Kiwi's before bed

Kiwis before bed and I’m somewhere else
Other than at a half lit desk on a Wednesday
Other than in March
The month of suspense
Smacks of jolly ranchers and the blacktop in third grade
Before it got bad
Perfectly happy to form an exotic circle of black seeds
No doubt contemplated the hurry of an apple, the rush of a grape
It wasn’t always like this nor was it always sad
Licking of wounds only every other second
Darting flickers of a childhood reel without any power
Without someone to feel
Their hands or their breath to say it’s ok
Kiwis and I’m stuck here and still there
Digging and plotting finding forget
But it’s March and I’m passing the time
It’s March and I’m not there yet

I've just learned how to sing

I’m not playing king anymore
My play chest is put back, all crowns on the floor
Mounds and mounds of crude graves quiet from evacuation
I’m bare feet and laughing
Out the door running
Just stole a box of love without intentions of returning
I can’t fix something like this
Or give it some name
But my eyes do see those holes and I sit and stare
And wonder out loud why I would ever want to stay
Where the darkest of dark doesn’t hold a candle to that night
Things where there are no names for that kind of pain
I’ll scream it and holler it upwards and onwards
Till I can’t see them anymore
Till I can’t feel the death of their teeth and want to consol
Every whisper that I’ve never been good anymore
A cage only locks when there’s something inside
Unfortunately I can not be stopped now
Clear my throat now to breathe
I'm ready enough
I’ve just learned how to sing

After there's been crying

Till the day that I die I will be born
You can’t have a rose without pricking on thorns
Most things are better after there’s been crying
Like a kid cold from snow, now warm from the drying
Pour the water over my head and see the doves flying
I’m singing and I’m staying
There are roads for someone else to run
Not my turn anymore and I hope that I’m done
I’ll sing and hold hands
You’ll be mine every time you come through that door
And I’ll be yours, yes I’m yours
until there’s no more.

Dancing slow dancing

It’s shaky and it’s slipping
Its gun fights and it’s kissing
Out of my back pocket
Still trying to figure out if it’s a genie in a bottle
And what it wants from me hour to hour
It’s not safe, not even a little
Sometimes I wish I didn’t care so much
To be slayed with red roses and wine in a jug
Told over and over that your enough is enough
But it’s I love you, say yes
And you’re not going to fall
It’s dancing, slow dancing
With someone I don’t know at all

Some birds

Some birds collect their patience when caught in a wind gust
Flailing and bodies strained half open
Others relinquish their autonomy and wait
Simultaneously battling for first
Heat and pulse place themselves in acceptance calling
In surrender falling