way of things, but please
Let me keep this now 

I didn’t know how badly I needed this
Until it held me with a gaze I could crawl inside of
To rest

.

July 23 – 31, 2025

Breathing This Way

I want to be wrong more than right.
I hope I’m wrong about so many things.

I inhale many possible outcomes every minute,
so many that I can’t even taste them anymore,
and exhale apologies with and for every breath.

What are my lungs doing?
Why do they feel this way, hating me?
Why must they tell the world, over and over,
“I’m so sorry I’m here”?

.

July 29, 2025
~ 4 a.m.

Journal 2025.07.26: Guilt and Selfishness

“It’s ok, no matter what happens.” they tell me, but I fear for them anyway. Their logic, reason, and emotional intelligence is some of the most powerful I’ve ever seen. I fear for them — their potential disappointment, sadness, loneliness, heartbreak — they act like their shields are all securely in place but I sense joints in their defenses where pain can seep through. 

The author and site owner can be reached at leeundercedartrees@gmail.com.

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