August, First.

The screams echoed throughout the neighborhood like sirens alerting the town of danger. All motion ceased as listeners froze in fear. Again, the cries ring out. Everyone follows the sound to their front doors and there they are at the end of the block, ambulences and fire trucks. A tell tale sign of misfortune, these flashing monsters of the night. When no one in sight is running or rushing, our shoulders slouch with grief. Another soul is lost in the chill of a long summer night. We hold our loved ones nearer, whispering words of prayer and gratitude for each other and promises of a better life once the sun is risen. Just feet from the now muted weeping, life continues on in cars and speeding bicycles. So brief are the moments of silence that pass, the summer night is long with pain.

Sleep

You are no friend of mine tonight.

Death

He keeps sneaking up on me. Never quite grazes my skin, but I can smell him all around. I taste him in the morning like he has been lurking overhead all night, pushing into my dreams, the scent of death on my mourning breath.

These recent days have taught me that without life there is no death. And without life, there he is, waiting for my surrender.

Life shakes me out of sleepy spells and counts my blessings for me. I have forgotten to count between the self pity and unwritten the pages so now my swollen fingers lead the way for me. I've spent so much time reading the lives of others that mine went dim in the ever fading background.

Here I stand in the shadows. Waiting for my close up, my chance to touch the world. All the while chanting, all the while meditating in the cool breeze of dawn. My blessings never left me, they just disguised themselves as the clothes on my aching back.

Life

It comes and goes (lately)

Sooner than later for some, but we still all serve a purpose somehow.

Why hesitate?

Tears

No sense in crying when I'm allergic to my own.

Hey Vanessa

Remember when we were kids? You left a trail through my mom's planters so she added some bricks just for you. 15 steps to get you here, 15 to get you back. We got excited when they put the Blockbuster there and Tegan Rd was still a skinny little shit next to a field. We had to psych ourselves out to walk to the drugstore for candy on those blazing summer days, but it was always worth it once we hit that air conditioned dream of a place...whatever it was called back then. The twins know you like a sister now and my mom still kisses your head when she goes to sleep. So many families have come and gone through that same house, but I still refer to it as yours. You'd come over to talk to me about problems at home and sit on Laura's teeny tiny bed. We both had the same routine any time we entered the house; see who's watchin what, say what's up, open the cupboard, open the fridge. Man, you always tried convincing me to make us somethin to eat when you know damn well you could make it yourself, ha! Ass. And now we're both visitors there. It seems like that was a lifetime ago, but then again, I guess it was. A lifetime ago.

Good Morning Construction

To the day I woke up with that feeling in my gut. To the kicks that will carry me through my strut. And to you construction workers who lately have served as my morning wake up call, GAH! Bless you all...