I asked a woman tonight about her owl tattoo. She told me of being in prison, of seeing the ground owls outside and caring for one who was wounded. She was the only one they allowed to approach. Letter from a Ground Owl I watched you wanderfrom wall to wall as I lay in the […]
poem
1/30
November 1st The sun was swallowedhours ago, but the streetsare safe now – the world isn’t scary anymore.I walk by the suburban-forestpalaces, orange and purplelights hanging groggy welcomesfrom last night. A few dropsland on my jacketevery few seconds, clinginguselessly for blocks. My steps are machinery.Moving feels safer –my surroundings rearrange,the people walk byand forget the […]
Here, holding
Heart is crowded tonight –its swollen waterskin – the tension it takesto keep a surface. I thinkit is just an illusion,as I listen to Death Caband remember curling into youon the leather couch cushions.I watched my friend cryas I left her lighthouse porchand my eyes sang back her ocean hymns.I am often unsure of whois […]
29/30
Just because I leftthe bed we madedoesn’t mean I don’twant it to be empty. I don’t know why –I don’t want you to be alone – but the curve of her body would feel like a thief,stealing my warmthtaking the shape I left.I don’t know why but leaving did nottake with it the fearof being […]
26/30, 27/30
I know I don’t owe anyone an explanation about the gaps in my 30-poems-in-30-days undertaking. But I want to give some context anyway, if nothing else then out of appreciation for those who have liked or reblogged or commented on my writing so far. It is comforting to feel less like shouting into a void, […]
28/30
Tiger There is a tiger in my belly a steady growl churnsmy insides the clawsclench into me knife-sharpcurves I knowhe is awake. There is a memory crouched low abdomengrazing earth bonestaut angles eyes liton prey brain fixedon survival body snappedforward crazed instinctswift chase viciousattack pierce rip jerkviolence casual skillfulartful and utterlyguiltless hunger satisfied. There is […]
24/30
Intimacy is surrenderingyour ugliest stainsand watching thembecome watercolorsin another’s hands.
23/30
Z Press your palm into the skin of your chest. The sun is so bright, or maybe we only notice during tragedies. You imagine your hand keeping the wind from blowing through you, your fingers covering a clean, raw hole. You are shocked by the brightness of the day. There is a walk behind an […]
22/30
Lessons My Neuroses Have Taught Me If I rake my fingernails across my scalpyou will not be mad at me If I pick at every imperfection on my faceI will be good enough for you If I finish my plate, the box, the bag, the container,you will not be disappointed with me If I stay […]
21/30
Loneliness Parade Excellent turnout this year. Of course,having Facebook as a sponsoralways ensures a massive audience.There goes their float now – all the streams of photos,acquaintances on rock climbing tripsand Sunday brunches, posingwith friends that I have nevertaken pictures with. Waving,grinning at their spectators.They live for this. Then the ex-lovers,the natural progression.Hanging out the windows […]