I learned today
That our cells regenerate
Every seven years.
It gives me peace
To know that in seven years
My body will no longer know you.
In seven years my skin
Will no longer tingle
At your touch.
In seven years my tongue
Will no longer remember
The taste that your lips allowed.
In seven years my eyes
Will no longer see you
On every street corner.
In seven years my ears
Will no longer hear
The music in your voice.
In seven years my nose
Will no longer smell
Your cologne in my bed.
But I learned another fact today:
Your braincells never go.
How tormenting it is
That you'll be gone from all my senses
But, in seven years, still haunt my mind.

I didn't want to be
like my mother's, mother

The one who took the slaps in silence
wore the bruises like tattoos

Swallowed the bitter medicine
of her husbands unfaithful affairs

I didn't want to be
the obedient housewife

the one that carried fear and love in her apron
and often got the two confused  

I didn't want to end up that way
Cutting a smile onto my face

stitching each apology into my skin
to keep count

*I didn't want to end up this way

The comforting warmth of the midday heat
thawing frost of long dreary winters
Sleeping lazily atop the familiar friction of sand
glistening against the reflection of the waters light

Though now

the pounding rays and sweltering sun
leave us gasping on the roads narrow edge

The evening lights thrumming
with the lively beat of late night walkers
who have fallen off the face of the Earth

Silencing the euphoric rhythm



Spluttering hearts in irregular thumps
stealing secret moments in the shadow of the swaying palm trees
electricity buzzing through salty air

Now gazes no longer linger
and sweet words turn into limp and lifeless love


The ecstasy of jarring metal as it makes its plunge

D
    o
       w
            n
                h
                    i
                       l
                          l


Cold metal seeping through bare skin
adrenaline blurring my vision

Dizziness dissolves like liquid
Consuming me with feelings of

                                          *Disdain

If you touch me, I may

Shatter

The wind can knock me down

Your words will tear my

Flesh

Yet I won't make a sound

So darling, caress me

Gently

and beware of broken skin

For the pieces that you see
are where you must begin