When you are in doubt,
you have to never forget,
there is always hope

Now a teenager,
battling against the world,
fighting 'til the end

“Floor me with flawed beauty,” the
Poetry professor said.  “Give me a
Reason to read your poem, a deep
Craving to know the workings of
Your mind.
“Let me know the things you
Hate, the things you
Love, the things you couldn’t care
Less about.
Make me care.
“I see beauty in you, not
Perfect or pristine, but
Flawed,
Ugly, not-fit-for-the-
Human-eye-beauty.
“I’ve been teaching for 20 years; write me
Something I don’t already know.
“Floor me with
Your
Flawed beauty.”

The best writing is that which
Is raw, the kind of raw that oozes out of cupcakes,
And the kind of raw that is bright bubble gum pink on meat.
The kind of writing that the poet doesn’t
Think all the way through with their mind,
But has been thinking about for months
In their heart and just couldn’t find the
Words to say it.
Because poems that are raw aren’t just ugly;
They’re beautiful.