the
smell
of the
barbecue grill
taunts
my hunger pains
I walk on by
uninvited
with no place
to
go.

In reducing others
   you self-diminish
    let goodwill be
     your daily language

    we 're one in likeness
    faults we have,  each-
    to one another we should reach
    and together flourish

In response to a post:

..but you can always give yourself what the world can never--
this alone will grant you the courage and wisdom to move forward as you will have become your own torch-bearer

You are the sun,
I am your mirror.
I reflect your light
back to you.

Your rays touch me -
mine never reaches you.

Life is given to us,
it will be taken away.
When and how,
we won't know-
till it is our time.

A disease or disaster,

road rage or domestic violence,

war or Mother Nature's fury,  

                     or maybe
                    
                       just love.

Use me—
whatever you need,
I’ll bend, I’ll bleed.
Take the best of me
and then the rest of me—
I won’t make a sound.

Be selfish,
be ruthless,
drain me drop by drop.
I won’t ask for kindness,
I won’t ask you to stop.

My heart is not a temple,
it’s a tool in your hand.
Worn and splintered—still,
I’ll try to understand.

You don’t owe me softness,
you don’t owe me grace.
Just don’t disappear.
Just don’t erase
me.

I don’t need love,
not even your name,
just let me exist
as a player in your game.

I’ll carry the weight,
I’ll silence the ache,
if you only let me
be something you take.

Don’t return a favor,
don’t pretend to care—
just keep me around,
just leave me there.

Use me,
bruise me,
I won’t mind.
I’d rather be broken
than left behind.