Desperately, we search for fool’s gold
In shallow graves
We dug ourselves.

We chase dreams,
Dreamt by others.  
See through the eyes
As closed as the mind.

We get taught by those
Who teach what they were taught
Not to believe,
Because it is what
They were taught to do.

We strive to understand
Who we have been molded into,
While wearing shoes
That do not fit,
But acting as if they do.

JSM 2017

I was once asked, "Hey,
wanna do some coke?" "No." Drank
my Pepsi with pride.

'How to Eat Fried Worms'
was ironic 'cause one day
worms will eat them back.

You know what I hate?
Somebody cutting you off
from finishing your

Really, if you think
about it, everyone is
dead. Just not quite yet.

webster's dictionary defines the word human as a person. webster's dictionary also defines a person as a human being. webster's dictionary defines a word's definition with that word as another part of speech
my definition feels just as far out of reach
when you're teachin us how to think with every word you preach do not be surprised when we **** it up like leeches
why don't you teach us
some history we don't already know
the two male manicurists in the Palace of the King during the Fifth Dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs  
were in love
but I didn't learn what gay meant until my preacher spat it out
I froze
the first time I heard the word transgender
I was in sixth grade when my sister
told me she had this friend who felt like a boy
and I had to learn on my own that this body I'm in does not need to be destroyed
no one had ever taught me why my veins shook
I never read that in a textbook
despite transgender people being praised in ancient cultures throughout
the Middle East
Europe
Asia
North Africa
even though transgender people have been recorded in nearly every civilization recorded in human history
but taking History has never taught me any of my history
so it is no mystery to me why when you're asking for a definition
all I can tell you
is webster's dictionary defines the word human as a person and webster's dictionary also defines a person as a human
and I define a definition as whatever webster's tells me
and maybe that fact is the only real thing that defines me

You’ve never given blood,
but you tried to pay
what you owed
with your own.

There are sunflowers in the dizziness,
drowning petals of light.
Because the darkness
doesn’t have
any answers, you
don’t need to doubt the truth:

I’m safe.

Like a sudden sanctuary from the storm,
I’m safe.
The rain drips sedation,
protects me from waking.
I’m safe.

So much pain in one place,
sleep through the worst.
Turn your face
to the west. The sun is
spinning in space.

It never rises, only stays.