the moonlight illuminated her face
it was in that moment i realized she could not be replaced
her eyelashes were wet but she stayed in my embrace
my sleeve brushed her cheek trying to erase her sadness
wider than outer space

but the next day she was gone
without a trace

cinnamon
crisp pages of a new book
cider
crushed leaves
coffee and cream
cookies fresh from the oven
cement, damp after rain

i didn’t realize i was


                                   s
                                     i
                                      n
                       ­                k
                                         i
                                          n
                   ­                         g


                                    ­             until i drowned

i always thought that love was an anchor
something that would ground me
and hold me down
but then i swam in the ocean
and i realized love is supposed to be the sea —
it’s not supposed to tie me down
but set me free

this feeling is going to tear me apart
eat me alive
rip out my heart
and claw out my eyes

all these voices do is criticize
they tell me
i'm alone again

maybe this is how it ends

i'm just waiting to hear from my friends

before i go
i'll make amends
will all the loose
odds and ends

i was the sea
i shuddered and raged
i could not be tamed
and you were lost in me
trying to find your way back home
but i could never stand to be alone

                               i pulled you under