Vagina

I trust my vagina
She tells the truth
My heart is hurt
And hides away
My gut is greedy
And gives in
My mind is a minefield
And makes a mess
But my vagina
She's wise
She's survived horrors
She's fought for freedom
She has a mohawk
She's a punk
With pink lips
And she's tiny
But mighty, nevertheless
She's a bullshit detector
Of the highest calibre
She's mine
She's me
And she lives for integrity
For autonomy
And for pleasure unbound

Memory

Wretched bones
Clicking reluctantly
Ready to rise
And meet the day
Of disaster
The body remembers
Despite the mind's
Best efforts at numbness
Dumb from disillusion
The memory comes at twilight
Paralysing me and my
Poor old bones

Riptide

Blood suspended
In the surf
Drifting on the riptide
Saltwater
Selling my soul
For scant sustenance
Swimming in circles
Searching for simplicity
I am yours
I am yours
But I am a slave, too
To art, always
And never again
I am yours
I am yours
But I am a burden, too
To patience, always
And never again
Will I bleed for nothing
I will breathe
I will breathe
But I will choke, too
On words that sting
On melodies too morose
To be sung
I will breathe
I will breathe
Until the flood arrives
To claim its quarry

Nevermore

Alles lookenpeepers!
The penmonkey
Yodels insistently
Although my body
Yearns for sleep
It longs for loopy
Nights nipping
Away at nicotine
And ratchets
Reggae rhythms
On repeat, risking
Certain silliness
Sounding out
Soliloquy after
Secret soliloquy
Settle, I plead
Rest a while
Jumpy pixie
Writer-child
But protest is futile
Facing off against
The nevermore
World of winter's
Words

Barefaced

Stage-fright suddenly
Seems surplus
To requirements
As the curtains
Close on a tired
Player, mask already
Slipping away
Revealing reality
And its blemishes
Barefaced before
A startled audience
Of one
One without cruelty
One without malice
One without prejudice
One who sees beyond
Narrow judgements
And worn out arguments
To gaze upon
New scenes
Broader and warmer
And full of wonder

C**t

I saw that
I can read lips, bitch
While you were
Chasing boys
I was chasing dreams
While you were
Gossiping
I was studying
While you were
Tanning
I was working
But I don't insult you
I'm busy living
While you smirk
And call me names
And enjoy the comforts
Of your class
You think it's acceptable
To harass me
You think I can't hear you
You think I can't see you
You think you're untouchable
You think I care
I don't care what you say
But I do care that your kids
Can see you
Watch your language
Kids can read lips, too

Share

Share the hurt
Until it's halved
And halved again
Until it's shrunk
And slunk away
Share the hope
Until it's grown
And grown again
Until it's bright
And lights the way
Share the joy
Until it's sung
And sung again
Until it's easy
And breezy each day
Share the life
Until it's yours
And yours again
Until it's done
And spun away