Braids

I wind my love
slowly
like a braid
over
under
over
under

A distraction from
the loose locks
that have no place
in my life.

There is a deep need
to organize these feelings
and bind them.

All the while
I am careful and try
not to tie them up
too tightly

just in case
one of us
should come undone.

October

I have turned endless revolutions
of yellows and reds
without you

But now
I cling to you
as we gather ourselves
like leaves

I fear the gust
that can scatter us

And
what if I cannot find you again
come October?

Haiku #2

As this autumn day

folds to chilly dusk, I am

but a fallen leaf.

Haiku #1

Elusive soul mate:
You have forever been my
Indian summer.

Balance

I strike

for once
a perfect balance

Equal parts anger

when people don’t

say what they mean
and then
when they say
exactly what they mean

Either way

I always need
to steady myself

Take back control

when someone says

they love me
and someone says
they don’t.

Spokes

This journey is circular:

It’s a tire

on my brother’s three-speed
inherited by me
at the brink
of boys on my brain
when I rode down and up
streets at dusk
Looking for trouble.

Hands-free
I needed only to lean
In the direction I desired
My spirit leading
my body to follow
hair wild
heart pounding
my freedom unquestioned
Searching for Someone.

This journey is circular:

I could not know
that you and I
were spokes in the same wheel
jumping curbs
cutting corners
looking for trouble
searching for someone

Spinning around
and around and
Never meeting.

Thirst

It is almost as if
this thundering lunchroom
thick with students
is absolutely silent.

I observe through
the dense din
Words
Flinging
Flying
Crashing
from one set of lips
to the ears of a boy
who catches the words
and swallows them
believing that they have
been tossed in friendship.

The lips turn
to face other boys
and laugh easily.
They drink in the
sustenance of their cruelty
while another boy
sits alone
unable to recognize
his own thirst.