How Did This Happen?

I began with family—
Strength with weakness,
More weakness than ever.
Bonding—there wasn’t any.
So all it left for a person to do was
Venture out on her own.

You know, everyone in my family
Didn’t get the abuse that I got.
It’s like the Cinderella story.
And still, it’s the thing
That made me stronger.

Family will never change;
They will always judge.
So I’m all alone
And don’t deal with family.

When I start talking with them,
They upset me.
So I don’t keep in touch.
So long as I’m alone,
I can try to keep things
In the right perspective.


V.S. 5/22/07

Ides of May

Zig-zag on my wrist
Testimony to underachievement
To lost aspirations
And ensuing despair.

Not a trophy of battle
Simply
A wound of the war.

M.F.T. 5/15/07

Joint Ventures

What I want my words to do to you
Is what your words do to me
Stop me cold
Move me
Make me listen
Make me think
Make me speak
And make me write rivers
To flow back to you.

M.F.T. 5/8/07