Although she was complete and whole
she longed for something to terrify her
exhilarate her
make her feel alive--
a kiss with the knife
slowly turned to a dangerous dance
deterioration
her skin unraveling from her form
but manifesting metamorphoses:
changed in a way she never could have alone.

Copacetic:
attempts of levitation
Elevation to levels you did not wish for
I ignored
My truth in relentless
ruthless pursuit
of symbolic status demonstrating my supposed worth.

Copacetic:
Severed the lock and
opened my box of tools
to set the rules
for a game
I had said I never wanted to play.

Copacetic:
transformed myself
conformed to roles that fit like satin gloves
- if only in my own screenplay -
Downplayed
insincerity
Role played
authentic individuality.

Copacetic:
gulping misconceptions and
Mutually accepting regression to places
we thought we had
grown past and
persistently masked our intuitions.

Copacetic:
We departed
- no verity given or received -
with hearts decreased
in clarity and size
Our journeys lie ahead of us
respectively-
Collectively there's no decision
but to scurry on our own ways
And presently
your days look quite different than mine.

I do so well alone
- Perhaps better than most -
I have friends and adventures
Laughter and deep thoughts and daydreams and hopes
And I make great company with myself
I find it grand, being alone
But I’ll confess —
Sometimes
I look at the gaps between my fingers
And remember how they can be filled with your fingers
and the smallest smile will spread
and a tiny sigh escapes.
(My own fingers somehow don’t quite close up the space)

The moon was bright and ripe and full
The stars would emphasize her glow
A sphere of guidance in the clouds
Eternally in growth
But then a week or so went by
Her brilliance seemed to dim
So speculated we below
She'd finally given in
Then wither and decay, did she
At quite the startling pace
Knew eve by eve when darkness fell
We'd soon forget her face
And then came time while gazing up
We had to squint to see the light
She'd broken down, cast out her halo
Become a sliver in the night
We knew her final breath was here
With racing hearts we stood in fear
So night, once bated, crept too near
And darkness overcame.

You might think
I might think
One might think
(knowing me)
I’d pursue
Any and all of the opportunities I’m presented with:
Rendezvous of luxury and seduction
hitched breath and
eyes of darkness
moments certain to make my skin erupt in shivers
and moments that would make my chin quiver-
And yes,
I suppose
it makes sense that pursuits of such intensity would entice-

But when your fingers trace from my cheek to my jaw
and your eyes smile
and your lips gently incline …

I know I’ve lost nothing.

Dictate aloud all ramblings of the mind—
What sniffs and scratches corridors ignored
Articulation: parched and unrefined
Security and peace stay unexplored—
Sweet hopes that sneak inside a quivering chest
And blood that pumps with fervor to the heart
All fears and worries not yet laid to rest
Fond dreams of future far before a start—
How things in thought alone make utter sense
But falter often when in center stage:
Go hasten to lost moments’ recompense
Resume the reading on a proper page—
So venture onward to another date
And realize you’ve the pen that writes your fate.

I want to leave lipstick prints on the wall
for I'm imagining your presence
and envisioning your kisses
But when I wake
the pink smear left behind would look rather silly.