collapse

the trees climbed over our heads.

their thin fingers combed through

stars and clasped the night,

pulling it over our eyes.

we sat inside the walls we'd created

and devilish leaks sprang through them.

the vast ocean behind them crowed;

our dam creaked under the weight of

all we'd ignored.

we braced ourselves against the

threat of collapse and

splayed our fingers until

they were strangers.

crumbs of soil sketched masterpieces

onto our skin.

we grounded ourselves and

our roots intertwined,

but we could not hold out any longer

and floods of denial rushed around us.

ruthless waters swept the mud from

our stems and dragged us away.

whipped by watery demons,

we were beaten by

fragments of the wall we had built--

the wall we had broken.

dunes

we watched dolphins glide through
invisible hoops as we scattered champagne corks
on the shore, watching the sand drink in
deep hues of night.

the clouds inhaled the ocean and spoke
calm winds across our bare shoulders.
we savored the salty air and
sipped from plastic cups.

we painted the shore with sprinkles of chardonnay,
dancing wildly to the song of tomorrow.
stop-motion droplets plotted our future on an
endless canvas.

the dusk dethroned us as we rolled down the dunes,
sand nipping at our summer skin.
we ran in crooked ranks until we felt cold water
snapping at our ankles.

the breeze laughed and echoed our song
as we shouted melodies to the sedated waves.
deep crescendos crashed around us,
only to fade and leave us with a whisper.

the seagulls forced the moon into the hungry ocean,
their morning songs waking our quiet sea.
we watched strands of sunrise surf on the wind
and prayed for night as we turned away.

rescue

i once sailed a furious sea
with just a broken compass at my side.
its warped glass window revealed
nothing but refracted arrows
pointing to foreign horizons.
i collided with an angry moon
whose fingers tugged the tide
into a puppet's waltz.
dripping with disdain,
i cast away the compass.

i crossed the growling ocean
with no light to shine on my salty waters.
the darkness drank in gallons of waves
but only thirsted for more and
soon drained the sea.
i collided with the sleeping coral
whose agitated claws
shattered the ship's exterior.
torn with grief,
i cast away the darkness.

the tall ghost of a lighthouse
ignited a flame in its belly.
a solid beam of hope
resounded and enveloped my
shivering body.
weary feet picked over crevices
as i followed the light.
i stumbled once but
you grabbed my filthy hands
and led me to dry shore.

you gathered up shrapnel and
pieced the ship together.
my broken compass surfaced
and pointed at you.
my darkness was banished to far coves
with a hint of your smile.

we gripped the wheel and
steered away from the rocks.

in excelsis

sweet child.
knowing not why you were chosen,
knowing only a faint dream's command.
but cradled by gracious love,
you made no protest.
one cry of rebellion
and angels could have stolen this precious gift.
the child nestled into your embrace
as you wailed in the stable that night.

sweet child.
tracing the holes in his open hands.
tears are frozen in your eyes.
his own mother, yet
you made no protest.
one shout of demur
and angels could have snatched him down.
the child lay limp in your bloodstained hands
as you wailed in agony that night.

sweet child.
knowing not left from right,
mother from father.
but knowing your changeless fate,
you made no protest.
one shiver of your writhing body
and angels could have stolen your new breath.
the grace was etched into your side
as you wailed in the stable that night.

loveletter

he trips in too-big rain boots
and he splats into sludgy mud.

he writes
but his storms blur penned thoughts and dye his hands.

he had an old telescope
but it shattered when he found his moon has broken.

he makes his own meals
but they spill down his front.

he plays alone on frisky winds
but finds twigs in his hair.

he discovered a time bomb
but didn't let go soon enough.


he's a mess.


he slips on craggy surfaces
but he grasps my hand before he falls.

he rights
but always makes absolutely sure i believe him.

he had an old telescope
but he realized it's better to see it all with both eyes.

he feasts on extra meatballs
and he slurps his noodles.

he dances alone on summer breezes
but he steers me to laughter.

he explodes from time to time
but he is careful to pick the shrapnel from my veins.


he's a mess...


but he's my mess.