It is one of those magical summer nights when a thunderstorm has rolled in.
The wind is blowing strongly which brings the scent of magnolia and rain to your nose.
While the rest of the world sleeps quietly, you sit on your porch alone with a glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
You clear your mind and suddenly the grandeur of it all comes flooding into your consciousness.
A bright flash of lightning illuminates all the world around you and a crash of thunder fills your ears. The pitter patter of rain is the sweetest of melodies after the thunderous overture.
The trees dance rhythmically with the rise and fall of the wind and rain, rejoicing in the sweet, warm water cascading from the heavens.
While all of this is going on you simply take a drought of wine, crush your cigarette and lean back in your chair with a contented smile on your face.

Cheer up, dear
it's only a moment.
you're sitting through a sunrise
that's taking longer than it promised.
those kisses that you remember
are no better then the ones
waiting in front of you.
remember where you came from
and look to where your going
your smile is so radiant
your soul so strong.
keep striving on with diligence
because the new day is about to dawn
and when you see the bright light
you'll realize how much you're meant
to really be and become.

I thought you liked me
As a friend
And nothing more
Which killed me.

But I liked you
As so much more.
As more than a friend.
As that guy
Who would tie my shoes
And open my doors
And kiss my forehead.

As that guy who
Texts first in the morning
And last at night.

I loved you.

And now I know,
You will open my doors
And tie my shoes
And kiss my forehead.

And text me all day,
Not just in the morning
Or night.

Because you don't like me as a friend.
You like me as so much more.

And that gives me life.

He touches
My hair
All the time,
Plays with the
Edges and
Fragments,
And sometimes reminds me that
"I can braid,
You know."
Sometimes he does.

Sometimes he mimics me
In History class
From across the room,
And he laughs at all my jokes,
Even when they aren't funny,
Just
Stupid.

And occasionally,
When I'm sitting in my little niche
Between his desk
And Ellie's,
Right on the cold tile,
He'll attach his forehead to mine
And just look at me.
Sometimes he'll whisper,
"Nose,"
And point to it,
And I just giggle
And break the stare.

I don't even think he feels it,
The wishing to always be near him,
To have his fingers in my hair
All the time,
And for his laugh to be
My soundtrack.

I don't think
That when he stares into my eyes
He wants to kiss me
As bad
As I want
To kiss
Him.

Show women respect.
Everyday I see women broken down.
Broken down by the man they're with.
That's not a man.
A man is caring and considerate.
A man comforts.
I am there to show that there are men who fight.
Who fight for women.
Who show respect to women.
I am a man who shows respect.
We are everywhere.
We are a big lot.
So ladies,
Whenever you are feeling down,
One of us will be there to lift you up.
You will not know who,
But one of us will be there.
Coming from a gentle giant,
You can trust us.

i. you took the clouds
and dyed them, used droplets of food coloring
so the sky would almost always
look like it was in mid-sunset, aching for the moon.


ii. tomato vines, tomato vines
tangled on you
and you are not even mine.


iii. songs that stopped being beautiful after you left me


iv. they named cottage cheese after the
first place we watched the food
network and
pretended to make a casserole for our family of six.