To you I’m the shy

angel

who broke her wings

and is learning

once again

how to fly.

To you I’m the innocent

little girl

who runs for cover

under her

white sheets

when terrors

plague the night.

To you I am a bunny rabbit

bouncing

along

without a clue

that there is a wolf chasing me.

To you

all I wear are smiles

and all I do

is dance

into the arms of men.

But I am not

broken

I am not

little

I am not

naive.

I am an angel

Soaring to my dreams

past the monsters

that desperately attempt to drag me down.

I am a beautiful rabbit

racing past those

who want to tear me apart.

I am a powerful woman

who cries sometimes,

but I

will never

falter.

I am

more.

Don’t ever assume

I am less.

You are the reason

I wake up every day.

No. Reset.

You are the reason

I get out of bed.

I wake up

because I’m not dead yet,

but I get up

I eat, drink, bathe

I cook, clean, run errands

I read, write, sing, dance

I listen to music

I laugh at jokes

I work

at being

the type of person

of whom you can be proud

someone

you want to be around and

share moments of your life.

You are the reason

I grab the phone

every time I hear

your ringtone

or a text notification,

the reason

I smile

the moment I open my eyes

ready to start the day,

ever joyful simply

because you are.

As sure as the sun,

I will be there for you.

Trust me, like the stars trust the sky

to hug them tightly in the vast and dark unknown.

As sure as the tide,

I will come home to you.

Kiss you, like the salt does the sand

to pull it in, little by little, to the deep blue.

As sure as the seasons,

I will change with you.

A chameleon to the colors of your soul,

the beautiful hues that surround you like a halo.

As sure as our love,

the sun will rise,

the stars will shine,

and the waves will ebb,

as sure as each breath,

our souls will blend

when our capsules wither and meet their ends.

Paper-white parchment, awash in black

Heartstrings, unraveled, to tie the sack

Buried where springtime awakes lilac

Past out the window — no looking back

Saliferous tears scream and break the

panes

Ventriloquial pitch seeping violet veins

Shift, shape and spell out each, spilled like grains

Recollecting ‘forgotten’ thoughts, each refrain

I’m outta the hospital and back at home. Many thanks to the Prosers who wished me well, prayed, etc. Gotta keep my legs elevated, so I’m restricting my computer time. That’ll give me time to finish reading “The Alchemist.” In case there’s an attempt by Prosers to overthrow The World Order, I leave my proxy vote to @Mazzmyrrheyes. In the meantime, y’all take care, God bless, be kind to yourself & others. — Jimbo

The sun in this part of the country makes me miss you. Even when the air is crisp, the sky is all incessant heat. You’ve always been sunflower locks and honey skin. You were dripping rose-gold and champagne, while I was busy coming in too-hot. And I still love you most days. I love you most days. I love you through the drowning. I love you through the abandoning. I love you through the paranoia, and then I wonder who did the abandoning. And does it matter when I’m abandoned? And does it matter when I still love you most days? You were midnight-caffeine and matching tattoos. And I let you fade into cooler, black and white memories. But I spent my teenage years in darkrooms. Orange-glow, red filter, pouring over underexposed film. And even washed out frames will still print if you hold the right light up to them. And the sunlight here always makes me think of you. Just let me think of you.

I don’t know who spilled the eggs, but I don’t think “no use crying” applies here. I remember thinking I’d walk across knives. I remember thinking I’d sleep on fire. I remember thinking it was only me and you. And now I’m sticky with yolk and wishing for cleanliness. I’m feet-bleeding, taking back my promises to the sky. I’m thinking of tearing down the walls. I’m thinking of drowning in shadow. I’m thinking of abandon. I’m thinking of jumping ship. I’m thinking of rapture. I’m thinking of all of these fucking eggshells. I’m thinking of inhale. I’m thinking of exhale. I’m thinking of eggshells.

hand in hand

we sway and swirl

leaving

the rest of the world

far behind us.

Face pressed against the glass

Breath fogging my view

I'm looking into a world

Where I won't be

Cause I choose not to

And though there's a chill

Down my spine sometimes

For the most part I'm

Content in this lone

Bubble of mine

You opened a door for me

And let me into that world

Of dinners and messages

And opportunities unfurled

But what I found wasn't

Sunlight, like I so often see

Instead I felt like I was

Hiding

What it is to be me

So let me out

Put me on the other side of

The glass

That's where I prefer to exist

The place where I'll last

And no I won't miss you

Is that selfish of me

My heart speaks the truth

And my soul I believe

I don't need you

I don't care if you need me

I want to be here

And I want to be free