Acer Sacharrum

The whole world whispers when you meet my gaze,

My eyes flutter closed as your lips meet mine,

And though it's forbidden, my heart still betrays. 

I know I should leave, but I always stay,

I'm wearing the same dress I wore last year, on an evening that felt like moonlight even though the sky was still a milky purple-blue by the time we left, arms linked, laughter spilling over each other and turning the air fragrant, because back th

I heard rumors of a great ship,

full of great people.

Did they have room for me?

I swam by the ship

and to my surprise,

I was welcomed aboard,

beckoned,

appreciated,

cared for.

He flew into my life on a Tuesday. 

All feathers, no job. 

Smelled like breadcrumbs and bad decisions. 

He coo’d at me like I was the last French fry in a drive-thru bag. 

And I believed him. 

there are swans all around me 

but they are blind 

or i am invisible 

and i don't know which

They call it “the hood.”

We call it family.

They call it “ghetto.”

We call it culture.

It’s loud — but it’s home.

The ice cream truck rings at the same time every day.