There is a beauty
in summer
in the warm winds
caressing your hair

There is a beauty
in sunshine

In endless days
slumbering by
reading Derek Walcott
and Charles Baudelaire.

There is a happiness
in summer
of bright skies
and ice cream parlors.

of fond memories
and fonder friends

For the joys of summer
are never truly forgotten.

Pride is everywhere
Comes in many forms

The rich man is proud
of what he has
The poor man is honored for having less

The talented are proud of what they do
The less talented are proud of their hard work

The religious are proud of their religion
The unbeliever proud of his unbelief

The established man is proud of his social status
The counter-cultured proud to be outcast

The learned man proud of his intelligence
The simple man proud of his simplicity

If thre is a universal sin would not pride be the first

God hates the men of pride
He thinks they are the worst

It's funny how
It's easier to open my skin
Then to open my mouth
And ask for help

The delicacy,
that is a woman.

Soft as silk,
sweet like red wine,
tastes of fruitful fertility—
a dish so rare.

Claws rip me inside-out
The path of my spine allows it.
I look up at myself
Surgery scars, shaky limbs,
Pale skin, scabs, and veins.
I’m slouched over, limp
As fire burns through my bones.
The room is spinning through,
my heart is falling out of my chest
My lungs struggle and shake.
The paramedic questions me,
I see his blurred figure through tears.
They connect the wires,
Words fail me this time.
Sweat is dripping down my body
Cold needles caress me.
This is going to be a long night.

I wish I was a poet
But I'm just another person who learned that putting the letters of the alphabet together, forms words.