do you think
cloaks of normalcy

societal smiles
wash away reality -

that screens pulled close
pious veils drawn

means all is well -

that children next door
from 'respectable' homes

aren't used like so much spoil
displayed with polish

to the highest bidder -

what tales do you keep
to sleep at night

in perfumed air -

'it's far away
some hapless child

not where I drive
with tinted glass

they're lower class
don't know the Lord

mere runts down town
where father drinks

can't pay their rent
make decent wage

so sell the kid
for sordid nights -

- n - o -
it happens

to tender buds
in wealthy
suites

and poorer shacks
in any
place

and every age
from dot to
grown

they stay unseen
stare at their
sums

are ***** this night
sob off to
sleep

as mother too
walks right on
by

deaf to the screams
he wants his
due

so he will take
her brother
too

'now be a man'
says worm to
prince

he lies to all
most to his
face

and no one sees
and no one
hears

the silent screams
with veil drawn
close

they look askance
and walk on
by

"I love you," a kind soul said.
"Don't do that to yourself," I replied.
"I take that love and use it for personal gain. Then once I'm done I throw you away, for who keeps the spare parts? I'll let you fill that void inside me for a little while and keep myself warm against the harsh and cold winter. I'll let you 'love' me then, just to be cruel, I'll drop you. You'll be sad and wonder, 'How could she?' or 'What did I do?' You didn't do a thing darling, I just grew tired and it was getting too hot for me (maybe i was getting attached we'll never know). So, ya, don't do that to yourself."

You took my heart
and threw it on the floor
You stepped on it, you broke it
and used the sharp edges
to cut my flesh in the shape of your name
Still it wasn't enough,
You poured salt on my open wounds,
spit on my scars and left

It’s a funny thing
a single song
can send me
back into
my memory.

Somewhere
out there
a melody
from a movie
I saw as a kid,

I hear that song
and feel
a tinge of sadness
as tears
threaten
to make
an unwanted
cameo appearance.

The first time
I heard this
I was with
my mother
in a small house
for abused women.

Somewhere
out there
in the past
before
things got
really bad,

they were bad
for her,
but I was ok.
I did not have a clue
what we were
going through.

Later,
the pain
that jaded her
would become
my shadow cloak
to wear,
as I looked
for somewhere
out there
where
I would be free,
from her rage.

I never really
found that place,
but when I hear
that song,
I can recall
my mother
before the fall.

Even at
a cynical
thirty-seven
a small part
of my heart
longs for
the loving mother
that was
somewhere out there
before those bad days.

The left side of the pillow is wet
The front of his shirt is wet
Moms purple handkerchief is wet
But I cannot tell you why the tears fall
There is no specific time, date or ambiance for them
They fall continuously
Sometimes when I am standing in front of the stove
Standing in front of the door wondering if I should walk in or walk away
Sometimes they feel cool cascading down my cheeks
Other times hot to the touch and stinging
It’s a relief to spill them
Other times it happens on the spot
Ruining my made-up face
My composure
A splitting headache follows right after
It leaves me feeling weak for a few hours to a few days
Makes me feel cold
A cold I cannot shake off
I have gone to see a doctor or 3
She said its happening because of stress
He said I need more exercise and proper sleep
Ma says its because I have really bad time management skills a husband, a home and homework is tough to handle
Dad thinks its because hubby and I don’t communicate enough
Truthfully, we do but he doesn’t get me
My lips move and the sounds come out
But I feel stupid and more frustrated in the end
He cant put two and two together
He is always busy with his worldly affairs
I stay on my own most of the time
I prefer it that way
I hate crying in front of others
But I am still unable to tell you why