Tingling dread,
Hear her toothless gasps
Feel her creeping behind


Instinctively turn and embrace her
I love those dead eyes

At best I'm a mess
And at worst my brain's numb
I can never tell if I'm
Melodramatic or honest
I don't think it's just one

Stop tugging at my cheek muscles.
Did I ask you to?
We both know how every pull
Pulls more stakes over our heads.

Are they really there?
It's hard to look up to check
Since your eyes are down here

There won't be applause when it's all figured out
The scariest part
Happiness must come from within

A warm cup of self-fulfillment
Sipped without reservation
Tiny happy decisive droplets of unfiltered choice
Coffee so late is so good

It beckons inspiration,
The old psychic creature that wanders eagerly into empty bottles and evades the capture of contentment and discipline
One must exercise patience to glimpse it when the environment is brightly colored;
Joy is a camouflage to the unbroken
True,
I am unrelenting


The passing clouds give way to brilliant night,
The city beneath is a flattering mirror held to the possibility offered by the stars
And this vessel slides simply between

Though there will be a descent,
It will not be a free fall
If before there was fear of the vast expanse above and beneath,
Then I don't remember why.

The first few times we knew,
Honestly
There wouldn't be an exit.

At least, I knew.
There is a somber acceptance that comes with experience

I am already trapped,
Now the panic sets in as something illuminates in the distance;
The one thing we knew would be waiting
Smiling sympathetically.
I know I'll need it.

And now that I can see it,
I think I want it.

It's taking all my self control
Not to text you while you're forgetting me
Letting you know how beautiful you are