Hope

Hope
is new for me
I reach out,
tentatively,
slow so I don't spook it
cause it to run away,
it's light is soft
but my eyes take time
to adjust.

Hope
the word,
like the softest bubble popping
sweet and unassuming,
I like the word

Hope

Word Vomit

Whiner
little "ouch," little "ooh"s,
little complaints
thinking if you focus on the physical pain
if you can get others to focus on the physical pain
maybe you can ignore the real pain
a little longer
avoid treatment
avoid prodding
keep it hidden...
Maybe if you call enough attention to your paper cut
no one will notice the gaping hole in your chest.

Oversharer
little truth, little secrets,
a little too much information
maybe if you spill enough, if you talk so much
maybe then people will think they know everything
and you can keep the real truth in the dark
a little longer
avoid attention
avoid prodding
keep it secret...
Maybe if you talk enough about the smaller truths
no one will ask about the one that's killing you.

My Body is Mine

To the man

who thought he was cool

catcalling a twelve year old

as he drove by;

my body is mine

To the boys

in high school

who saw my shape

as a license to grab;

my body is mine

To the men

who treat my tits

as entertainment at parties,

props for their jokes;

my body is mine 

To the date

who thought the onslaught of no's

were a challenge

to turn them into a yes;

my body is mine

To the girl

who finally

said

yes...

your body is mine

To you, me,

too timid to walk away

when no was not enough,
say it;

My body is mine.

I Never Lie

When I am a speaker
I never lie;

secrets hide in the shadows of my mouth

I swallow details

filling up on hidden realities

hiding facts under my tongue...

When I am a poet,

truth

spills from my fingertips

through my pen, through the keyboard

onto the page

transparent

like the honesty in my eyes