eyes intertwined like
two thin blackberry vines on
the cold chain-link fence.

Drooped sunflowers in my chest fell apart.
For your sad, tired eyes I just want the best:
And so to you I offered this tired heart
And you offered to put me to the test.

I ran to you, accepting, unafraid,
Although you had never been loved before,
I saw your face, and all your dues went paid
Your dues are paid and then some: evermore.

Something about you made me feel alive;
Something about me made you feel at home.
To the dark bottom of my lake you’d dive;
Your embrace was a tender honeycomb.

But water is cold, and sugar’s too sweet.
I think it’s for the best; let’s never meet.

it's been a day
since we last let our love seep through,
since you held me close
in that moment, now long gone.

then you shoved me away
once you'd had enough
of my then-green heart;
it's been a day.

your punches and kicks
have turned my heart black;
i will no longer feel.
i won't let myself.

"that didn't count,"
your worried soul insisted
never venturing beyond
your delicate bubble.

go after her then.
Leave me here,
a sinful
nothing.

go after her then.
go be
your father's
son.

love
is simply too elusive.
so you may as well
get comfortable.

your eyes are
more potent
than any pill
i could swallow.

not of this earth
extraterrestrial
the nearest i can reach
to the image of god:
a deep muddy earth
familiar
uncontrolled
i think they're sweet
like chocolate

but they punish me
without thought,
peeling off
each layer of
my endurance until
there won't be
anyone left:
nothing left of
who i was

so here we are

i remain latched
to the thought of you.

and you
you're as blind as ever.

You played a note,
swung a pendulum,
hypnotized me; I knew.
Flowers grew.

They grew in every corner.
They grew on the bedroom ceiling.
They grew down
your soft arms.

Another life grazed us once
with gentle hands.
Another life robbed us
of our time.

It’s never like it was.
The world turns:
colors fade,
canyons widen.

Pain leaked away
to the placid stream.
I fought for the freedom
you couldn’t give.

Pain leaked away
and I grew daring,
enough to even embrace
the night you brought.

I hid myself in its
blues, violets, blacks;
I’m no longer
chained to your wall.

Time passes,
flowers wilt.
Days end.
One day I’ll be glad.