Final Night in Maryland, for now.

There is something poetic about laying down to rest with an ache in my bones after days of working diligently, manually. Knowing this will be my last night in what I referred to as the hobbit hole on Kenny St. Waiting to see what's next for us, and if people can go home again. 

Get A Grip

A grip on reality

arthritic hand 

slicing 

rare steak

sloshing 

slipping
blood off the plate

onto the mothers' lace 

table cloth

A grip on reality

feral cat in a 

toddler's arms

squirming to return

to its nature

terrified of domesticity

of love without conditions

A grip on reality

purple crayon

on a cook an egg
on the sidewalk
kind of

day

wax dripping 

down the hand of the 

artist attempting to

free her thoughts

in scorching sun

attempting to

get

A grip on reality

I, Woman

This poem was inspired by the event/transformation of Caitlin Jenner. When she was Bruce, the commentary featured athletic/business accomplishments. When she became a woman, the focus entirely shifted to her level of attractiveness. So, I thought how wonderfully liberating it would be to begin a poem with a female narrator stating the most controversial statement a woman can make within our society, "I am not beautiful." 

I, Woman

I am not [YOUR] beautiful 

I am not pretty, tied up neatly 

I am not the standard 

I am not above/below

I am not number 1-10; 2-32

I am a woman

I am not a saint

I am not a pure heart

I am not a martyr

I am not in need of rescue

I am a woman

I am not gracious

I am not manic pixie 

I am not adorkable

I am not sweetheart honey

I am a woman

I am flesh

I am blood

I am large and small 

all.at.once 

I am a woman

and that'll have to do.

Compliment Sandwich

A publisher might like it

She says.

Her bite is lost

within the charming 

taste of the hypothetical 

Really? I croon, suckle

--eager for more

Sweetness 

But.

this is a

Compliment Sandwich

burning horseradish 

sour, pickled onions

wait under that 

warm yeasty promise.

Yet, the only ingredients with an aftertaste are those hiding in the middle.