some children were raised
feet dug down into sand
dreams washing back and
forth with the saltwater waves

others were raised
with their hands dusty
nails and hearts stained
from red dirt and poverty

but i was raised
with a translucent blue
heart and clean hands
the bottoms of my
feet black from plum wood
that touched the sky
and gray concrete that
sunk below the earth

(for some summer meant
freedom
for me it meant
dried grass

for some fall meant
leaf piles
for me it meant
the wind and rain)

in winter i was raised
under white lights
and strings of garland

in spring i was raised
under blood red cloths
of death and resurrection

life cycled on
around and around
while i grew
up and up

(the hardest part
of letting go is
the wondering why
you even bothered
the wondering why
you wasted your time

the hardest part
of growing up is
the learning that no
matter what broke
you nothing is wasted
that shapes you inside)

in the meantime
i was raised
and raised
but a child can
only be raised so far
before they fall

They say God makes no mistakes
And this I know to be true
But yet everything feels so wrong
In this world without you

In this world without you
Some breaths feel heavier
Some smiles less wide
Some days much longer
More tears cried

In this world without you
I try to move on
But still feel pulled back
Because your number is still saved in my phone
But I know it’s not your voice that I’d hear on the other end
I know it’s not you I’ll get to see next holiday or weekend

I know our goodbye was temporary
But it feels too long
I knew I shouldn’t be sad
But celebrate your transcendence
But this world without you just doesn’t feel right
Please know I loved you
And cared deeply for you
During this time on Earth
And I hope to see you again
In heaven
Where true happiness begins

Sugar melts sweetly in the mouths of liars pickled truth is what's spewed
Salt that misery for preservation
We prefer our reality be skewed

Shattered mirrors give better reflections
of what truly hides within
But it don't matter, hide it deep
beneath peaches and cream skin

Choices forced upon the weak
by the strong with candied lies
Hold tight to that shattered reflection
remember it when innocence dies.

Throughout her adult life
all of the land shaded.
Feverless islands where the
aged couple sleep.
Never once have I hosted a party. Not once have I
told you, I have
been hurt.