by

if I could bottle this

if I could bottle this beauty
if I could bottle this joy
if I could capture the heart
the stone shaped heart of a boy

if I could bottle this sunshine
miraculous stars in the dark
open the sun in the winter
train to capture a heart

I can’t bottle this moment
sorrow rolls in sure as joy
tears run dry in the future
my heart not always a toy

______________

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: bottle.

by

(You always know) post trauma

You always know

You always know
when I am afraid
when I am running
when I am hiding
how afraid I am

when I keep secrets

You always know
so far
when I am triggered and terrified
and hiding and broken
and pretending to be ok

so far
you respond
and are gentle
draw me out
offer food
and company

You always know
so far
and I am still afraid
and I am still planning
and this is what I am hiding
the plan for what I will do

What I will do
when you know
you always know
when you know
but you don’t
respond

when you don’t respond
and aren’t gentle
don’t draw me out
don’t offer food
or company

You always know
so far

But I feel safer
if I don’t
trust

11/28/21

by

lair

alone and sad
lurk in your lair
information
rotting there

you say you read
what I write
but not what or when
or day or night

collect words
webbing glue
word mummies
stick to you

you don’t connect
you don’t share
you say you never
never care

your web is touched
vibrates fast
fangs extend
webbing cast

you bite your victim
in spite of screams
anesthetize
steal their dreams

I ask questions
you scold me coldly
I break the web
fight poison boldly

read my words
as you will
I’ve escaped your web
as others will

your web is old
you’re growing slow
your poison fails
your victims know

you end alone
sag sagging web
your victims glad
when you are dead

___________________________

A second darker take on the Ragtag Daily Prompt: dream world.