For once, I want to put
myself first.
For as long as
I can remember,
I keep pushing myself down
just so other people can float.

For once, I want to make
myself proud.
Proud of who I've become,
what I've endured,
for how long I've battled.
I am a warrior.

For once, I want to love
myself truly and deeply.
Standing straight,
unabashedly,
unforgivingly,
being me.

For once, I want to
prioritize myself.
My health, before
my responsibilities.
I want to heal before
I go out again for war.

For once, I will not
clamp my mouth shut
when people tell me
to keep quiet.
I am made
to be loud.

-m.b

if a poet falls in
love with you be
prepared to be
written about

in every possible way
from the way your eyes
sparkle under the moon

to how your lips form
that ever-so perfect smile
it’s the little things that
poets write about

the little things about you
makes a poet want to write
and write until their hand breaks

Here’s to the boy
who waited for a girl
on his front door step
until she came home
after leaving without sound

Here’s to the girl
who has to hide her urges
behind a glass door
the strength to put down the razor
after shaving her legs

Here’s to the girl
who receives deluded comments
on the length of her skirt
from her own mother

Here’s to the boy
who didn’t have a father growing up
but is teased
because he’s more comfortable being friends with girls

Here’s to the girl
who finds solace
in people who are temporary

Here’s to the boy
that doesn’t feel safe
in his own home

Here’s to all the kids
who have been told it is wrong to feel
the way they feel
like our emotions are fishhooks
that need to be
reeled in

Here’s to you
Here’s to me
Here’s to anyone who has ever had
their heart crushed beneath the heel
of someone they loved

You are loved
You are important
You’ve made it this far
and you can make it even farther
have strength
and

Here’s to you

I don't know if I'm moving on. I don't know if I'll ever move on from you. You're like a childhood tree house that's been found, but I've lost memories of ever residing in it. I didn't know you at first but after getting to know you, it's like the memories are clicking into place. A mix of nostalgia and false memories. Now I can't go on without wanting a taste of that again. Before you, I didn't know what I was missing. But now that I've found you; now that we share this bond, I can't bear the thought of letting you go. To me, you're like the essential part of me. My hiraeth.

-m.b

You shine the brightest
when you smile.
But when you cry, well,
glistening red eyes look
good on you too.

-m.b

After some time,
you'll grow tired of me.
I know because
everyone does.
I know because even
I get tired of me too.

-m.b

I remember you told me that when you kissed him for the first time, you cried. You finally felt truly loved by someone. And ever since then, you two were inseparable. Building each other up, brick by brick. And when you look at each other, it's like you've found magic in each other's eyes; warmth and pure love exploding within you. You understand each other and tenderly open each fold of his heart as he does the same for you. I feel like the word "love" doesn't come close to what you have. It's something much, much bigger. You two make me believe that whatever you have for each other, is real. I hope it'll last for an eternity. And I hope someday I'll get a taste of it too. But for now, I'm just happy you two are together. Building, building, building.

-m.b