I knock on the door, mellowing around the porch
Wondering when the clouds will turn over
With their distant display of arduous flight
Will they fall out of the sky? I wonder

The door opens with clicks and clanks
The seconds have passed and so the sky shatters
Not by some cataclysmic or destructive force
But by the woman operating the barrier

A spectacle of gold catches my eye
Emanating from ten earrings and a nose ring
A greeting that far exceeded my expectations
But a worthwhile one for it is my sister

She greets me warmly and leads me inside
Her Egyptian style hair flapping around her head
I look through the open gateway
And step into the ominous black

Into my old home where fear strikes me
I measure my distance continuously from the door
Each step treading against the cold, white tiles
Hoping the cold and white stays in the ground

Tiny taps welcome my sandals
As little Jeremy's wet nose sniffs my toes
A curious little ferret he's always been
And my sister's favorite furry critter

My sister examines me, reading my expression
Gifting me with peace by assuring me she is not here
I relax at being spared reliving those memories
They were always inflaming or violent

She would battle with me, screaming and fighting
Push me into a chair, claiming "the truth"
Shove a white door into me and my grandmother
Drive me to the point of sprinting away in the night

I'd battle back, fighting and screaming
Defending my will, my right to my being
Holding back against her "loving" strength
Breaking enough to throw a fist at her once

This whirlwind of a home...
"Mami turned over a new leaf, sis. She changed a lot"
My eyes grew wide as I turned to my sister
I could say nothing to the lie but close my eyes

Keep me in your arms
Cherish me, like you always do
Twirl my curls and stroke my hair
Kiss me on the fore head sweetly
I always want to be here

My cheek on your chest
Hearing the sound of your love
Thumping a beautiful tune to my ear
The beats gently reminds me
Just how much you truly care

Serenity surrounds me and I drift away
Escaping the world and falling into us
I see you in this little dream
Meeting my eyes, inspecting my soul
You're lost in me as I am lost in you

The air filled with a careful chill
I'm untouched for I am of fire
A flame kindled by your fiery heart
Of which burns of love, deep for me
Clad in armor, you kneel at my side

Oh dear and humble knight
I'm honored to be your lady
Like the wardrobe meets Narnia
We're dreams that cross paths
To a whole new world unlike any other

A place of splendor and awe
Radiating with gentle magic
That is what we are, my dear protector
Stay by my side a humble knight
And I will be your faithful lady

~Lady Narnia

I'm a ciabatta, fresh and nice
Hot, pleasant, with a lovely spice
I'm to die for, a mouthwatering vault
Though, some take me with a grain of salt

I'm not your ordinary loaf of bread
"You're an odd bun," society said
Though every recipe has a flaw
Those flaws still make people awe

They're what make me who I am
A little over spicy but sweet like jam
I'm my own recipe, which I uniquely cook
With imperfections that are easy to overlook

Try to break me for my mess-ups; laugh
But remember, broken loaves are still tasty aff c:
Every slice a perfect dedication to the whole
It's natural, built into my beautiful soul

With lovely curves raised to imperfect perfection
An aura that fills the room in every direction
A welcoming presence that invites everyone
Come and gather, we'll all have fun!

I'm a hearty bun with a heart of bread
A soft and warm one that leaves love in its stead
I love making friends, they fill me with glee
But you're special, so you can call me Panini 🥪

Where dark clouds loom, eerily passing vile
Peek through and see the light
Radiating tenderly, it'll bring you a small smile
Everything will be alright