I find it strange,
That without the sound of sirens, yelling, and gunshots,
I manage to feel unsafe.
That the sound of grasshoppers keeps me up at night.

If there's absolutely nothing going on,
Then something is terribly out of place
because I've come to terms with the fact that the world is a dangerous place.

Sit down and give your attention
I need all of it, now
I am not asking for a lot here...
But I need your everything

Give up on the tremendous mountains in your sternum
Let go of the abuse
Clear your octopus ink mind
Get better grade on the district assessment

They are watching me bleed for you
I have given up on state expectations
Built a castle for these students of mine
Clearing a safe environment in the moment

Preparing you with the proper armor to fight for yourself someday
Take this sword imprinted with my words
Protect yourself
Fight for something worth it

She got drunk on Monday I know son
I just need you to do better
She hit me on Tuesday, I know son
Please just finish your assignment

I can't
I don't know how
I have not eaten in 2 days
You have no idea

Teachers are white blood cells
Expected to fight bacteria and show victorious statistics
With none of the time and less of the understanding
Maybe the bacteria looks different than we really thought

Our own immune system is causing fires
Putting unrealistic expectations upon our jobs
Too many students not enough teachers
Too many tests not enough love

We working organs in a bodies coma
Working without the recognition
Hoping to keep the system alive
Creating chances for our students to change the future someday

Twisted words impale so, absolute.  
They make noise
increasing pressure.
The space between
continues and drifts
over time.  

It’s hard to know where this path began.

Pebbles in shoes seem so, inconsequential.
We hardly care,
they are removed.

So it begins.  
The pebbles journey,
tossed away
with little meaning,
but in itself  
carries the dew,
that feds the seed
of discontent.

The space between,
over time
without attention.
These little words
fed by pride.
Divide.

habits
like how i lock the bathroom door
when i'm the only one home
habits
like how i run my tongue over
cuts at the roof of my mouth
like how i drop my front hand
when i'm boxing
like how i fold down pages
of a book
like how i turn off plug sockets
when nothing's plugged in
like how i bite my nails
how i slouch
how i run my fingers over old scars
habits
like how i reach out for you
even though you're gone

Jack's girl sits there playing
She's got a new idea
There's an honesty to making love
Yes, she has this down to a science
Then, she flies away, flut, flut
So hard to follow

Jack's girl hasn't time for me
She sits there, so comforting
Picture perfect; sweet petite
One cool treat in summer heat
Juxstapositioned on a riverboat
She gets my vote\lover's note
Jack's girl does

You didn't notice the girl gazing at you
like desert stars do
when you lay with ancient light in your eyes.
She was toying with her hair
and you missed it.

I have waltzed
with sunset ease
into your broken dressers.

I have juggled
like schoolyard doctrines
with guts forgotten.

For every shepherd, there is a butcher.
For every artist, there is a garbageman.