Is not those whispered sweet nothings—
Fleeting,
And gone with the wind,
But the beautiful shape
Your soft lips curve into
When you whisper
“I love you”.

-Bella R.

With your shining smile
Follows a twinge to my heart
Like pins and needles
And giggles bubble to the surface,
Yet I boldly exclaim: I don’t
Like you.

Your little everyday actions
Makes my heart sing
And my eyes sparkle
With secret adoration,
My cheeks bloom
Like roses on Valentine’s and my cherry red lips
Yet I stubbornly insist: I don’t
Like you.

But that day
Under the starry night sky,
As your arm brushes longingly against mine,
And you point out the constellations in the vast sky,
That are connected so naturally,
Fitting so perfectly,
I can’t help but think of
You and I.

-Bella R.

"Today--definitely today,
I will tell you."
I whisper-chant
To myself.
As we stroll down the pebbled street--
The one I hated but you loved,
Where ravens perched and cawed,
As if mocking my foolishness.

You take lazy steps, flashing a lopsided smile--
The one you always have when relaxed.
I'm rigid as a tree,
wrinkles from frowning.
I open my mouth, willing the words
To Spill out.

But you interrupted:
"Why're you always so upset?"
Alas, a chance presented to me,
But I don't know if it was that
Invisible frown
Or that inaudible edge of annoyance
In your voice
That made the dam shut.

You're too,
Too important
So I plaster a smile on
And let the ravens mourn
My loss.

-Bella R.