through the wind in a warm
waltzing breeze. Wrapped in
velvet fur men fall in layers
like crimson autumn

leaves. Her chest rises
like a leopard in the Serengeti. Eyes
all over me like a panther in
the snow. I cannot see

them. They shoot out darting
me with the evergreen
glow. She's a lone cougar
ready to pounce. Swag in

her step, flirting in her
flounce. Her footprints are
larger than the moon, marking
men with her golden perfume.

it was dark and tender
my dad next to me
I was five
so free
at the driveway
we be

at some point
of the night
we looked upon the sky

I don't know why

we looked at the north
I saw a star so bright
with the colour of light

I looked him in the eyes
and said
“that's…grandpa”
flying so high

he said “no”

that's the northern star
it will always be
the brightest of them all
it's there when you seek
a guide to peek

when you've traveled so far
where no one can fish
when you wonder
‘Is this… ?’
or
‘What if…?’’
remember the star
that's it

Under the sunlight, I am only a candle,
shaking in the arms of the slightest breeze.
It’s pretty—like youth they speak of in poems,
but it never lands the same on me.

Anger, comparison, insecurity—my heavy breath.
Tears and these headphones
are the only air I know how to breathe.

Loving myself—
harder than teaching fire to bow to the earth.
Gravity feels kinder than grace.

Yet in the caves where no one remembers the way,
I can still paint the dark in gold.
I can still make the cold feel warm.

I am needed.
I am loved.
Sometimes.

So tell me—
do I give my light to this moment,
spill every flame into the night,
or keep it sleeping in my chest,
fearing the day when morning arrives
with a sun too cruel to touch,
and a rain too tender to notice
when it drowns me?

Sometimes it feels
Animosity
Is ridiculously
Portrayed
Displayed
For the sake of
Someone
Who is
A no one
In another's
Book.

But someone needs
To take another look
And see
That sometimes animosity
Is really
Creativity
Or a needful aching plea
That longs
To be
Heard.

Dear Anonymous Friends,

You are too kind. Thank you for the honor!

-Y'r 'Umble Scrivener