by Angela Kempe

We are all broken

Like the cake that was smashed

Still hot from the oven

But to the floor crashed

We are all broken

Like ornaments shattered

When that cat got tangled

And we lost what had mattered

We are all broken

Like ceramic cracked vases

With carefully glued edges

That fill dusty spaces

We are all broken

Our bones stiffly creaking

Like the boards of a staircase

moaning and speaking

We are all broken

Like rocking chairs crippled

By memories flowing

From an old women, whittled

We are all broken

Make no mistake

For if we can live

Then we can break

white-washed sepulcher, fallen from grace

green-envied token, broken to bits

red-glowed briquette, cracked across face

orange-juiced mandarin, shriveled to pits

yellow-faced fear, torn into shame

blue-blazoned sky, down-dripped with rain

violet-clad vixen, ripped until tame

indigo-heart shard, shattered in pain

we are all broken

yet

pieces of each

picked from rubble…

rearranged

blended

one

beside

another

in this

color-tangled

mess of life

and...

breathtaking

beauty

is born

There is always air to breathe

like that is not amazing

You never stop smiling

Disney world is a place to be

like that is not amazing

you're beautiful, not withstanding

Classic shape has a pyramid

like that is not amazing

Your structure perfect finishing

Great wall of China, old and lengthy

like that is not amazing

You and I, can become we

You're the apex wonder in my world of wonders

Making phone calls

on a landline.

Blowing dandelions.

Wires in the sky.

Visions.

A pithy of cirrus.

Citronella.

Sleeping with the sun.

Swooping wing spans.

A flesh tariff.

Vanilla sunburn.

Sting.

STING.

Pulls tight.

Heated biting against

cool sheets.

Scalded by excess.

Sunglasses.

Tree shadows.

Stretched silhouettes.

Peel out,

pull out,

and slough off.

I can feel my pulse

in my temples

when I shade my face.

Today I shall keep quiet. Like I always have like I always will. No longer I open my soul to those around me. But to keep to myself. Alone. Darkness swells around me. Black oozes from the ground. The clouds turn gray and begin to immerse the sky. Sucking me and to a place unknown. My heart stops. The World Turns cold as will I. Stone. I will be. Forever no more.

I can't breathe as they take you away

I can't breathe as you look back at me

I can't breathe as night turns to day

I can't breathe knowing you won't be free

I choke on tears running down my throat

I choke on bile coming up my chest

I choke as my heart sinks like a boat

I choke on this useless brand new dress

I twist the napkin in my lap

I twist the truth when people ask

I twist and fall into the gap

I twist my arm to stay on task

I chew my pencil into dust

I chew through maps to find you

I chew on food that tastes like rust

I chew on a love I thought I knew

I cover my ears to block out my sobs

I cover my eyes so I can't read the clock

I cover my mouth so I don't lose jobs

I cover my key turning in the lock

I pull on my hair waiting for the phone

I pull on my panties no one will see

I pull on myself just to hear a groan

I pull on a branch hanging from a tree

I fall behind again at work

I fall through a promise to my son

I fall in love again with a jerk

I fall down as I try to run

I worry more than I know I should

I worry they will never let you out

I worry like I never thought I could

I worry that this is not what life's about.

Darrian Lynx

Loss. Yes I know it well. Which part would you like me to tell?

Well let's see, I adored my Daddy you see, I loved him so much then he walked out on me.

Do you think it was because I loved him too much?

Loss. Yes I know all to well.

Another part to tell ok, had to give my stepdaughter back to parents who didn't give a damn about her just how they could hurt the other with her. I loved her more than life.

Couldn't do anything about it though.

Loss? You could say I know something about it.

Had to send my 13 year old son to a boys home for anger management, he took a butcher knife to my youngest son at the time and was harmful. What else could I do? I had to protect the younger ones too, so I had to love him enough to let him go.

Loss? I know a thing or two.

In 2007 I lost my whole family, (elders) first my great aunt, then my Mother, then GreatGrandmother and then my Granny too.

That was a hard pill to swallow so many funerals within months of each other.

Loss? You could say that I know a little a bout it.

At the beginning of 2015 I had 4 healthy horses. By October I lost two to death and had to give the other two up. The two that died, one was my childhood first horse and he was really old. The other went to a trainer and she changed his feed too abruptly and he colicked he was only ten.

These weren't my pets! They weren't my babies! They were my Soulmates! My breath, my reason for going on living everyday! I knew their thoughts they knew mine, together we were one soul. We loved each other, and I long for them as much as I do for my mother. These sacred Dogs.

Loss? I do know it well.

Just two weeks ago, I got up that morning to find my sweet Gypsy girl (GreatDane) dead in the floor.

She was so sweet and loving and god I miss her so much.

Loss. It's that's empty hole that's felt when that which you cared about is no more. All you can do is weep uncontrollably because of this great loss.

Loss is when what you had is no longer.

My tongue disconnects 

Momentarily from my brain

Now I'm doomed to regret

The words that will forever drive me insane

I'm sorry I said 

I hate you

I lied