My emotions are parasitical.
They drain the sparkle from my eyes,
leaving nothing but a smiling shell
of a hollow face.

My pain stems from the opportunities.
Whether they’re taken, or not,
mind empty of thought:
belief of being free
reality of being caught.

People experience pain differently.
I might have a parasite,
But you could have a false knight,
Or suffer from a wolf bite
Feelings bottled, dynamite.

My emotions are parasitical.
But, I’m still here.

You don't actually have to win to succeed
In the face of a world that demands everything of you
kindness
compassion
is still a choice

Little can be said
About that dress stained blood red.
Him, evil--her, dead.

morning
    karma
       luck
        day
         job
         try
       wife
      heart
  evening
      effort
      work
      night
  ­       bye

none
of
which
are
good
any
more

- p. winter

Steam rolled down the hall
Invitation of an open door
Your sigh of incitement whispered
Kisses burnt between lovers
Hot water cascades down your back
Beads of desire
Washing off my fingerprints from the night before

Your aroma danced in the dust of a new day
Hot coffee caressed your lips
Detached from the now
Sunlight glistened in your eyes
That spark of moonlight lingered
The silence of dawn filled the air

The evolution of an afterthought
Cautiously optimistic
I wrapped myself in the flames of never
Divulging in a feeling
You left scars on my thighs
I enjoy the burn

Secrets stream from the walls
Like decades of nicotine
The stains remain upon my soul
A meant to be lover
I keep a lighter in the drawer
A night like this