Mouthfuls of lead
Cannot silence
Free speech.

People.
Poets.
Arise.

The pen is mightier
Than the
AK-47.

some connections can't be adequately explained
freezing wind and gilded ceilings, mousy brown roots
on bubblegum hair
keeping a scarf in place is too hard, and staying inside is too easy
(the bottom has cobblestones)
why is there is only such thing as effortless
when the air is cold enough to burn?
(the best veins are beneath the lids of my eyes)
if footsteps don't echo there's neither point nor interest
menthol, sorbitol, glycerin, xanthan
I exhale mint when I breathe in the world.

Every time we speak
I feel like things are looking up,
no matter what we speak of,
a residual glow is left behind, pineapple cake and birthday wishes; perhaps
we can move to new york after all.
Perhaps this will not be forever.
Drawing lessons and 1 am photos
are what is keeping me alive right now,
a protective world to shield me from the sandpaper reality
And I hope to god that when I call you at midnight
you feel the same.

Your art, like yourself
Is better than you think

he's still there
that beggar boy
holding his sign
hooded
with a scarf tied tightly
around his face and neck
gloves, i think
ragged tan pants
*****
looking at me with sad eyes
pleading eyes
eyes that say
you know you want to
    give
      give
        give
but i don't
nope
not this time, kiddo

you're playing it cool, though
hangin' in the bitter cold
with your sign
and those sad eyes
knowing
just knowing
that you'll get your cheddar
from these sympathetic people
who are already luckier than you
sitting in their heated up cars
saying
look at that poor kid,
here's a dollar you poor thing
and you
stuffin' that buck into your ragged tan pants
and sayin'
thank you, mam, god bless

but not me
nope
i helped you once
uh uh
no more
you don't fool me
with your ragged tan pants
and sad eyes

know why
'cuz i don't believe you, that's why

s o m e t i m e s
late at night
while I'm gawking at the sky
I make up spells with the stars
I play your face in my mind
and with your chains I am guided
through space & inside time
there is a life wherein you're mine
a silent light behind my eyes
it does the opposite of blind
& I am enlightened by this find
I say your name quite q u i e t l y
that even the birds feel so inclined
that i'm reminded of your smile
every time I watch them fly
you're like a diamond in a dream
that shines inside of wind-chimes
playing songs during my sleep
my own *r o m a n t i c lullaby
the brightest beam I've ever seen
you belong beside the sky
& sometimes
just s o m e t i m e s
things aren't always as they seem
you know you can't say that to me
for I know exactly what i've seen