Dead by May

Let me tell you, there are serpents among us.
That girl hides venom in a call.
She injects it into memories.
I can feel it in your cold hands and stiff arms.
I can feel it like a sickness.
A little poison can infect the whole thing.
But keep drinking it.
Keep letting her hiss, love.
And you'll be dead by May.

My sisters, until now

My sisters,
We've worn these faces for far too long.
A furrowed brow and lines run over.
Strong as any miner's hand
with secrets dark as their work day.
Light, reach for light.
We've breathed the black.
We've suffocated in the carbon
of heated exhales.
You know we have.
Words burned like fire into our ears, minds, souls.
But breathe clean.
We answer to the beating of our own hearts,
and ours only.
They can't touch tomorrow.
Smile, sisters.
They won't touch tomorrow.
We've got blues skies and new beginnings.
Just like our mothers prayed for
and that we've dared not hope,
until now.

Island no more

I've been an island
All these years
No one's reached these shores
No one's sifted sand
To find what's hidden there

But you would not be blown
By my winds wailing
Or by the tide rolling in
You would not be scared
By this siren's warning

And so I will not tire
Of warming you with sun high
Or by moon full and
Sparkling over waters smooth
As worn sea glass

Come into my shores
Walk bare feet upon my sand
Dig in, my love
Stay, my dear
Anchored to me