second-rate skies standing solitary
frozen in their own mediocracy
conforming to the wills of majority
because I'm bored out of my mind

fingers tracing the swirls on the ceiling
feels like gravity herself is competing
and all I'm doing is moving, listless
I guess I'm out of time

so maybe I'm a little distracted
like particles of light are refracted
perhaps just a little compacted
from the cages you call fine

living without joy is no policy
so they make it out of complacency
questioning the laws of morality
and answers by design

but I'm reading all the words that aren't written
and suddenly I'm willing to listen
the stardust we're made of will glissten
because freedom I will find.

- Anisah Mariah

"The Master Manipulator."
"The Perfect Puppeteer."
Cutting strings and pulling threads -
the whisper in your ear.
"Watch out for the Madman
who likes to paint upon a scene;
watch out rat" the woman cries,
as if he's always been.
Cannot pull a single face
or say I disagree
becasue every time I do
it's just the Madman, not me.

- Anisah Mariah

Herbal teas and remedies
And clocks that tick and funny bits
And sharks that bite and clouds at night
And flowers yellow and singing mellow
And smiles warm and watching dawn
And hugging tight and feeling right
And drooping low and going slow
And talking loud and missing out
And waiting there and tearing hair
And crying catch and screaming match
And shoulders taught from things we ought
To know not to do



Patience is a virtue.

-Anisah Mariah

Just like a serrated knife,
she can cut through the crisp exterior
to reveal the weightless clouds that bubble underneath.

- Anisah Mariah