Voyage of One

1.

Pink skin and clear blue eyes
horizon and void
mortality circles within a chest
spinning webs of muscle fibers
tiny hands outstretched and willing
welcoming the swirling incandescent sea of a star-dotted mobile
the flutter of warm milky breaths and arms to comfort cries
swim up, up, and through

2.

Skinned knees and broken barbie dolls
postage stamps and gardenias
tiny hands tugging on grandmother’s apron
a butterscotch candy, sweet and familiar on tongue
swim down the lobotomy of remembrance
gold finches with ballet slippers
they sprout lies like dandelions
swim around and explore

3.

Crumpled papers and piercing alarm clocks
red faded bandanas and splintering picnic tables
jointed fingers calloused with the creation
tide pools rippling; the surface dancing with deceit
stubborn voices collide and crash like tidal waves
angst and pent desire blinds
polluted permanence and linked limbs
swim to the depths, become a bottom-dweller surrounded in darkness


4.

Lacerated nightmares and carbon copy fingerprints
foreign foliage and letters on a blackboard
get to know that river bed
when water runs uphill and smoke filters through the air vents
I swam that river, head first
greedily fill lungs with each promise to be sustained
foam piles like dust; blindness ensues
swim up, surface, blink, and breathe

Shadows

That day, that night, that morning
The sun rose and fell, and rose again
Your eyes opened and closed, and opened again
They didn't flicker or glow.

The sun rose and fell, and rose again
And you told me lies, just with your eyes
They didn't flicker or glow
I believed you, back when faith was tied

You told me lies, just with your eyes
You never smiled.
I believed you, back when faith was tied
but then it shattered.

That day, that night, that morning
You never smiled.
But then I shattered
Your eyes closed and opened, and closed again.

Abyss

Its a broken carnival ride, spinning out of control
colors and lights blurring together
like the puddled mess that's in your head.

Silver leaves and eyes like diamonds
written lies across your flesh
all the empty echos that have been said.

Stereos turned up too loud,
tires against pavement -
too fast

Leached colorless with the moon
shadows that have been cast

Shaky hand grasping granite
fingertips leaving smears across a cold heart
no permanence
no impact

Its a broken carnival ride, spinning out of control
colors and lights blurring together
like the puddled mess
left in my head

End or Beginning?

That piercing final bell,
the white caging cinderblocks falling down around the,
Teacher's accusatory stares already in the distance

Eyes adjusting to twinkling sunlight
off black and gold robes
off silver bleachers, dotted with people
Hats with tassels perches awkwardly on heads like birds on wires

Green turf spred before their bustling footsteps
podiums of importance looming
folding chairs lined up like soldiers on the front line

Pomp and circumstance
and balloons already celebrating in the breeze

Laughter, smiles
tears that puddle and drop
Over the goal post, relief floods in and the stadium surrenders
as black and gold fly through the sky
rising with the echoing applause