extreme parallels
what ever that could mean

but as I stand out
in unforgiving frost
pondering incongruity
and all things
just like the winter wind
they whisk about me

I see spirit
I see body

I can't hope to understand

But I accept it

they exist because they must
as all opposites rely on the other
to mean something

& the forces pulling at each
side of you
have more to do with
things in between

than you could comprehend

then the smoke starts
to burn when it
it breaches the body

and while you cough
& cough knowing
that you have
done it to yourself

stars will continue to twinkle above

the night was quiet.
cold but sweet
rippled pools in a forest of pine.
i lounged on the couch
as you threaded round' and round' the trees
pinpricks of lights dripping from your arms.
as you carried christmas in your palms
and i watched
silently,
your grace  unfolded
like   a tear stained love letter
"desperate hearts belong together"
and it's true i could never find another angle like you
to perch at the top of my tree
and your eggnog lips move   gently
over my mouth
eyelashes
brushing window panes
like fragile falling
snowflakes

have you ever loved
someone so much it
hurts? i can't explain
to you what it's like
but i hope one day
you can love me the
same

Ribs rattling against lungs like skeleton hands
attempting to stop angry ghouls from leaving their
deep & dark place.
But it's no use.
When darkness wants out, darkness will push and
push and push until it's convinced you to let it see the
light of day.
Manipulative, darkness is.
Tries to bargain with you:
"Just a peak - Just a taste and I promise I'll let the
daylight have you."
But it's a graduate from the school of greed and knows
how to pull your ribs open just a little
Just enough for it to crawl up to your throat and
never let go
Not until everything around you is the
mere absence of light

                                       *-lf-

From wretched ancient under-dark it spills
Aerosolized hatred, malice and strife
Indiscriminate in who it kills
The southern wind, enemy of all life.
Malevolent sirocco, seething with wrath,
Melting metal, human flesh, skin and bone
Painful is death for all trapped in its path.
For what great sin will this wind atone?
Eleventh plague, locked away by god,
Grisly screams for mercy choked off by gust
Nothing dares to grow were this wind has trod.
All who smell the wretched scent turn to dust.
Movements silent, striking without warning
Lucky are those who live until morning.

fog grows heavy
on winter's breath
we loved in the bushels
of new fallen leaves
and our whispers were snippets
of warm summer breezes.
we're no longer dead,
never while we're together
feeding life into
our hearts
once so vacant-
your brother hung himself
off the boat next to your house
and i downed my throat with sleeping pills
and made pretty red patterns
across my arms.
that was before we met,
when December was a wasteland
of death endeavors
some triumphs..
some well,
disaster.
but we gave this month a new name,
a new identity
that trembles with the "i love you's"
and the "remember when's"
our cheeks hollow from
warm slubby kisses

words rack my body
like an exorcism
and i fear
if i do not get them out
i might cry

i'd rather swallow my demons
than let you see me
like that.