how can you see stars
when you close your eyes shut, but
not when you're awake

look into my eyes
and you'll see how silently
I'm screaming right now

the real sin is not
in two men in love but in
choosing to hate love

skin — your skin — excites
the hell out of me like it's
fine art on the street

sun's hot, water's wet
— and skin was just skin until
I saw it on you

I'd like to take your
glasses off someday, and set
them on a table
then I'll lean forward, as slow
as the way
                        you
             stir
                        your
             cup

I can change the room
but every time you enter
all the noise softens

is there someone else?
she asked. I told her, yes, this
time, ako muna
          (I'm choosing me)

To JC,

I had no one to tell these things before:

When I found myself lost in this world
because we weren't together,
I caught it wandering in another.

One where you walked on solid clouds,
and I left the comforts of a solid ground.

I didn't want to leave
because you were there
and we were together,

but bells ring, days end,
so I came down.

My feet touched the ground.

Love,
ML

I step to my right
approaching girl hesitates
she steps to her left

glorious rain — we
are a storm within these walls
made of two bodies

they say looks can ****
but why does mine want you stripped
warm — and on my bed

you came to take your
stuff — you can take everything
just take me with you

the night — swift and loud
crying of the long day's sun
about the full moon

it started raining
so I put on my raincoat
and the sun said, SIKED!

heaven's gate closes
the longer I keep you here
sunkissed, on my bed

you make the sun rise
so I look across the sea
the sun sets on me

To MB,

I'll love you forever, even from afar.
Just think of the sun.

Always doesn't have to be near
just a secret, because we're both
married.

Love,
SP

leaves fall like ashes
touching the ground like tancho
flowers spring from it

why does thunderclap
over a sunlit sky — feel
like an oath you'd break

but then the rain came
where each drop planted a kiss
on my skin — sweet, soft
and tender — exactly where
you promised each one will be

now each thunderclap
over a sunlit sky — is
hope I believe in

maybe it's not them
you miss — perhaps it's yourself
                back when you're happy

if they find rest in
somebody else, does it mean
           it's you they're tired of

I
touch me
on my palm
like I'm a flower
you mean to open

II
touch me
between my fingers
like I'm a sea
you mean to part

III
touch me
in my arm
like I'm a sheep
you mean to guide

IV
touch me
on my shoulders
like I'm a wall
you mean to hold

V
touch me
on the nape
like I'm cards
you mean to shuffle

VI
touch me
on the side of my face
like I'm braille
you mean to read

VII
touch me
on the lips
like I'm cherries
you mean to pick

VIII
touch me
on my neck
like I'm a glass
you mean to drink

IX
touch me
on my chest
like I'm a drum
you mean to beat

X
touch me
like you mean it

I fall fast as if
a star from a dream, did you
see — the TRAIL of LIGHT

when people feel trapped
sometimes they're the prisoner
sometimes they're the cell

like the constant tug
of February 30
I end up c𖦹nfused

if you didn't sleep
last night, did today ever
turned to tomorrow

is it because I
have yet to taste that I have
yet to
           understand

Dear Finch; Connor;

I'm not sorry you did it
but I'm sorry we failed you.

Sincerely,
LL

To Cristoforo,

It's often silent — but it's there,
the cannons aimed above our heads
under their white flags and olive branch.

Love,
LL

there is a void in
his shape within me — and there
are these spaces he
left wide open — places that
I have not learned to close yet

high noon, I waited
for you at the torii
night came, you did not ⛩

don't ask me to stop
we've been loving, and hurting
so long, it's the same

does it keep you up
at night — waiting for the when
in WHEN I GROW UP . . .

this war I am in
has a white flag, tied to the
barrel of a gun

she can be water
GENTLE, or wine, SPIRITED
— here I am, THIRSTY

I was up, writing
my ink — cold and raven like
                               rain at 2 am

I was up, thinking
were you ever woken by
                    rain, at 2 am?
then I wished I was there to
feel your arms wrapped around me

searching for something
or someone, through train windows
that's when I was found

tonight I'm awake
so I can spend tomorrow
feeling so sleepy