Poetry

Dearest,

I don't know how to tell you this because

I know it's not the same -

words don't flow from everyone like they do for me

but I want this so

write?

Write for me?

Confetti rains down  as flying squirrels fill the screen

You read your acceptance letter and I'm filmed with overwhelming happiness

But I'm not ready

Welcome back,

ladies and gents,

to your favorite show -

me!

A walking catastrophe with lots to say

lots of opinions

lots of feeling

I'm a very, very messy human being

I wish I was underwater, my thoughts drowned out by silence.

The world above me muted.

The water cooling my skin.

Surrounded by that velvety liquid we call water.

That miracle.

Oh, how I wish I were underwater.

From childhood

we're taught the difference 

between heroes

and villains.

But maybe it 

just depends

on who's telling the story.

Walking in circles of sunset light

cones in hand

three kids

on the brink of adulthood

I don't know about you but I don't know what I'm doing with my life

and what if I'm not there?

Good enough?

There’s a quiet beauty 
in the things you know won’t last 
moments already fading 
even while you’re inside them. 

She will never stop moving
a sailboat restless at the mercy of great winds,
forever pulled by currents
no harbor can persuade to stay.

Dear Mr. Shabazz— 

I knew you were going to be my hero 
The moment my APUSH teacher scoffed at you 
And dismissed you as "violent." 

That's how I knew you were important. 

here i am,

foolishly trying to describe

the feeling of sitting up

high in an oak

and writing poetry.

here i am,

watching the sunset

above long green grass

and typing into an ugly

I am a poet. I take the words and I turn them on their heads until the juice runs out. It is red and sweet, like strawberries. I sit cross-legged on lilypads, watching meaning watercolor itself onto the pond. I rust like clockwork in the rain.

I'm sorry—

Sorry that I keep getting stuck in that well;

Sorry for always relying on your rope;

Sorry for putting all my guts on display;

Sorry for influencing you to decide like me;