climb the tops of
tall, ivy clad walls,
slip down the edges
of cool bricks
and jump gently onto
untrodden soil..
wander through a
sweetly scented garden
and choose a flower.
give it a name.
say hello.
then tear off petals
one by one
and ask it
if it loves you.

My country is coughing,
my neighbors number.

I search for pictures
of places
I used to live,
find landmarks
I remember
in lesser light,
scroll to the bottom
of local news,
where lonely hearts
notice me missing.

Remember when you coughed here?
Saved money to leave?

It's collected some dust,
but we saved you your spot.

swam away from the fishbowl
made good my escape
unfurled my wings
and began to sing.

She bore the sweetest lips I'd seen
and eyes of winter fire
her beauty lived within her grace
her soul lived in the mire.

She moved as winter strips the trees
with slow yet bold intent
and in her hands the hearts of men
were torn and truly spent.

She lay down where the nightshade grew
at many souls' behest
she took their love and lives the same
then laid her head to rest.

On summers nights I hear her call
a coldness at its depth
it wills me on to take my place
within the arms of death.

when I was little i dreamt of an Eye
it's iris-a specter
which rested upon my windowsill

I'd always try to keep my eyes open
cause every time I saw it
I'd blink it away

i used to think about this eye
on nights I couldn't sleep
I'd search the corners of my room

for the optic illusion
that watched me as I slept
did it ever go away?

or has it never left.
remaining out of my
line of sight

because now I'm grown
and I haven't seen that eye in years
but I still feel it watching.

tonight i slept with
my windows wide open.
now, i am part of this world.
i feel it, it doesn't feel me.

400 000 people in this city
have their own warm
incandescent light.
my friend was crying
on the floor of her house;
all dark.
one lady was listening loud
to the song that defined
her life.
but all i heard that night
were the sounds of peace,
coming from the shaky leaves,
the sleepy urban dogs
and the fast red motorcycles.