After 72 hours
without sleep
insanity sets in
but what is worse
a caffeinated blood stream
or bruise-like hollows
under lifeless eyes?

Abuse
mental emotional verbal physical
Neglect
Alcoholism
it's lasted way longer than that
and not just seven
it's enough for a
life-time

Even
when
I
don't
want
to be
found

Carrying books like
one would a baby
nestled in one arm
and tight against the hip
he wonders
is he an idiot
or just nostalgic
heart-sick with memories
of him and mother
reading together
and she called him
her little girl

Love rips out your heart
***** you dry
but the exhaustion is welcome
because it means that you're
still alive

I will not
for I too
look forward to
an eternal sleep

We are ugly
with bitten-down tips
shaking and smeared
rough sides from the constant
indentation of teeth
moles and scars
some on purpose
other paper cuts
litter our surface
we feel and caress
the paper and the pen
the book and the laptop
hangnails caught on fabric
yet still we come back
we are hands
nimble and quick
always hungry to create
wanting more and more
the need to make beautiful
things overwhelms us