M. Hank

Tears slipped quietly 

Down her face, hair 

Messily tied back into 

The lowest of low ponytails, and 

Perfectly manicured nails just begun 

The inside of everyone is two things:

Beautiful, like a flower in the woods.

And ugly, like the wars we choose to fight.

Yet, can't we find beauty in ugliness and ugliness in beauty?

They taught us not to be loud

when something hurt.

To swallow the ache

like it was rude to mention.

We learned how to nod

while breaking.

How to laugh

with our ribs caving in.

I know you still think of her

When it’s late at night 

And memories fall out of your eyelids and down your cheek

I would too, if I had known her

if I have to fight for your attention

then it is not worth fighting for

i still search for you in the places i go

hoping to see you; a familiar face once again.

today i walked through the halls expecting to meet you, where you forever stood— but the man i saw wasn’t you;