I used to have the most sensitive skin.

Just any old graze could
raise the hairs on my arms
and send me into a shiver.

I used to love being touched.

Your skin is like plastic
when you breathe and stretch,
a wretched figure with
more than one world of
pain endured.

But you know,
it's interesting
(our skin),
now that I'm
calloused.

Woke to the smell of smoke
Only to find my family
Standing around our couch which was on fire
Like a group of homeless people trying to stay warm

This is just practice
For when the money runs out

Forget the missing smoke detectors
Forget the old man just standing there
Saying, “I’m sorry” like old men do
Forget four walls
Walls are flammable

There is this distance
The size of apathy
And we
Are in the middle
Huddled around a fire
Trying to stay warm
As our house burns down around us

Until finally
Dry lips whisper water
And ***** lungs
Die for air
And I grab a hose from the porch

As the smoke finally clears
As they huddle in the car
With the heater running
As I learn to finally see my home as broken

Still
I will always have a safe place to cry
And we will always have a safe place
To lie

Black boy
Have you found yourself
That you have been searching for
Are you still questioning your genes
The color of your skin
Your ***** hair
Your full lips
Are you still questioning why they call you ******
Beat you
Mistreat you
Hung you
Black boy
Have you found yourself
That you have been searching for
Cause I still can’t find me
Beneath this shadow of darkness
This cruel decomposition of myself
This king that I’m supposed to be
But now reduced to dirt
Ashes
Black boy
Have you found yourself
That you have been searching for
Cause when you do
Let me know
Cause I need to find me too

I remember when you first said my name.
It was like any other person saying it.
Except that
Which each passing time
It became more and more like a secret.
Something only you and I shared.
You would look at me,
In the eyes
Blue locked on blue
And say “Emily”.
And with each passing time,
Your mouth turned up more and more.
And then less and less.
I remember the last time you said my name.
It was like any other person saying it.
Except that
I had never wanted to be called anything else
More than I did in that moment.

An epic battle
A fight no one can avoid
One of life's hardest decisions
What to do?
Which side to pick?
Both will cause pain
Both will cause pleasure
So which way do you choose to walk?
In this battle of dominance
You decide the winner
Head, or heart.