Someone once told me
that butterflies only live for a year
so could you tell the ones you left in my stomach
that they've overstayed their welcome?

After you left, I catch myself running my fingers
over the things you touched the most.
I just want to feel the warmth of your fingertips.
I just want to know if the sound of my heartbeat
still sounds like windchimes to you.
—J.N

I thought that writing
had abandoned me;
left me forever
like a lover
in an unrequited union.

I spent evenings waiting for
it to come back,
for words to stumble into me
at the grocery store-

but alas I waited 14 long months
and I was still alone,
as I started thinking
I had found other pastimes
and met other interests.

But when the passionate
ebb and flow of words
finally returned,
I realised this old flame and I
have unwritten business to finish.

when everything we touch
either turns to ash
or turns to gold
we must learn
when to hold on
and when to let go

Pretty little girl as the sun dies down,
why were those lips cursed with a frown?

Her heart was once an ocean to give,
But her life was one that wasn't quite lived.

I want to kiss her
But I want it too much
More than she does
but she wants it enough
So I'm able to make that first fatal mistake
Leaning in doesn't last long enough to hesitate
When our lips meet, it causes a chasm between time and space
I gaze into her eyes, ran my fingers on her face
It all felt too vivid; my heart began to race
Pulled up my belt, and sprinted from that place
I dashed into the woods, ascended the hills above
In the world of spite and lust, you better not fall in love

She holds my muse captive in a cage with bars of bamboo
I fear if I don't retrieve it I'll never be completed
Use a scapel to spill my guts on loose leaf, then I delete it
It's unworthy, it's too wordy
Got too much love for you I'd be broken if you heard it
And these days, I'm not too sure who recites it
And these days' I'm indifferent with who likes it
Somedays I don't even know the man who writes it
Scribble a wordy flurry and not understand what incites it
It all feels insightless
A pretentious attempt to be righteous
And what is righteousness?
Staring bold faced at the heart of the abyss
Saying even though it's looming I can't be defined by this
Or lose my mind to this, thinking ignorance is bliss
Enlightenment ensorcelled with the progress of humanity
Standing hand in hand with a communal prosperity
No severalty severity
Trade your famous 15 seconds for just one moment of clarity

Laying in bed side by side
facing one another
looking into each others eyes
but looking away when it becomes too much
your thumb grazes my lip
and my eyes come right back to yours

thank you for taking the time
to make me feel desired
I thank you for putting this smile back on my cheeks