He sticks his tongue out when he's thinking, and giggles when he's truly happy.
He's more sensitive than anyone I know.
Insecure and full of self-doubt, but stronger than he realizes and smarter than he believes.
Which all make him that much more handsome to me.
He's full of love, but scared.
And in that we are alike.
He gets sad sometimes for no reason,
And he tries to hide the pain.
An old soul, a deep soul, locked in the superficial world around him.
Hiding behind things that only temporarily ease the hurt.
And I do the best I can to make sure he knows he's loved.
Because that's what we all need, isn't it?

burn the light of fire
and wax the ears of injustice.

chide the moon
and bid ado to the reckless sun.

count the blessings of misfortunes
and wave verbs in the air--
breathing the hopeful breaths of married sandals

Label the pains of a billion rain drops and fawn the feathers
of a nightingale over the glory of failed
triumphs known as yesterday.

break the hands of a wristwatch and make a ******* of time--
for through the God in Satan was how Earth was won.

I miss when Jane didn’t smoke.

She sneaks under morning’s cloak

Goes to class and laughs

With an empty head

At my empty joke.

Empty is the ***** flask

I pretend not to notice

Tucked into her lunchbox

So I stare at her sandwich instead

No crusts

A housewife’s handiwork

There's no use pretending anymore.

We are empty

We are fading

And she is faded

And I am waiting

In the food court of a failing mall

While she is debating

Whether or not to give it all

To another blue-eyed boy

Because he made her feeling something

Her father didn’t

After his deployment.