Honestly, Finally

The pen flips between my fingers 

(which are taunting me)

while I grapple and falter.

The gut of my head turns 

only so fast, 

trying to churn

years of passive chitchat

on the way home from school.

Weighing talks and fights

snapping me away from you.

I have your hair, 

your eyes and your 

crippling anxiety— 

I never had your honesty.

But I’m trying 

With these fingers (still taunting me).

                                     You’ll hurt her feelings. 

                   If you can’t say it right, just don’t. 

         You ought to be grateful; focus on healing. 

                   Let these sleeping monsters be. 

                            And pinky finger says nothing.

But I’ve wasted enough time

devising what I’d say.

So, I don’t think

as I spit ink 

and pray 

This will bring us close

Not push you away.

Shared dislike

My rich, bitchy roommate cackles 

too loud on her bedazzled Iphone, 

and we roll our eyes.

As they roll, they fall 

upon each other. 

Suddenly,

beautifully, I love you 

with all the warmth 

in my body.

Scratches

You skip beat three

and skin your knee.

You’ll wait the sting away.

Then sad, you’ll see:

bandaids aren’t free.

The scratch is here to stay.

You never learn.

You soon return

to pavement where you play

and take your turn,

jump, run and earn

your scratches every day.

Annoying Wisdoms

Sharing is caring

and sharing is kind.

A thing that I write

is a piece of my mind.

Something you read

marks a place in your head

Take care of your brain

Or starve it instead.

Extra - For the Last of the Winter Fresh Gum

I once was 15, now I am only three and barely one half. I’ve been sitting crushed in the inside zipper pocket of this bag for over a month. You wouldn’t imagine the things I have come in contact with in this zippered pocket. Sugar packets, granola bars, receipts, tampons, truly the stuff of nightmares.  

I practically melted when you left me in the car yesterday, and now, now you’re giving me away like I’m nothing. Handing me off to the red head in your Linguistics class and taking away my only chance at revenge. I had been plotting to get stuck in your hair during an ill-timed nap. My dastardly plan was the only thing that kept me going post melting incident. 

So goodbye, and I hope you treat the next pack better.

Sleepy - For August Evenings

Clocks tick louder when you’re counting sheep

Or counting hours

Or counting mistakes

You’ve made that day or the one before

And the grating chirp of the crickets outside

Come together

Then stagger apart

And can’t seem to get it right

You start to think if you stay perfectly still

You’ll drift away

You’ll fade off

You’ll finally, finally take a refuge 

But for now you can’t tell if your eyes are closed

Of if you stare 

At a dark ceiling

Where luminescent stars are fast asleep

Youngest - For Laelle

How did you get so old?

Not a single grey hair 

But you’ve aged in your soul.

Wasn’t I supposed to lead you?

Be the example,

Give advice?

Or so I was told.

Yet you’re whispering parables

On the lower bunk bed

And I’ve never owned

a thought in my head

As true

Or as kind

As the one you’ve just said.

Recalling sharp stories

And painting them pink

With your lisp, habit smile

And casual wink

I hope

I’d try-

To be like that, I think.