I.
Today I read I poem
I write next year
about how love gave way to fear,
how goodbye still replayed in my ear.

II.
You called last night
to ask me over.
I warmed in spite of myself
and, by dawn, became your untimely lover.

this hurts so much

please just help me

take away the pain

and wash away the filth

in my mind and around my heart

please just help me

i want to sleep normally

and smile normally

and learn to love

please just help me

to love myself

and heal

and grow

to be better

to be whole

to no longer be empty

please just help me

find warmth amidst

the storm inside.

**-AA

come home to

a lovely pair

of warm arms

but now i

wrap my blanket

a little tighter

**-AA

Beams of heat burned through your tights
so the sun blushed your legs. No guard
under your dress, striped navy and white.
You were sat on the hill, like a postcard

of the countryside. That day,
you plucked the stem, the longest one.
Then tossed the flower away,
like Miss Polly’s dolly. Nearly done,

you finished the chain. Pick, tear,
snap them out the grass.
Your hippy-self, wore it in your hair.
“Why not?” Those few weeks were our last.

You left it, dried, brittle, dead.
Remind yourself I’m here - wear it on your head.

I miss you old friend
Where have you gone?
The sun has come out
And brought the breeze with it along
I giggle in my yellow dress
The bugs tickle on my skin
It's time to play outside
With our trees and river again
We can go sit on the steps
Or play pirates on the swing
Pick flowers in the garden
At least the flowers left by spring
And if it starts to rain
I will laugh at your wet hair
You'll laugh at the mud on my face
And I'll laugh too, I just don't care
Because we are best friends
Who play with the sun
And at night we talk to the moon
With him we become one
But now summer begins
And I turn with a frown
Because your tan fingers
Are nowhere to be found
And I can't help but wonder
As the chrysanthemums yawn
Where my freckled summer friend
Could possibly have gone