It’s these memories that haunt us
remind, confine, and shape us
Love, faith, betrayal, and death
are all elements that have dug
a permanent grave in our
cognitive cemeteries,
six feet deep in those feelings
of despair and regret

And those memories make
their presence known,
clawing at the top of the coffin,
trying to escape the grips of
earth that surrounds
their holding place

And no matter how high
of a mound we pile on top of it,
rain and wind slowly withers away
our efforts of concealing
those demons of ours

Their pathetic cries
seep through the cracks,
reminding us
of our broken pasts.

But we must take this
as an opportunity of growth,
because the more we suppress
those pestering cries
that try to make us
retrace our steps
to that grave sight we swore
we would never visit again,
the easier it will be
to shed light on those
living things that give
us purpose in life

I'm searching for it
in the cavity it's supposed to reside
I've torn your skin
opened your ribs
only to find it's missing
Your heart has traveled
to many places
Caressed the hands
of those you've loved
And each took a piece of it
like a delectable pastry
enjoying every bite they take
of what they've kept
What are you left with?
An empty hole in your chest
you've grown to live with
But, love, I will stay
and give you every piece of mine
until you feel whole again

Fog filled the air
but the view was beautiful
The budding leaves were misted
by the delicately falling rain
The ground was soft beneath our feet
from winter's gradual thaw
soaking the dirt and grass
You stood at the edge, silently
admiring the frozen lake
A word was never exchanged
but so much was said
A new beginning for us both

Your eyes locked with mine,
Shifting back and forth between each,
Trying to read me like a book,
But your concentration was breached.

As you slowly inched closer,
Like a wolf stalking its prey,
I went against my natural instinct
And decided I needed to stay.

You grabbed my arm and pulled me in,
Close enough to hear the cadence of your heart.
I felt my own and realized our drums
Were playing the same exact parts.

In that moment you kissed me,
Slow at first as if to feel every cell of mine.
As you gradually intensified your suggestive touch,
Our bodies began to intertwine.

Your moan reminded me of a growl,
And I was ready to see your teeth.
My skin yearn for more
Of what you were hiding underneath.

Your hands, soft to the touch, seemed to change,
As if they transformed into paws.
All I felt was the digging,
The digging of your protruding claws.

Because I was ready…
I was ready for the irresistible pain.
Because any feeling I get when I’m with you
Is a feeling I want to remain.

Much of what you told me
was a lie
A lie you were willing to expose
with a risk
A risk of it being revealed with all of
it's invisible strings
That's not you
That's not the idol I used to
look up to
But truth always comes out
victorious
despite a lie's efforts to conquer
leaving the innocent and naïve
in complete confusion
The truth's cold breath brings
despair to life
*A life I thought I knew