as the odium begins

sitting in front of you-
watching unbearable truths & slanders drip
from your mouth-
as the odium begins to gather on the floor
I drag my legs up into the chair-
holding, pulling them so tightly-my knees dig into
my ribs – as to not let the
malice that drips from your teeth-
into the forming puddle below – come near me

as the hatred builds on the floor so do the tears and
anger inside my head-

till I can’t take it – till I can’t pretend to not believe it-
till I drop my feet and wallow in my shame—
standing in it- accepting it- accepting myself for what you
see – and not for who I thought I was just minutes before..

around the corner

on that ordinary day
he turned the corner-the one
we've all become familiar with

natural was the setting
comfortable were the people

but when he turned that corner-
everything seemed different

moods changed-
maybe not his or yours
but mine did- almost
with out recognition-
it moved from intimate to insecure

in that space
i stumbled upon feelings i
was otherwise suppressing

around that corner
he came- new and more human
than i could have ever anticipated