when you first kissed me
all starlight and fireflies,
crackling embers, trembling hands
our lips found each other and
coyotes howled in perfect time

for so long I thought that meant something about fate, about us

no..

the magic was just me
I am the one who grew up in that forest nurtured by the trees, running barefoot through the sun streaks

sitting quiet as the birds sang circled around me;
cradling hurt, that soft broken creature and sipping rain from the jewelweed

that power was my electric need wild in my veins, in the roots around me and in the wanton caress of breeze in my hair

you were simply
there.

“Will you marry me?”
Fervent embrace. I laugh loud.
“I already did.”

I’ve seen see hundreds of colors he doesn’t know exist
I’ve seen the creator in an atom, in a mountain
I’ve seen prophecies and miracles, births and deaths

and he says my eyes are dead
because he can’t find what he’s looking for there

dearest damsel,

do not wait for a knight with a sword

you cage the fiercest warrior inside you

unlearn every tale you’ve been given

you will know how to slay the dragon

Asthete, hygge
Minimalistic
Organized closets
Well-folded linens
Absence of junk
Alphabetical library
Jungle of houseplants
Continual purging
Flowers by the bed
Free from clutter

medically
educationally
politically

extract yourselves
return to your roots
(no, older still- ancient)
learn how to heal

souls’ tendrils connect
as tree roots converse ‘neath soil
soundless engagement

“I don't pay attention to the world ending. It has ended for me many times, and began again in the morning.”
Nayyirah Waheed

I am hunted and trapped and I can never find rest from these devourers.

He looks at me with white-blind eyes, “Your beauty is your jagged edges;
Your screams ***** pearls,
and the nightmares in your mind are works of art.”

I shake my head.
I am prey.

He doesn’t hear or see me.
He licks his lips,
“You’re perfect.”

Last night at three
A wolf woke me

Her howl echoed in my bones
From my dreams I was evoked

A mother whose whelp had died
I turned and held mine tight

I couldn’t return to sleep
We could do nothing but weep

I can’t count the number of times I have pulled over to find
Lost dogs, mangled bodies in wrecked vehicles, injured wildlife
So many that when I arrive home covered in someone else’s blood, my family doesn’t question it
Once it was a hawk
Swooped down to pluck some slithering meal off pavement
Sitting there helpless, entangled by it;
Mouth clenched above talons
I swatted at the snake until it unwound from the bird, after me
She shook herself off
I stood in front of her to see what she needed
She spread her wings and the span appeared larger than my height
I breathed quiet and after a few moments she took off
A woman sat in her car, parked and staring
As I passed she yelled, “Are you an angel?”
Of course not; I’m only a nurse