"Grifters" by Laurie Molloy

Undesirable,
questionable -
qualities to describe
people whose motives
are unclear-
shady, indescript.
Those who choose to look
scruffy and discontent,
running amuck
through the fields
of chaotic life-
catching each chance
to challenge morality.

"Monsters" by Laurie Molloy

No matter how much
i try to convince myself
that it is really ok
to let my arms or legs
hang over the side
of my bed i stilll tremble -
Once my hand stretches over
the end of the mattress's
corners and floats freely
outside the blanket's edge's
i quickly pull it back -
like a finger that touched a hot stove.
Then I jump a little inside -
relieved I was not snatched up
by the monster under my bed.
i know one of these times
if i am not careful he might get me.
So i feel safer staying tucked in tight
under the blanket all wrapped up
where everyone nows
monsters can't get you.

"Being Big" by Laurie Molloy

When i was little

i wanted to be big

so i could decide

what i did-

so i could drive places

and do grown up things,

eat what i wanted and

decide who my friends were.

Dress up, wear make - up

and most of all

tell myself what to do.

I still want to be big

each day i try

to be a little bigger-

a better person

than i think i can be.

It is a lot harder

to be in charge than I thought.

"Light" by Laurie Molloy

If Thomas Edison hadn't invented the light bulb

what would light up the night?

I would let the lightning bugs in

and they would glow and blink

and i could read and write

and have conversations

talk with friends, late into the night.

I would have nature to thank-

the electric bill would be much less

and they could be my friends

they might evolve, learn to talk,

grow bigger and learn to think

each day providing more and more light

making every night, lovely and bright.

"One Dream" by Laurie Molloy

A trillion dreams

passing through,

but there's only one

i have to have-

just this one,

and it will all be ok.

Each morsel of will

is dedicated to

this overwhelming need

to be free from the people

who say it is unrealistic.

I say they are stuck somewhere

silently slipping away

in a world dependent on reasons.

"The Question of Destiny" by Laurie Molloy

Did I choose this destiny

or did it find me?

Did fate falter and

leave me behind?

Did I color outside the lines,

ending up with a scribbled life-

far from the set script,

full of made up colors

and scenes I drew up

veering me off the path

the stars have intended for me?

"Crowds" by Laurie Molloy

Like a flea

i swarm,

i make my way

through the city streets-

in between

ten thousand feats

i try to accomplish the goal

of getting a bite to eat.

And i am lost

and alone.

On another day

all the people

would comfort me,

and i would seek out

the bustling noise

to feel a part

of something bigger.

A life full and complete

by the small fabric pieces

of the wandering people

walking in new or tattered

clothes, with minds

of their own, similar and unique

that complete me and

the missing buttons

from my wardrobe.