In our nest,
Soft & warm,
We are high up
Yet secure
From falling.

It is hard to fall
When you are already lying.

A glowing star
Beams light
Through branches
Twisting & weaving
A mesh canopy of energy & wood.

Peace
Is not
The absence of war,
But this
Right now.

--This moment,
Where the breeze
Strokes our hair
And sings us to sleep.
The mother & father
Of Wind & sun
Watching over us
With gentle eyes.

Peace,
Of our shared desire
To nurture & cleanse
To heal & rejuvenate
To move forward
To be.

Part One

Pull back my skin,
Look under the covers.
You show every vein to me,
As I had remained robed.
But now, I shed the layers,
And I step out as if to let the towel drop,
Like after a hot shower,
Cleansing my body & my mind.


Part Two

A shouting voice-
From within her house, or
From within my mind,
"Get out!"
Sad child,
Strange abuser.
Controlling
With paranoia,
Only ceasing
From tears or
Stolen cash.
You prefer people
Weak and
Selfless,
But that's a hard thing
To get by on alone,
Without ambition for fuel.

I twist in my mechanical eye
To the stave's grooved peg.
Then- stretch out the three legs,
Pulling them tall and
Spreading them strong & stable.
Check the light and gauge the depth.
A lifeless figure to substitute,
To stand in as needed,
Absent of breaths to
Avoid
Fidgeting.
Everything comes into focus--
The fine lines, and
Curvature, of
The cadaver.
It is almost perfect,
A landscape [waiting]
For its tree,
Or a play anticipating
The lead's entrance.
Where is the warm body
With monochrome painting,
(the exception of those
verdant green eyes, and
occasional pink lips)
With the gun cocked,
Read to aim-
[I step in.]
Cool & composed,
I take a deep breath.
With eyes closed,
To prepare & avoid a
Faulty blink.
Not a moment they are opened
That the black ballon is
Squeezed.
The small box clicks, and then
Crunches
Its twisting eye lids shut.
-much later-
I soak it in.
The frame;
The captured evidence of my being.
I accept myself.
All of myself.
Everything to appreciate.
I become acquainted & pleased
In knowing
My oldest friend.