only you

your hands are scarred
but
fit
perfectly
in mine
you somehow,
quite endearingly,
are always on my mind
in sweet sleep
and daydreams
you're there
and its sensational
i'm reminded
every day
you are
irresistible
irreplaceable

things that i like quite a lot

bread with butter and honey
sticky on the fingers and rich to the tongue

the secret pride of sore legs
after a rare run

the far off horizon where
the sky meets the sea

and the way that you smile
when looking at me

you don't have all of me

pâte fermentée is old dough set aside

to make the next batch richer

find parts of yourself to set as "only mine"

don't glue permanent frames on snapshot pictures

you share every secret of your soul 

then as the story goes, they leave

if nothings set aside, your bread won't rise

and you won't freely breathe

blank space (it gets better)

if you climb mountains you'll see valleys

lungs must deflate to fill once more 

between skyscrapers are back alleys

the sun shines brighter after skies pour

how to attend a party

i. 

don't double dip. 

ii. 

prepare answers to common queries

your college and major are undecided, yes you have a significant other, 

no you can't show a picture, 

yes, you have gotten taller. 

iii. 

do not discuss politics

or sex

or religion. 

if possible remove all traces of opinions from your being. 

brush up on sports references and clever jokes. 

iv. 

watch the adults get drunk and slink back to the kids table. hope someone produces a deck of cards. 

v. 

hide in the bathroom. stare at yourself in the mirror and attempt to see yourself as they see you, two dimensional, or not at all. 

vi. 

make a mental note to learn to juggle. you've been building your resume,but neglecting your repertoire of tricks

vii. 
compliment the host before returning home, exhausted. 

goodnight room

my head hits the pillow hoping a poem waits there 

but there is only my heavy eyelids and designer eye bags 

and slippery dreams and cold sheets 

and goodnight texts and final prayers and 

sweet sleep

adventures

i would like to go on adventures with you
rub sunscreen on my bare shoulders
get lost on back roads
enjoy the scenery so much we forget to ask for directions
and have our picnic in the backseat of the car


you'll change the radio to classic hip hop
i'll bob my head and pretend to know the words


i would like to go on adventures with you
give my taste buds something new to think about
laugh so hard i spill water down my shirt
split dessert
and fight over the bill


you'll make life seem vibrant, genuine, and true
i'll realize every day is an adventure with you