Fingers brush upon skin, So soft and delicate. Let it linger.

Eyes closed, My heart races as your lips touch mine. Let it linger.

Your hands curved around my face. Eyes locked and no words need to be said. Let it linger.

Body's pressed together, Passion electrified. Let it linger.

The time fades out, There is no one in the world but us. Please just, Let it linger.

in 2010, there were 8 school shootings in the U.S.
in 2011, there were 10
in 2012, there were 14
in 2013, there were 28
in the first half of 2014
there have been 38 school shootings

this is fact,
not fiction

reality,
not a story

we continue to dream,
we want to live in glory

we abuse those below us,
hate those that rise

we all don't want second,
we can only settle for first prize

we're selfish and that's the truth,
don't try to deny it and lie

we don't live to obey
but we die to defy

it's like we want the pain,
to really feel alive

I type these stupid words
in a white box

I hope they'd help me but
my feelings just mock

me

I'm angry, I'm sad
my heart pains

I'm ******* sick of playing
these stupid twisted games

blame it on me,
I'll blame it on you
I wish this would stop,
look at all we've been through
I just wish you'd understand
but you say the same thing
so we yell
and yell back, defending

when is it gonna end
it's the same thing every time
I just want it to end
there's no point
I hate who I am

I hate me

we all make the main characters
in the stories we write
have blue eyes
if ours are green
brown eyes
if ours are blue
and hazel
if they're grey

just so that
no one can tell

whose secrets
line the pages
in our favourite font

beauty does not come
in lipstick tubes,
in concealer,
in eyeshadow
and liquid eyeliner.

beauty isn't
perfection,
beauty isn't
fashion,
beauty isn't
grabbing everyone's attention.

beauty hides in
the soul of she who faced her fears
beauty hides in
the heart of he who is brave
beauty hides in
a joyful heart
beauty hides in
brokenness made new.

Nima looked bored
as we walked
the art gallery
she was only allowed out

of the hospital
for a few hours
promising no drug fixes
or *****

can't we go elsewhere?
she asked
bored here
I felt her boredom

it seeped into my bones
let's go for a coffee
I said
so we went for a coffee

in a coffee bar
across the road
and had a smoke
you were late

she said
I only have a few hours
out of that mad house
sorry I popped

into the jazz record shop
and left me waiting
in Trafalgar Square
she said

what did you buy?
nothing yet
I said
I'll go back later

saw a Coltrane LP I liked
I said
***** that jazz stuff
she said

we drained our coffees
and walked back
to the train station
and I saw her

on her train
and kissed her
at the window
and the train went off

and I watched
until she was out of sight
then back tracked
to the jazz record shop

to buy the Coltrane LP
thinking of Nima
and the time
we had a ***

in that cheap hotel
by Charing Cross
and the bed creaking
and the odd

hot and cold water taps
and she and I
laying there
I walked back

to the gallery
for a last look around
thinking of the Coltrane
and the Coltrane sound.