Tag: original poem

You’re Everywhere

You were a new coat of black
polish on my naked nails. 
I settled in quickly, not waiting for you
to dry. 
And as I touched and sat and wrote and ran
you began 
to chip away, and
in little flecks throughout our path
I have left the smallest pieces of you where
only I can find them. 

Falling Apart, Falling Together

Each day jabs its hands
inside my chest
and steals a piece of me.

I am slowly dissolving into
the air, being reassembled into a collage
of the girl that smiles at me 
on the subway and the mailman and
my high school choir director and
that piece of advice my father once told me
that I will never forget. 

I am a masterpiece, the universe’s
papier mache. She is spinning me 
on her wheel and shaping me, 
molding me. 

You Were Scared I’d Break You, But You Broke Me

Why were you so scared
to touch me? 
Did you think the fire would spread
from your fingertips to your tongue–
that I’d burn you? 
Or that I’d splinter
under your skin and bury myself
so deep, I’d be impossible
to pull out? 
Did you believe I’d shatter and
draw your precious blood? (you never
had enough blood to give)
Or were you scared
I’d pull you in closer; that you’d have nowhere
to hide? 

Danny Boy

You showed me where your heart
beat through your chest;
you let me feel
it pulse through all of you. 
I wanted to see the scars
on your bones and take
the walking tour of
your mind, to carve my name
into the walls
of your skull. 
But you wouldn’t take off your
skin for me
and I’m sick of knocking
on doors that don’t
make any sound. 

Spring Cleaning

Sometimes things make more sense in metaphors
and everything becomes clear 
when the dirt is out of the carpet.  

The way the stars align when the dust
lines up at the mouth 
of the dustbin. 

Sometimes questions are answered as you watch
dust fall– as you sway. 

Sometimes the first smile after 
a breakup comes while dancing with the broom
on the kitchen tile. 

Fire Escape

Do not ignite a fire in my heart
unless you have an emergency
escape because
once I feel the flames, 
I will shut down and my eyes
will no longer be tunnels to
my soul. 
I will hold you hostage
until I’m whistling like a tea kettle; 
until all the pressure and heat
turns your diamond memories to 
coal.