Persnickety
Out of sorts
and prickly
with snark
enough for days
self restraint
is tested in a
myriad of ways
as I fight to keep
my mouth shut
cuz it’s not a
pressure valve
and remind myself
that my words
will make things
worse
all around
Make Believe
Up at dawn
and off to work
no one sees
the inside hurt
the quiet cries
and the
bleeding wounds
that hide
behind
a friendly grin
as I pretend
I’m not aching
for an end
Nineteen
“You aren’t
nineteen anymore.”
The words hit
like a bowling ball
in the gut
and I’m not
sure why
when this fact
has been true
for well over
a decade
at this point
and my mind says,
“So what?”
while by body says,
“Exactly right.”
Atmosphere
Clarity
wars with
foggy mind
just as clouds
shift through
the blue
and sometimes
everything
is crisp and clear
then the threads
of gauzy clouds
return
and I’m lost
once more
What We Hide
The ugly parts
are hidden
beneath
a warm smile
and quiet
approachability
that allows
others
to ignore
that
on the inside
things are
actually
falling apart
Struggling
Hope feels
lost
among
the weeds
like a feather
fallen
from wings…
the last feather
needed
to stay aloft
and so
I’m grounded
and unable
to fly
Twisting the Leaf 