Unsung

Songs I’ve left for those unsung Remain to be seen or heard By anyone.  The winds I’ve felt across  My cheeks Turn tears to ice In just a blink.  These songs I’ve left Have been forgot Bar for when the feelings Wrought These words, and rhythms Hums… vibrations, Echo lingerings Of incantations 5 September 2020

Siberia

Leaping through the breaking waves. Jumping on your back. Wrapping your arms around me in the water. Laughing face to face. Holding your square palms. Knowing others thought we were together. Wishing that we were as I linger on the lasting impressions those memories have made in my mind and my body. Riding bikes along

Young Adult, Old child

At five I was alive but I was not free. It took me 18 years to realize I was an adult until I was 23. Then, I began to grieve, and I´m so thankful for the luxury. I finally got to be a child once I got past my self denial, denying my own desires,

Shedding perfection

Shedding perfection feels like shedding my skin. But not “shedding”, pulling and pressing and tearing and ripping with precision and imprecision. Shedding perfection feels like losing myself, and fearing what I’ll find in return. Shedding, perfection means risking and getting messy and being wrong and having to own that and live with it. Shedding perfection

Tell her

Will you tell her that I sobbed? That the tears that came wouldn’t, couldn’t stop? Will you tell her how my cheeks both sagged and creaked, Yet smiled and gleamed, from painful and grateful aspects of my reality? 9 April 2023

Heart contrast

My heart hurts & yearns together It feels burdensome & tight. It wants others to give it what it has to give itself. Winter 2023

Why would I?

Why would I outrun the rain? The same rain that I claim to love. Why would I hide from the wind? The same wind, whispering wanderlust in my ear. Why would I shy from crying? Tap my eyes like the maple to bring their syrup. I do not desire a life of convenience, though I

Post-script

P.S. We should have protected you & your siblings from James. We shouldn´t have taken our anger & shame with ourselves & each other out on you. You should not have had to make yourself into a shell of who you are to please us. We should not have put adult problems on your child

The letter I wish I´d received; the message never sent

Dear Little Leah, You are curious & inquisitive, & though there are people out there who might try to squelch that, we are not those people (& want you to ignore all of them). We love that you care about others & want you still to put yourself first. You can be kind, supportive &

He walked me home

He walked me home last night On the air was old spice, strong, briefly, twice. He made it clear that he´d seen me there, almost to the door, but from there he´d go no more. When, an hour before, I´d sat at where I believed he´d breathed his last. Looking to the ground; the snow,