Substance of things unseen
Of children's dreams
Those believed for
Secretly yearned for
That of my beating heart

The hand that wipes these tears
Stills my ranting fears
Locks the monsters back in their closet
Rocks me back to sleep
That of my lonely whisper

The voice of lovers missed
The dancer with broken bones
The caged bird that still sings
The broken girl that still dreams
Keeps calm and carries on

Hope,
The lonely voice inside my head.

The world wakes gently today
humankind taking welcome pause
from inconsiderate rushing
unfamiliar faces become fellows
on this travel day we share
a young brother and sister
and their sweetly doting
hijab-draped mother
her smile, the rising sun
sit down across from us
kids munching chips
before an early a.m. flight
the brother got the last bag
of Doritos, his older sister settled
for the sour cream and onion
she attempts to negotiate
a chip for chip exchange
little brother politely refuses
but after seeing her disappointment
grins and hands over the whole bag

the same mother and children
leave the empty waiting area
return to find it brimming
a young father and son
settled, bag-laden, it would clearly
be an inconvenience to move
yet he respectfully stands
and offers their seats
his gesture, a prayer
the young mother
flustered, blushing refuses
profusely thanking him
as she pushes the stroller
toddlers trailing behind
to a less crowded space
our eyes lock, we smile
and I know we're thinking
the same thought
the world wakes gently today
*and it feels good

my locker is cleaned out
i have
deleted the documents
on my desktop
my uniforms are washed
and waiting for
the next new employee
tomorrow will be another day
and i won't be here

it turns out
i am leaving
as noteless
as i came

Junk sickness unearths this
Deep-rooted, oozing desperation.
Slack jaws,
Eyes
Bouncing in the back of your skull.
Tear through the paper flesh,
Scraping for a vein
Needing of
Molestation,
Mutilation,
Shredded from that constant need,
That whining itch,
To feel nothing
And everything all at once.
Praying for the earth to melt
Around the bare bones
Of the walking dead.

I am
But an observer
Stuffed in the back seat
While needles clog,
Blood surges,
Rage stirs.
I am
Just a spectator
To their universe coming to a
Creeping
Dull thud,
As they dream of better days that will
Surely come.
I am
Not sure
If it's possible to dig yourself
Back up
From the depths of a self-made grace.
I am
Not sure
If there is life after dope.
Lust swelters,
The shot is done,
We drive on.

If you could see yourself
For just one second
Through my eyes
You would love
Yourself for
Eternity

My mind is a
kaleidoscope of
Worries and hopes
In different colors
Various scopes-
All not seen by
The ordinary,
Openly now free,
To the load I once
Carried.

(Years) * (girl + boy)= Friendship

(Crush)(crush)(friendship)= Lovers

(Lovers + commitment) / Monogamy = A relationship

(Relationship – trust) * (mendaciousness) = Fallible liaison

(Fallible liaison) * (# of years) / My heart =  Wasted time and regret

**But math nor relationships were EVER your strong suit.