rough edge

i smooth the edges
of a dark person
slowly, like
the brush of a fine comb,

a sweet word
about his smile
a quick pat on the shoulder
during his brief,
tepid dialogue
about evil,
and mankind

i watch a child
smile at the end of the slide
and his mom
smiling even bigger
clapping at the bottom

i soothe his sharp tone
with an offering to share
my chocolate

i don't like to share
but do anyway

soon he smiles too
his lecture now an anecdote
about his cat

the corner of your heart

i head south
east
towards your house
you're next to me
under the sky
translucent blue
skin so thin
your heartbeat
pumps red
through your chest

tomorrow
the sun will rise
i'll greet it
and wish it was you
but you are gone
forever

and i am here
i hold on to
your pale skin

it's locked away

apple picking

autumn's crisp apples
whisked away by families
in cinnamon air

here

today i travel
with one paddle
my other hand
is for you

the water's calm,
the sky
a twinkling blue

no memory
haunts this day

perfect with its
round yellow sun
its straightly
painted green grass


we float
happy here
on still water

Everything good

Everything good
Begins in autumn
Holding hands
Surrounded by crisp air
Open minds and hearts
Celebrating

Colors
Pumpkins
Apple trees

The relentless world
Softened by candy
And the laughter
Of pirates and monsters
Ghosts and princesses
Merry in their parade

rose petal

when the day comes to a close
and nothing's left
but a single rose
the last petal flies away
lightly like the summer's breeze
and lands, warmly on a
tall woman's arm
in another town

she wonder's who is out there
playing she loves me, loves me not
she stares, with longing brown eyes,
a far, faraway stare, the kind
that wants to end but won't

he approaches from the corner
and catches her eye

her stare becomes a smile
they stay like this for a while

You

you steal my breath
when you speak

invade my soul
with secrets deep

attach to my mind
a freakish leech
that drains blood
and takes light
fills me with
a lonely plight

and I, I build
a sand water castle
as tall as me

quiet birds perch
at the top

together, we wait
for you...

for you to
walk through us