rhythm
and in the silence
i heard my heart beating
and it was loud
and i was alive
you don't have
insecurities
you have
fears
these droplets are not mine
part of the book of words
i stared at the storm
through this window
for so long
that i truly believed
glass was wet
perfect
isn't
present
karesansui
part of the book of words
i built an elaborate sand castle
with rooms to spare
a moat to protect it
each towering spire
a testament to perfection
and yet, no one lived there
and yet, the rain
love
is
love
i dont know why
i don’t know why
the chemicals that knit
to form the fragrance of that
first blushing mango
take me home in an instant
or why i feel more at ease
in the gentle rocking
of a commuter train
than i do in my home
i don’t know why
the line of your jaw
and the smoke in your eyes
make me knit letters into words
or why i would hang my heart
like a lantern before my doorway
to be bruised by the elements
beating louder there than in my chest
i don’t know why
i hate praise, but crave it
fear love, but need it
need touch, but reject it
or why i can shine
incandescent
yet still view myself
a moth
i don’t know why
i like what i like
want who i want
love who i love
i just know i do
and that is enough
appreciation
is not
satisfaction
rations
part of the book of words
starving, i was given
the most perfect strawberry
ripe, and generous with juice
whose flavour made me cry
just to taste
and yet
i was still hungry
predator
when i said
i want you
i didn’t smile
so much as
bare my teeth
ethnic
i have made
so many friends
because this country
put our foods
in the same aisle
visible spectrum
the visible spectrum is a mere sliver
the silver on the back of the glass
that reflects our entire existence
but it is still only a sliver
my reds pulse deep bloody heat
the anger of injustice
the passion of existing regardless
and you will never see my infrared
but you will feel it all the same
my violets radiate high spirit light
the knowledge of my history
the compassion of my future
and you will never see my ultraviolet
but it will burn you all the same
my mother knit my black skin from starstuff
in a basement apartment
that had no room for her dreams
(so she placed them in me)
she gave me gemini
the night sky that pulses with
x-ray and gamma and
microwave and potential energy
and said all this can be yours
i gave you eyes to see
but they are not your vision
to think i spent years wearing only black
because they made no dye for
the colours i saw every time
i closed my eyes
my greens spread, earth-driven vines
the love of being alive
the yearning to hold you all
and you will never taste my chlorophyll
but it will feed you all the same
summer vacation
we lived in a moment
the one we just left
the one we just entered
the one about to come
we felt it all
divinity, infinite trinity
what a waste of time it is
waiting for now to be over
as if there was ever anything else
as if you can waste the infinite
is pepsi okay
So to drink, we have Prison
Sugary-sweet and full-flavoured
It's bad for the health but it sure tastes great
Or if you prefer, we have Diet Vengeance
It's not as satisfying as Prison
But you won't mind while
taste is on your lips
but i only asked for Justice
straight from the tap
a taste of remorse
an ounce of regret
a pint of recognition
a glass of restitution
i do not want
to drink your substitutes
only to find
that i am still thirsty
Well I'm sorry, but
If you aren't going order anything
I'm going to have to ask you to leave