Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The Things That Keep Me Up At Night

Sometimes I lie in bed at night 

and try to remember 

what it felt like to have your body next to mine.  

I try to remember, 

how we fit together. 

A bit awkwardly at first; 

A crushed arm,

An elbow in the stomach,

My hair in your mouth.

Your feet outside the blanket. 

Monster bait. 

Until we figured out how to fit just right. 

My head on your shoulder.

My leg wrapped around yours. 

Your arm tucked under me. 


I remember the nights during summer. 

Where the sweat stuck our bodies together.  

And I had to peel myself off you and scoot away: Too hot! Noooo! Stop touching meee! 

You still found me in your sleep 

And held me until I gave in, and sweated and slept. 


When it was cold, you stole the blanket, wrapping yourself with it like those tandoori chicken wraps I made you for dinner. 

Blanket Thief. 

You made my ass freeze. 

Because that's the first part of me that got uncovered when you stole the covers. 

You still found me. Shivering and cold. And wrapped your blanket covered burrito self around me. 

I was still cold but I slept.


I lie in bed alone now and remember.

I remember your heat, your solidness, how your chest moved up and down when you breathed.

My head on your shoulder. 

My leg wrapped around yours. 

Your arm tucked under me. 

I remember how we fit. 

I remember how no matter how far I moved away from you, you always found me. 


No one steals my blankets when it's cold anymore. 


11/ 11/ 2020


Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Bits and Pieces IX

You gave me fireflies.

You had me breathing dreams,

like air. 

I wanted the wanting.

I dared to hope. 

Of all the lies I've ever lived,

my favorite was You and I.


Everything I ever let go
Has claw marks on it.
Because all I ever loved
I loved alone.
And these are the days
That must happen to me.
I deserved a better goodbye.
Though silence is an answer all on its own.


But if love can fade so can pain. 

Sad birds still sing. 

The moon is still the moon

in all of its phases. 

And some flowers bloom only at night when everyone is asleep. 

Each step forward sets you free. 

And time will reveal 

Who's loss it truly was. 


04/11/2020


My thanks to: gisselle gullianna, faraway, autumn, isra al-thibeh, butterflies rising, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edgar Allen Poe, David Foster Wallace, Walt Whitman, Mia, David Jones, and Perry poetry.