always the best ones 
fall away

like paint peeling off 
a hot, warped wall

what’s left are the ugly
 ones,
the 
wallpaper covered up in

winter’s cool glow.

How much
glorification,
can one

person endure

before becoming

the person
everyone

wants them to be,
instead of the person

they need to be?

I might be a shameless flirt
But I’m stingy
 with my heart

Twice shy and all that jazz

so when you have a chance
 too hold it
For however long I might allow
Don’t tuck it in your back pocket

Don’t slip it into your wallet

Don’t place it upon a pedestal

I’ll come slipping back

One hand on hip

Hand outstretched
Return to me what is mine
I won’t let you hold it
 long

I fear your careless glances

your slippery hands

Tell me something 
I want to hear —

like

She 
is still here

in our world 
laughing 
with that tigress grin

an infectious echo 
of character and grace

resonating in that spaceto the left of my chest 

where something 
used to hover between 
each ribbon 
of breath

Please?

Hello darling
Its been so long
Since you were gone
Just thought
You ought to know
I am fine
Even better than before
Learned a lesson without you
Let the little things make you happy
And you’ll never have to worry
Again
Darling its been so long
Things went down
When you were gone
But now I’m better
Than before
The little things make me happy
I don’t have time to worry
I know we’ll never talk
But I’ve been so much better
Its been so long
Been awhile since you were gone
And now I’m fine
Even though you aren’t mine
The little things make me happy
Ain’t got time to worry about anything else
I’m so much better
So I wrote this letter
To you
To show
I’m no longer blue
I am
So much better
Don't you see?