Something new...

Feeling a bit angsty, I threw together a quick poem.   I slapped it down in about three minutes flat (okay, maybe five) but I was feeling it and it was feeling me and it was just meant to be.  Maybe I'll edit it later.  Feel free to leave your comments.

S  t  r  e  t  c  h   M  e

S t r e t c h me 

this way and that

Up and down, side to side, back and forth

Tell me you love me, tell me you hate me

Tell me I’m worthless, tell me I’m great

I want nothing

Just my sanity

my freedom

to make my own choices

my own mistakes

I’m no longer sixteen

The girl on your lap

The girl in your bed

The girl in your head

I’m not numb any more

Nor passive

 Nor quiet

I’m living

And breathing

And I rather like it

So s t r e t c h me 

this way and that

Up and down, side to side, back and forth

It matters no longer

And I may be reckless, I may be unbalanced

But it comes down to this

I…am… being.

Sand

you slip through my fingers
grain by grain
like sand
like slow death
steal away
nothing left
but ash and memories
and false hopes
On a beach

under a gray sky

looking out over an empty ocean

I wait in vain

For your return

But the waves

They crash in

leaving nothing

but grooves in the shore.

Risking It All

it pains you
more than birth or death
folds you in a box
in the dark in the light

beaming, hazing
it elates and disheartens
brings you to tears
it charms, it pleases
makes and breaks
and reels and spins

it’s a top
a pendulum
a perpetual dance
to a beating drum in my ears

you want it to stop
but it’s vital like air
and you know in the end
you'll be wanting or sated
but you say to yourself
it’s a risk that’s worth taking.

Captive

Since I didn't blog today...

At my lowest

you found me.

broken.

Wrapped arms of steel

around me.

captive.

Stifled by fear,

leaden wings.

flightless.

A captive bird

no longer sings.

silenced.

me

I comb my hair

intently

with purpose

Ensuring

every strand

is neatly in place.

My teeth are brushed

up and down

up and down

Bright shiny pearls

Open wide, look inside

I paint on my eyelids,

my cheeks,

my smile,

like a doll

come down off the shelf.

I put on my sweater,

my skirt,

my stockings

look down

check myself out.

what do you think?

Are you pleased?

Do I fit into

Your image

Of me?

Am I smiling enough?

Am I happy?

Appealing?

The answer’s no matter

Because what you see

Is not what I am

Not me.

Abandoned

Pen to paper

Left unread

Only ink,

Words,

the alabaster page.

Spoken words

Heard only

By the moon

and stars

and the blanket of night.

Arms reach out

Left unfilled

Grasp air

and wind

and empty spaces

Solitude

There’s only me

My breath

My beating heart

Nothing more.