I wrote a poem against gun violence because students should not have to go to school aching in fear of not making it home alive.

I wrote a poem against gun violence because so many people are going to take their own lives today.

I wrote a poem against gun violence because it targets women, minorities, to the point where they cannot be outside of their homes in the evenings.

I wrote a poem against gun violence because too many veterans are at risk of dying by their own hands

I wrote a poem against gun violence because mental health is SERIOUS

I wrote a poem against gun violence because I am an aunt of two and I want my nephews to live full, happy lives

I want to ask my legislators what they’re going to do when they come for their
children
Their spouses
Nieces, and nephews
Grandchildren
Friends

Call me a snowflake, if you will
If that’s what standing for what’s right makes me, then I’m proud of it
I’m the snowflake that wants you all to stay alive
That stands for what’s right when they don’t have the guts to
And sweetheart, this snowflake doesn’t melt

They make you think they love you
With their soft kind words
They hug you as if you’re treasure
And then leave you for the birds
They come into your life
With their cowboy boots and ***** blond hair
And leave you crying
And thinking . . .
And thinking . . .
On what you did wrong
If he really loved you all along
And then you begin to hate your favorite songs
Because suddenly they're all about him
And they haunt you
And the next thing you know
Another boy is there
With green eyes and messy brown hair
And he beckons you into his trap
And he’s texting you!
But you don’t want to answer because you’re still CRYING
But! you answer anyways
Because you’re stupid
And vulnerable
And maybe this boy will be kinder
And will be gentler
When he kills me
And leaves me
For the birds

It smells just like her
It smells just like the woman who taught my mother to raise me
The woman who comforted me when it stormed
The woman who taught me to appreciate my German heritage
I miss her . . .

I’m catching myself on fire
I’m hurling myself into the unknown
What for?
Who will I be?
If one is to be a martyr,
Shouldn’t they have a reason?
I was to succeed
And to succeed I must become
The best that I can possibly be
I fear the unknown
It leaves me shaking each day
A quake that no affection can cure
Where I’ll go
But I will have to make the trip
Run into the arms of my fait
And trust that she will be kind to me
And will only want the best for me

Though my eyes are green
They cannot see the finer things
Words always rip my heart at its seams
My own, or said by other beings
If you give me love, I’ll give you wings
I’ll worship you with much extremes
And if you leave me, by all means
These green eyes will weep burning streams

I hate that
Even after all you’ve said
I still crave to hold your hand
Hold it tight
As if I let go, all of the happiness in the world would escape  
Not a word needed.
You don’t have to kiss me.
Don’t have to love me. . .
I just want to hold your hand . . .

I spoke to you so kindly
Even after how you’ve treated me
And when you said you loved me
I said it back with no hesitation
And when you showed me where you put my drawing of us
It made me feel so happy
It felt like a warm hug or a kiss on the cheek
And for a few moments I forgot how sad you’ve made me recently
It was just us
Texting
Talking
Like I had prayed for the chance to have again . .
And your music
And your laugh
And oh God, just /you/.
I’m beginning to realize what it means
To truly love someone
Even if the love is not truly returned

Why did you have to stab me in the heart?
You know I have hemophilia!

I’ve been through hell and then found you
And I’ll go through hell again to be with you
No matter what gets in our way
Your spirit puts the flames to shame

We sat in the city library and talked about our classes and politics and corgis and other things
She gave me hugs and I invited her over
And now . . .
I have a crush on a girl
I don’t know how to handle crushes on girls
Because I’ve never had a crush on a girl who also likes girls!

You did it again!
You gave an older boy your heart again
And look what happened!
Oh, your family would be SO disappointed in you
If only they knew
The only kinds of guys
That interest you
Are 18+ and about 6’2!
I don’t know why you’re crying
You did this to yourself
No amount of fancy Gucci perfume can change the fact that you're 16 and still can’t reach the top shelf

The very day I swore I’d never talk to you again was the very day I saw you again
Your stupid denim jacket
Aren’t you cold?
We hugged under the bleachers like we were dying
Please don’t stop at just a hug
You didn’t sit by me
You sat three people away from me
Why would you hurt me in this way
In 40 degree weather
You knew I was there because you kept glancing
And glancing
And then you let me know you were going to the concession stand
So I followed
But did not talk to you
So is his how it’s going to be?
Like the sun and the moon?
You make me want to die
And then spend the rest of my life with you
Please
Don’t
Stop
At
Just
A
Hug
Peanut M&Ms
The scent of leather jackets
Plastic pink beads
Arguments after the football game
Quiet walks with old men
Red hondas
Pumpkin ice cream
Staying out past curfew
Getting kicked out of Walmart
  Please don’t hurt me this time
  Because you know I’ll give you more chances

I’d cut my tongue out before I took back a single thing I said to you, I’m sorry that the words I gifted to you though letters and late night phone calls were never enough to get through to you, I wish you knew how much I love you because I can see the future and you’re the main character; you’re what’s on the other side of the vast field of confusion,I could live my life without you but I would only be living 90% of a life, not a soulmate but a destination, you’re the last stop on my journey of self discovery

Shells were creatures used to live
Flat, flacky rocks cover the shore
The water is so clear
Yet so deep that it reminds me of my soulmates mind, whoever that may be
Fish flop
And I accidentally throw my fathers pole
(don’t ask)
Having no other choice, I run out to get it
I run until the water is up to my knees
Two fish, smaller than my hand
I thought I had saw them in a dream
As the lake took my knees
I was at piece
Sulfur and sorrow
From all those who had been in that water before
I came to terms with the water
For I had sorrows too