the most welcome fail

There isn't a place to tell the world the things i saw last night.
(i leaned in and saw straight into your soul)
there couldn't ever be a place to tell people and people and
people how you told me you wouldn't leave. you wouldn't ever
leave. or would you? you sounded so sure, but at the same time,
a little scared. you were scared. you said you were looking to the
future--med school, life, and the rest of the world. i wondered
how and why i wasn't included with the rest of the world..
(i wasn't the rest of your world? you've been the rest of my
world...?) i felt the tears, kamikaze away from my eyes,
i bled inside my heart of hearts (you know how and what you did)
but maybe there's a little bit more than what we thought there
was.. like waking from a dream--drop me to the floor to bring
me back to reality (check my pockets, is my totem there?
i can't be dreaming) suspension reminds us that gravity
remains supreme, we let each other go to remember
what it was like before. (what was it like before...?)
well i'll never learn to unlove you--I could never
pull it off. from the creaking chairs to the wilted couch
cushions-- i could never learn to unlove you. we would
sit and talk for hours (what is time and obligation to
our world?) about everything and nothing.. what is
it that we would say? the passersby could never tell--
they wouldn't tell our secrets, would they? We'd be full
of silly and crazy times. but you were serious when i
needed you. you took my hand, though you were so far
away. even in the beginning you pushed away my demons,
one by one. and now, as we run miles in the
opposite direction you watch me tell my story silently--
through the metered rhymes and free verse
free free free verse, i crave the freedom of a freer verse
that doesn't have a leash. you watched me spill the
beans//about all the problems i had seen. you tried to
stay quiet, but finally the words were just too much
(were they too much?)

maybe people think we're crazy, or just stupid kids.
Maybe they'll think we don't have any self control
(they make up stories, those old people, they).
But with every breath of doubt (they breathe their
doubt on me in puffy black clouds of emphysema) i catch
a glimpse of a brighter day. I smell the whiff of a happier
place and time, when we don't have to worry what the next
year brings (what on earth could it bring)a time when our
trust will blossom past the spring buds that fall off the sweet gum
i could never learn to unlove you--i don't think, ever.
I may not have a crystal ball, or a pack of tarot cards--
do they come in a pack at all?--but i know what i see when
i see your face, hear your laugh, sense your smile. i know
that we will never learn to unlove.

So many times we've looked up at the stars--
we'll get away from these city lights one of these days.

if you love me

won't you let me know?

if you love me

never let me go.

the discovery

i was found today,
between a rock and a hard place.
you hear me, even in my silence.
i was found today,
you won't ever let me go back
to the way i was.
you know me to the core of my soul
to the edges of my brain--
you know the number of my days,
the lying down and getting up.
you've known from the day i
was born, what my life would be.
you've known all along who would
influence me, and who i would reach.
you've known who would love me
who would hate me, and who i'd
passionately love. you brought
me to you before i could read,
and as i child, you took my hand.
i was found that day--the day you
whispered in my ear, "you are dearly
loved." i can't begin do understand you
but i know you hear me cry out
in anger, desperation, joy, complacency.
you hear me when my voice is silenced
and when i can't be still.
through the stars and the lamplit
streets you show me who you are.

my agenda

I've wanted many things in life
I want fame and fortune and
maybe just to be somebody's wife.
I want to be that girl that can land
the job that nobody thought she could
i'll compose the songs and lyrics for
a work that promotes the greater good.
i'll heal the sick and feed the poor
i'll light a candle that starts a riot,
i'll yell my views and preach my words
but maybe all i'll want is quiet.
i'll hang with rockers, astronauts, nerds,
by osmosis i'll be something insane
trying the sh rooms, and testing the p ot
i'll build planes and cars and boats and trains
i'll plant pansies and forget-me-nots
in a garden i'll plant the prettiest flowers
they tell my stories, they'll whisper my poems
but only one's i've worked on for hours
people will beg and beg me to show 'em
but i'll just refuse and turn them away.
i'll tell them i just can't bear to reveal--
i've planned and planned all my days,
but never let my empty heart heal.
They won't take that answer--surely i lie
an empty heart could not beat in her chest
and over the fencepost they'll cast an eye
to see a few wilting buds and a lot full of dust.


(that sucked--i prefer free verse)

to my stalker...

like a bird--it can't stay in the sky forever..
sometimes it just has to come home.

arcite or palamon--who was wiser? take
back your wisdom, it lead me astray..
it took me away it took me away.

i would walk five hundred miles
i couldn't stay away--i couldnt be alone
even hermits talk to God.

believe me, he knows what he's doing.

just another sob story

the door slams--you're already gone
running down the street, without
a backward glance. here i stand, the tears,
i'm still inside this burning house.
i'm left inside this burning house. (Dig
deep into my world, my mind, what i hate
is only because i fear it. i fear what
could. become. my. world.) I
(just) fight the tension and the terrors--theyre
(gonna) pull me apart. How could I
(stand) it all without you by my side--always
(there?) I can't remember who i am
(and) what I thought i would be. I just
(watch) who I'm becoming. I dont recognize
(me). put me in the fire--would i go ahead and
(burn?) like a paper crane on your shoulder---
it's not alright with me. i hope it's not alright with me.

(I was your song... You were my... You were my..
you were my you were myyyy...

you were mine.)

it's not the nicotine that kills--it's the smoke. the smoke. the housefire. the running. the distance. the slow and steady burn.
when i find myself--there's only me.

the end is definite

i kept the secret by letting out the words

that i had pulled from the edges of my heart.

i told the story without naming the characters

or describing the how the weather was that day.

i told the truth and lied to their faces--

maybe they'll hate me.

pat me on the head and tell me i'm making the

better choices, maybe that will help.

but i can't stop crossing my fingers that time

will forget its meanderings and just sprint for-

ward. (i know i will regret that someday.)

but i also forget that home is no longer home

and the way and how of my life is no

longer attached to my heart. i put on the band

aid only to rip it off-- i never want this scar to heal.

i fear if it heals i will forget the times that were

filled with water droplets and agony--the effect

of a perfect beautiful love.

i pray. that i won't miss you. and i die each time.