Rubber Rafts and Turtle-Catching Aunts

You lifted your squinted eyes from weedy patches

that crawled from the water like curling tentacles.

Squished into the corner, of the banana yellow boat

for one,

her foot rested inches from my nose.

Toes exposed and wiggly, knees knocked elbows, nets, and oars.

You found comfort hiding in the tangled maze of limbs,

while my hunched back squeezed a bubble

into the boat’s already-bloating butt.

“Hush child! They’ll hear you!

Look for the shells!”

Turtle shells, like yours, swirl green,

like segmented stained glass pentagon plates.

Tightened by the bun on the top of her head,

Aunt Denise’s magnifying eyes found critters

nobody could see.

Red-eared and wide-eyed,

quarter-sized you tumbled down

the hole-punched net.

.

Crawling over limbs with pinchy nails

Your baby beak and too-big head roamed

resting limbs and curved yellow walls.

Aunty D. shushed my tickled squeals as the turtle feet trekked over my toes,

and shunned you, brave enough to scale her leg.

She dropped us off on the soggy pier by the house.

I stood stiff and achy,

you wiggled between my fingers,

and she rowed away.

 Irritated and alone. 

My Cousin Shows His New Tattoo after Easter Dinner

“You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind;
and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we
return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying,
"You are dust, and to dust you shall return." All of us go down
to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia” -The Book of Common Prayer, 1928.

I peeled charcoaled red cotton away from your back,

exposing the angry, sunburnt skin

blotted with three tender bruises.

Dust to Dust addressed your sculpted shoulder blades,

in jagged calligraphy. 

You flinched while I circled my fingers

over each crossed t.

How much would you suffer to bear them?

I stole a wildflower from the Neighbor's garden

I stole a wildflower from the Neighbor’s garden

and plopped it into a terra cotta pot.

I packed in grainy, mineral salted soil

by the coffee spoon and demanded:

grow.

Grow away from the green zebra grass whipped yellow,

Thrive in the loamy earth encased by man-spun clay,

where no other flower can tickle your finger frond leaves;

away from the guarding shade of the cobblestone wall

put in place to keep intruders out.

It was when your green hands began to wrinkle that I leaned closer;

Your bright waxy luster replaced with liver-spotted grief,

an arthritic kink in the once proud, tall stem

your six white petals were eyes defeated;

wracked by indigo tears sputtering down like autumn’s frigid rain.

I returned you home then, wildflower

I planted you in the crater I stole you from,

restoring you once more to the zebra grass, the cobblestone wall,

and the neighbor, of course.

Your wrinkles darkened brown

like the coffee-stained spoon I killed you with.

The other flowers? They were crying too

while the zebra grass rustled a funeral hymn.

Creamed Spinach

The kitchen smelled of simmering cauliflower

 and soap suds.

As you hovered over the steaming pan,

I was elbow deep in citrus bubbles.

You pulled a blue ceramic bowl from the microwave

filled with steaming green goop.

My nose wrinkled

at its seaweedy strangeness.

I sloshed the sludge around with my spoon.

“Grandma, we really eat this stuff?”

You just stirred the cauliflower,

powdered blue t-shirt shaking with your shoulders.

“People find strength in the strangest things.”

I dipped my finger into the buttery slime,

pressed it to my tongue, and swallowed.

I smiled up at you with green leaflets,

When the cancer caught hold of your lungs,

that ceramic bowl sat steaming on the dinner table.

You were still Grandma,

and I was a green giant.

When its tendrils twined their way into your brain,

I saw the filmy soap suds in your clouded vision.

The ceramic bowl lay empty in the cupboard

gathering dust.

To the Figures in Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night over the Rhone

Turn around.

You beckon in desperation.

You long to move before them,

to be at their feet,

but the soil sucks you down,

suffocating you.

Hold your breath,

and wait—

Don’t ignore the bow and curve

of the foamy white-capped waves.

With anxious inhalations,

the water exhales quiet kisses along the shore.

Shhh, shhh, shhh

 it calls for the white in your eyes

to meet the white and yellow in its waves.

Look.

The homes along the opposite shore

leak vibrant orange yellow,

like flowerpots overflowing with sun-infused rain.

Look.

The night sky sporadically salted with stars

radiates a pale yellow of its own

among the swirling navy blues, ceruleans,

and shades of begrudging black.

Lights trickle down and dance on nature’s mirror

reflecting night’s iridescent face.

Look.

Two wooden ships float silently on my lips.

You both stand backs turned.

Admiring

something just out of        

Reach.

Play

Hundreds of raindrops have plastered themselves

against the domed skylight above.

Like some determined security guard, it’s redirected

their downward spiral away from the opening act, the piano

in the main study. Something natural

& instinctive draws water toward wood, thunderheads

& overcast skies begin again the

appreciation of time remaining in spring seepage.

Doing so, might they overlook all

previous events, soil-bound drop and patter,

relentless shifting, momentary rest--

siblings, parents stolen by the greedy

 sun? I’m sorry, this concert’s reserved

for a designated audience,

lone maple twig, a leaf on each arm.

How each longs to sway to the notes;

how pleased they seem with the single spot-

light, silent crowd, the shiver of anticipation

in darkrooms. But an unwanted

fan splashes my ear; he whispers: Just play.

Lullaby

I speak,

close eyed.

To whoever decides to listen;

Be safe,

I say to you eight times

unaware till the following day

of our evening chat.

Be safe

interrupted my sleeping silence

as you strolled in

at 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

I didn’t know where you went.

Be safe

I mutter under my breath

knowing the decisions being made.

Weighted with consequences 

commonly overlooked by judgment impaired.

Be safe.

You lock the door,

And crawl into bed,

denouncing my evening dialogue

as a strange dream.

Be safe.

It becomes a whisper, a mantra

That sews your eyes shut.

A cautious lullaby,

be safe.

Something I think.

Every time-

You leave.

Just, be Safe.

Be. 

i've been working on this for a while, and finally got around to posting it here.

Fix Me

I cannot forget the familiar abuses,

from our fragile compromise.

I’m sorry I broke. For me

it’s so easy to come back

to you, and this empty room.

I used to wish we could stay

here forever: but things changed.

I could say anything at first,

 but now I bite my tongue,

to ensure you don’t explode.

All your practiced poses, now shape

my bruises and burned skin.

Like the room, I’m empty too,

“Fix me,” I say, but you won’t.

You want me to stay: I can’t.

The bitter in me is bigger than us both. 

Another imitation of H.L Hix. I can't stop using his structure haha it's so addictive. this one is still a work in progress though

Darkness

This is a definition poem that I have been working on and revising for a while now, I hope people like it! 

Dark ● ness ∕≈∕ n. 1. What engulfs you the moment the light is turned off: what you see before your pupils adjust.2. this field of black,/this monster under the bed, lying in wait for the flick of the light switch/ this tingly fear in the back of my mind once I let my head hit the pillow,/ this invisible force, urging my eyes to stay open,/ the quivering of my small frame/ the rapid rise and fall of my chest, the frigid pressure creeping down my spine. 3. When the shadow in the corner of the room twitches ever/so/slightly./ it  begins to quietly slither closer and closer to my bed, and right when it gets close enough to see, disappears/ I pinch my eyes closed, trembling/ In this homey prison, waiting for morning to come.

Wounded Heart

I used to be a shallow heart, a twisted spine

swallowing all promises

Until my tongue turned black.

They don’t know you like I do.

A better liar, you talk

small, but breathe disaster,

with your clever words and phrases,

stinging hearts till they go numb.

I’m seven inches tall and

silence is my self- defense.

Never mind the mess you’ve made,

what matters is I’m trying.

To my wounded heart, I know

some things should just stay broken.

This is a part you portray,

like a toy soldier marching toward his shallow grave.

I really enjoyed the structure of this poem, so i decided to try to imitate it :P the title of the poem is the three words in bold towards the end of the piece.

Prizes

Trading harsh words,

like punches in a boxing ring.

The elastic canvas at their feet,

spattered with spit and blood.

They brutally fight,

over some remedial trophy.

For the opportunity to say

One is better,

than the other.

 However,

despite the outcome,

one is not solely responsible

for the damage done tonight.

 In the end,

They are both the same.

Just too proud to admit it.

 This is still a work in progress... also if there are any title suggestions, i would definitely be open to them :)

Do Not Be Afraid

 

Do not be afraid to close your eyes,
to surrender to sleep’s temptations,
it is there a new adventure lies.


Though the darkness calls nightmares to rise,
to torment children’s naïve minds,
do not be afraid to close your eyes.


Those who sense their adolescence’s demise
cringe away from what adulthood brings; don’t.
It is there a new adventure lies.


To those that notice how life’s cycle flies,
wary to carelessly waste it,
do not be afraid to close your eyes.


There will be times you will wish to revise
past mistakes, but time is keen only on the present,
it is there a new adventure lies.


You will fall victim to death’s untimely surprise.
It is impossible to hide from, so live freely;
do not be afraid to close your eyes,
it is there a new adventure lies.


This is a Villanelle that i wrote recently. i have decided that i really enjoy this type of structure for a poem.. and that i will probably write a few more of these in the future :P