the lean boy with hungry eyes
kept his eyes glued on my pack
like a beggar hoping for a bowl of rice
and i who had more than i could ever want
            gave him my snack pack
            and watched him eat
just slices of bread with butter and marmalade
and he ate his meal like one fit for a king
                       with respect
                          finesse
                      a­nd ardour
in that fleeting moment i knew for sure
   that a man at table is a king indeed

Can you see the monster in the trees?
Hush for a moment, start to believe.

The monster with fingers made up of sticks
Taps on the bark, Click, Click, Click!!

The monster with eyes of glowing red
Stares at your soul, feelings of dread

Can you see the monster in the trees?
Hush for a moment, start to believe

The monster that growls a deafening moan
It sinks inside you, small or bit grown

The monster that walks and stalks its prey
Sounds of it's footsteps, come closer it stays

Can you see the monster in the trees?
Hush for a moment, start to believe

The monster with shadows as big as a house
Darkness surrounds, chasing the mouse

The monster with teeth as sharp as a knife
Cuts through the flesh, a moment in strife

Can you see the monster in the trees?
Hush for a moment, start to believe

The monster it whispers "Don't be afraid"
All in my head, things that I made

The monster it sits alone in the end
Lonely and sad and tears never mend

Can you see the monster in the trees?
Hush for a moment, start to believe

little dark girl with
kind eyes
when it comes time to
use the knife
I won't flinch and
i won't blame
you,
as I drive along the shore alone
as the palms wave,
the ugly heavy palms,
as the living does not arrive
as the dead do not leave,
i won't blame you,
instead
i will remember the kisses
our lips raw with love
and how you gave me
everything you had
and how I
offered you what was left of
me,
and I will remember your small room
the feel of you
the light in the window
your records
your books
our morning coffee
our noons our nights
our bodies spilled together
sleeping
the tiny flowing currents
immediate and forever
your leg my leg
your arm my arm
your smile and the warmth
of you
who made me laugh
again.
little dark girl with kind eyes
you have no
knife. the knife is
mine and i won't use it
yet.

i think how we need to be loved as adults stems from our childhood (or lack thereof).

if you were abandoned, you need to be smothered, to know every second that you're adored. but as a child you were always alone, so the very love you crave makes you feel suffocated and crawling white knuckled to get out.

and so this war rages inside of us, until we have exhausted ourselves & perhaps those who were brave enough to extend their hands.

©raine cooper

It's been so long,
Since I've written for her,
I apologize,
But I've been too busy,
Kissing the words into her mouth

there's a part of me that keeps
checking in to see how
your life is going. I can't shield
my curiosity from the pain
when I see that you have replaced
me in each pose
every sunset
and a single smile that
was not catapulted at me.