They say to live is to love but
what they don't say is:
to love something
you can never have
with all existence
is gut ripping
Matchstick head pounding
Face burning
flesh Searing
Existence
We should all be so privileged
To experience.

I didn't intend
To break the rules
Your so called etiquette
You started it
The first night
We met
You were texting and driving
Almost got in an accident
Or was that the second date
When you wore the red dress
And those cool shoes
Left at 2 am
Wearing my tank top and shorts
and no shoes
I forget

i never know where she'll be
she tells me to come see her
and then says she's busy
she goes to my house
raids my pantry
stocks up on ammo
steals ****
then leaves
this me helping you
you helping me bit
is not mutual
benefit
i never know where she'll be
but i always know
*when she's close

your killing me serial
a foreign material
found in my substance
all over i find
still can't identify
loss of motor skills
all day long those
dark brown eyes
piercing and purring
purring and pulling
my strings

My armor was scarred:
battle-proven;
impermeable burden.
It was fabricated by
generations of
Hard-core Sicilians.
Provided by birthright
to defend against
our own weakness.
The day came for me
to lay down my armor-
I obeyed my master-
still a warrior but
so much faster-

for now
I yield
*sword and shield

firestorms raged
and spewed wretched fumes
of burning stucco
as their homes were consumed
Some stood strong
armed with a garden hose
to defend their legacy
The motels were overwhelmed with
displaced refugees
I wore a bandanna
on my face like a mask
rode my bike close to the fires
until I could smell the stench
of my bicycle tires
And drank Newcastles
until the smoke cleared