“Are you okay?”

Sweetheart, I write poetry
And some kindhearted people said I write it well
…
That can only mean one thing
My mind is an unescapable hell

“Yeah, just tired”

Of all my travails
Tryouts, dry runs, and run-ins
This one changed my path

Tension, danger, tears
escapes, hijinks, burns, and blood
Love in there somewhere

Detailed and hazy
True and unreliable
Funny and awful

My event record
Muddy origin story
Memory-flashed tale

Told and re-told to others
To learn more about myself

lover in the grass
looking up at the tree
wonders what it means
for them to be free

Sky.
I love that name.
She giggles bubbles
from her breast,
she's a toe slug,
a kitty named Dog.

I wanna go on a trip with you,
sell plants by the highway.
carry mischief,
Kerry Feather.
golden flower,
golden head hair.

loose pants,
silky rayon.
She lies on
her stomach,
we're a
blanket picnic.

In the stillness of long, lonely nights,  
Love's shadow dances, dimming the lights.  
A kiss once so sweet,  
Now a bittersweet feat,  
As I dream of you, missing the heights.

You don't have to believe me when I say
They might just love you anyway

What do I even know
But they may notice if you don't show

I know it really isn't my place
To ask if you checked just in case

Knocked on the door
They slammed into my face

At least
The olive branch is free
Please,
Take it with you when you leave

You didn’t deserve my art
You didn’t deserve my mind
You didn’t deserve my poems
You didn’t deserve my heart

But I gave them to you anyway

A silver pocket watch
sparkles in the sun.
Magpie, watches, waiting,
for its time to come.