part I: whirlwind
the dream shattered,
the heat broke the streak,
water poured from the sky while the clouds swirled through time
and the trees shook in fear and wonder,
whirled by the wind coming from all directions.
And me?
I danced in the rain
until I came home to a friend
then went to a boy who gave me himself,
but was I enough?
I came home the next morning and fall had begun;
long sleeves and slow days of cooking and reading,
sipping tea and believing,
while outside the rain pours and the world spins, we watch and contemplate the changes
//
part II: cinnamon sunlight
the warm taste of cinnamon in my mouth
of apples and banana muffins and sweet kisses of kindness.
friends and loves and leaves.
we allow our colors and our minds to change with the weather
capricious as the cinnamon sunlight.
The golden-orange tones that brighten the parks and the mountain,
like the smile that lights up his face
like rain falls to the earth and leaves fall to the ground,
I fall into and out of love,
a container created by a metaphor,
a model for anthropomorphic human experience.
because love isn’t a place in which we can save ourselves
and autumn isn’t a state of nature but of mind.
and they’re two of the most beautiful concepts in the world,
rendered ever more valuable by their fleeting nature
//
part III: electric
aware, alert
alarm ringing at dark
before he or the streets can awaken, I part
flying to finish commitments at dawn
the curtains, the trees, so carefully drawn
fluorescent lights glowing
overflowing, inside
golden light shines
on the things that we hide
I chase secret, sacred sunrises
as light streams through slumbering city streets
the sun stretches her limber light
over the buildings,
the end of the night
I try to recreate the way the light shines
through the leaves and the streets, remember what’s mine
the way the world lights up,
electric
eternally enthralled by the red-orange glows
the way that my paintbrush catches and throws
all of the colors that compose
my city, my home
my love, my life
the days and nights
time passes
as the sun rises & sets
and the sky turns electric before the city does
We continue our cycles,
sleeping and waking,
growing then breaking,
harnessing energy
electri(city)
when the sky fades to dark and the lights come out,
the city dreams, and screams, and shouts
Releasing parts of ourselves,
we learn to go without
like the trees let their leaves
fall without a doubt
like the electricity that filled my body
for you
faded, evaporated
fizzled out
Electric, and alone
the sky alight
so beautiful,
so peaceful,
hold on tight
But it’s better just to be alone
than to wish you could be on your own,
right?
Tired as the nights grow longer
as I sleep less and less
And as the shadows grow, on edge
I try not to stress
how are you supposed to see
without electricity?
how are you supposed to feel
when you no longer know what’s real?
as the days get shorter
and crisper
and colder
ever more beautiful
ever more full
I can already taste the end of fall
the bittersweet dark chocolate and lavender calls
the scent of the pavement after rain pours
always hinting at something more
taking chances, the seasons cycle through
falling in love every month or two
always doubting what is true
never able to wait, for you
thoughts 