bolster

spread thy wings

sally forth

be unafraid

LEAP!

for we are not all
Icarus

some of us
heed the warning
in the rustle
of our wax wings

and fly at night

where the cool gaze
of the moon
does not melt
resolution

the things that cross our minds

it occurred to me today
that if i were a ladybug
i would choose to live
in a raspberry

and, a few years ago,
i realized
that if people stopped having sex
i would be unemployed

i can't remember when
i stopped
spinning with my arms out
but i still have a scar
that proves that i used to

i need to go outside more
and blow bubbles
with the kids next door

it saddens me to think
that i will never be an artist
a musician
or anyone's muse

No. 10 and No. 12

the breaks and
the stops

are so important.

it is what isn't
said.
in the middle.

the beat between
pauses.

without words.

the stopping
and breaking off.

the real dialogue
lives there.
lies are born there,
in that blank white space
between the comma and the next letter.

in the middle.

in the blanks,
in the inhales and exhales.

don't speak to me.

i don't need to hear your words.

i need to hear
the truth between them.

i know if i listen,
very carefully,
to the spiraling shell of the middle
i will hear the waves of the truth,
crashing and breaking
over the next word rocky word you speak.

Running Dialogue

sit up straight, dear

more flies with honey than vinegar

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

and i (we) love you (me) so

always wear clean underwear

dont ever call boys

brush teeth before bed

arent you (we) the smartest girl

we (me) are so proud of you (us)

give us (me) a smile

yes ma'am and no sir

ladies cross at the ankle instead of the knee
stomach in and shoulders back

mascara and lipstick before going out

thank-you cards the very next day

allow no one to see you (us) cry

arent you (we) a brave girl!

keep your (our) chin up

know how to make a good pot of tea

be a better listener than talker

never be caught gossiping

chin lowered, eyes raised

and never doubt for an instant

that I (we/me/i) love you (us)!

The Lacking

to break this cask upon your brow

to pour over you the oil of love and light

i would give you the warmth of forgiveness

if only i had the strength in my hands

i would open my arms to you

i would cradle your head onto my breast

i would rock us gently to and fro

but my arms already carry a load too heavy to lay down

to mend this tear

to put it all back together

to make it as it was

but i lack and you lack and we are not enough of a sum

between us

i am sorry but

i must mother be

for no one else but me