Just like during a shower
when the rain falls down
On a summer afternoon.

The sun shines later
Unveiled from the clouds
Like curtains being pulled back.

Evaporation takes over
And the remains of rain
Are gone.

Except for.

The damp grass
And shiny cars caught in its path.

That's how we were,
Here one minute
Evaporated the next.
And I'm still feeling the effects
Of getting caught in a shower
Without any protection whatsoever.

The shower rains
Scalding tears
Upon my frozen mind
My sobs mix with it's deafening lamentation
Oh, the shower and I

I open the door.

You slide in
With that look.

I know what this is,

But my clothes
are already on the floor.


Your skin on mine.

Your lips on my neck.

My legs pull you closer,

Simultaneously building

To our release.


As the water beats down our bodies,

You hold me.

And for the first time,

I feel what it is like to be close to you.
Swaying to the sound of the shower,

I know your body is lying to me,

But I so badly want you to prove me wrong

As I cave in
To that moment
Of hope.

The embrace of the warm water was welcome on the iciness of my flesh. My skin, pale and uninteresting, reflected what I felt inside: cold, bitter, and lacking life. I can't recall the length of time I spent sitting in the porcelain tub, its overwhelming and vast whiteness enveloping me. All I could hear was the metallic ring of the shower head pumping water onto my pathetic, limp body and the rattling of too many thoughts inside of my head. The only other thing I could manage to do was rinse the conditioner from my not-quite-long yet not-quite-short blonde hair, scrub my face and climb into the familiarity of my bed, towels and all.

Muscles clench like knots on rope
prior to any wintry water droplets
dripping on my scarecrow frame.

There's a moment of cautious pause,
my mind waivers the rest of me--
uncomfortable with the atypical developments
insisting through western culture's handbook
bathing is meant to be relaxing.

I agree.

So after a thoughtful inhale
we dive in.
oo!
The siberian shock of the frigid liquid landing
on warm, pale-rose flesh
slowly erodes with an exhale...
My mercurial movements
and conscious unravelling of the constricting sinews  
offer a peppermint bliss-like salvation!
The chill fades,
water wanders down,
allowing my body to interact with the clear solution,
allowing myself to be and breathe with each cold moment
of wide-eyed cool-headed serenity.

I am Human.
My body sprawled out.
I am Human.
Close my eyes.
I am Human.
Feel each drop fall along curves.
I am Human.
Open my lids.
I am Human.
Inhale the condensation.
I am Human.
Lungs struggle; it's tolerable.
I am Human.
Watch the droplets on the curtain.
I am Human.
Colors change from blue to green.
I am Human.
Arms push up.
I am Human.
Legs stretch out.
I am Human.
Feet bend and toes curl.
I am Human.

Beat me down,
break my spirit,
all I need is one reason to cry in the shower;
to give myself completely to a
thousand lovely drops.
When I lay on my back and
let the water pour down on me relentlessly,
I realize I'm not sinking;
                                           I'm still here.
When I bow my head and
watch the water create a curtain of my hair,
I realize I'm still visible;
                                           I'm still here.
When I arch towards the ceiling and
let the water beat on my raw red chest,
I realize there's still a heart inside;
                                           I'm still here.
Yet my toes are still chilled, aching,
remembering how far I've come and
reminding how far I have to go.
Each stream that runs hastily
down the curves of my barren body
defines more than a physical adoration,
but a renewal:
I am not his,
or hers
or theirs;
the only thing that binds me is my mind.
Wash off the feel of his touch or
the scent of her perfume,
let it fall away like every other lovely drop
and see the world's beauty through your eyes again.

boiling drops of water stream down my back
as I stand with my head held low
and my heart held high.

my fragile tears
put on mute
due to the lines of water
pouring out the shower head
onto my tattered, pink flesh.