Which way leads to you?
Do I need a compass to find my way?
As if you are an island
from some far-away shore
that I spot but can never reach

I look at you
you are so close
Would a map help me out?
Tracing a line between you and me?
Finding the way
as the crow flies
so I can get to you
as soon as can be?

Should I use my heart?
it makes the most sense
but for almost
2, 3 years
I have already used it

and I've never gotten
anywhere  

I am forever
lost

and you are still that island
that I cannot
reach

where
is the there
that i'm supposed

to get to

i think i've lost the map

I either remember
Far too much
Or far too little
And there is no
In between

you won and I lost in the game that didn't exist

I say the thoughts out loud
for that is the only way to end them
to make them disappear

they are the maybes
the unknowns

I am exposed to
the worst parts of my brain

Day in
and day out

Until they go away

there wasn't something
but there also
wasn't nothing

and now the gates to my heart have flown open

I know that
you will never talk to me
But I imagine us together
In order to fall asleep

I have wanted you for so long
but pining is too painful
so now I want you gone

You look at the text
With no reply
And part of you
Just wants to die

you know
you're a writer
when the typing
inside your head
never ceases

you Wait
until you feel like you again

i'm still
Waiting

We poets share
Not only our words
But also our hearts and hands

You say you are ugly
because you only ever see
yourself
in the mirror
that tells you what to think

You don't see you
when I make you laugh
when your eyes come alive
with joy

You don't see you
when your crush texts you
and you fail to hide
your smile

You don't see you
when your dad comes home
at the end of the day
and says he loves you
wrapping you
in his arms
you are so filled with glee

You don't see you
when you make us so happy
you cannot help
but beam like the sun

the mirror is not a person
it has no face or voice
it cannot tell you anything
it will never say
you are beautiful

but we have faces
and we have voices
and we can say
you are

Sit in the back seat of the taxi
Keep your legs crossed
Or if you have to walk at night
Eyes stay wide, don’t get lost
Have 911 at the ready
Keys between your fingers
Walk fast, move quickly
It is best not to linger
Make sure you know where to aim
The eyes, crotch, and nose
When they shout
foul things at you
Keep walking, you know
where to go

Zip up that jacket
Tug down that skirt
For you are a woman on the street
Stay safe, and stay alert

The pen
is not your friend
But you don't know that yet

You sit
clenched fist
looking nowhere
mind
going everywhere
or drawing
a blank

You've clenched
your fist
too tight

Blood is never blue
but if it were
it might look like this

Rivers cascading
down to your wrist
the ink
finding a home
in the crevices
of your hand

Your pen is not flying
the page is not splattered
with overeager writing

Instead
you're left with
a sticky hand
and a mess
to clean up

Your sentence
Meant
The world
To me...
                                      
                    ­                 Yet it
                                     Was said
                                     So long ago