first do no harm

everything you need to move out of a painful stage 

in your life is already in you

the only catch is you have to rip your own guts out 

to get to it

because it's hiding somewhere 

behind your belly button
but closer to your spine

if that's not ironic i don't know what is

the terrible seamstress

i imagine the red on her face as sequins

stitched in a pretty pattern by someone who loved her
instead of violently drawn out in a crude spatter shape
by a random stranger
who was introduced
across the center line

she's not here to catch all those apologies
i ever threw at her

maybe someday i'll fashion one
into a boomerang

 

 

et·y·mol·o·gy

i can't even begin to tell you how much i miss you
a mere 26 letter alphabet isn't enough
i'd have to invent a whole new language to convey what it feels like
i'd need to create another universe where you could still hear my words
even then nothing could ever adequately describe the hollow space in me
that was once overflowing with you

embers

we're connected
though she doesn't know it
being at the other end of the knot
she's made of fire
not metaphorically
i mean brimstone and coal
and other shit that's really fucking hot
literally
she'll blister your heart if you let her
fan her flames and watch your skin turn to ashes
it's not what she wants
it's just in her nature
she's a sinner with a hot temper
see that?
her blue flame smile
you stood too close
breathing oxygen into her veins
with your lips made of courage
there's no turning back now
kiss her before you melt

stinging words

most days my broken fingers stumble over white sheets
feeble shadows
penning words into fashionable jewelry
you wear around your heart
delicately but oh so quickly
ink black as black as black
pitches across ivory skin of dead trees
as they hold onto my thoughts
like tiny blossoms
letters and words born from a well
rise in alliance
forming hives filled with movement
bees and words
drone in a particular rhythm
both offer honey
sweet dripping nectar
then sting without mercy
alas they all die silent deaths
in the wastebasket beside my desk

merry-go-round

that day you asked me how i felt about you
my head turned into a circus
my tongue a carousel
began spinning words in my cheeks
like sugar spun into pink cotton candy
that suddenly melted in my mouth
what was i supposed to say?
you already knew