afterdark

they arrive like guests

unannounced

uninvited

but welcome

as if they were never gone at all

soft spoken creatures

draped in pale pink

like secrets almost told

they do not bloom loudly

i saw a girl once

laughter and sunshine in her opal eyes

a twitch of a smile almost too brief

hair so unruly as if the wind had made the strands its own

a lankiness to her like branches on the limbs of a tree

she sits across from me.

i sink into the middle cushion.

every session seems the same.

rings on her fingers.

a vibrant colored shirt.

the jester wore a mask
bright reds blues and yellow
to remind those who were sad
of happiness and delight
he never stopped laughing
afraid if he did there would be no jester anymore
the jester and the princess

Her name was Maria 

My mom's friend Maria 

La mariposa she says 

Soy la mariposa 

Because she spread her wings 

To the land of kings 

its like

walking through

a forest

where you

think no

one can

hear you

but yourself

you scream

at the

top of

your lungs

until your

insides burn

you're alone