Whatever I am

is what I cause

I belong to no one's realm

my life sets its laws

and when you said
laughter is like a foreign language
i imagined that i was
teaching you how to
speak it

there’s no escape
from exploitation
all that you eat
animal or vegetable
was alive
trying to survive
that fire you make
the wood was a tree
buoyantly breathing
the virus reproducing in you
just wants to thrive
you vs. it
a zero sum game

But no
Cross-words

Cigarette ash stings my finger tips
  As I wait in my car
                 for a boy
The cold winter air caresses my cheek
                 Just as he once did
Blue and red lights flash across my vision
Reflecting off of dark puddles
Like a movie
   In slow motion
                  they wheel his body away
  And I sit in my car
            and wait for a boy

Late night texts
Sleepy eyes
Small smiles
Butterflies

Stolen moments
Held inside
Beating heart
Stupefied

~

Left alone
Tear filled eyes
Chapped lips
Scarred thighs

Empty promises
Cast aside
Broken heart
Terrified

~j.l.