He smells like his life:

weary smells of
whiskey and leather,
the dead stink of
too many cigarettes,
the mingled perfumes
of many lovely women,
the dark, sticky
whiff of lust and ***,
the acrid stench of
cordite and ******,
the copper reek of blood,
the honest sweat of work,
with just a hint of ink
and **** thrown in.

This effluvium may not
be sweetly attractive
or call to butterflies
and hummingbirds,

but it is the aroma
of a life lived alive.

   ~mce

by Trista Mateer*

After my father
left
part of me
became
determined
to always do the leaving

and I have
yet
to let it down.

The poor hate the rich,
the stupid hate the smart,
the lonely hate the lovers,
the ill hate the healthy,
the ugly hate the beautiful,
the losers hate the winners,
amidst all of this hate
miraculously you love me.

  ~mce

I realized I got disillusioned because I found out that the world would like to keep me in a certain way. Only some will care about what I dream, what I have to say or do. The rest will keep me in bounds because they  are afraid I'll break out the order of how things work out, how it always runs. I am just tired of trying to fit in when the world is definitely not in my league.

All the woman craved
was attentive conversation,
a few common interests,
*** would have been great,
but simple human touch
would have made the difference.

A drought continues until
you move on or die.

Living alone together is
so much lonelier
than living alone alone.

The water of love must be shared.

Indifference wounds deepest.

Being invisible diminishes the soul.

So she took her pride and heart
and her clothes and her dog
and went in search
of a life that felt alive.

Courage is the first virtue.

With it, anything is possibly possible.

Perhaps even unlikely happy endings.

   ~mce

You wake
in a warm bed
and feel her
female presence;
she wakes,
opens her eyes,
and smiles.
What is more
lovely
and reassuring
than waking up
next to a lover
who wakes up
smiling?
The entire
coming day
seems to smile
along with her.
Small instances
like this
make the world
not only bearable
but beautiful.
- mce

Each time I enter
you scream my name
with each inch of me
as if imagining
every stroke
a new beginning,
a new discovery
of writhing,
delightful desire
and dripping, stunned
satisfaction.

Slide that dress up
over your hips,
part your thighs
like a promise,
pull your knees up
in welcome.

I am a thirsty man
who needs a deep drink
from paradise.

You are a woman
who understands
and quivers
at necessity,
who loves to have
her liquids lapped.

Tongue on secret lips,
we nourish each other.
Love and lust,
the perfect marriage.

  ~mce