My love

My love,
let's be 18 again.
I promise to go to your house this time.
I'll let you untie the strings of my friendship bracelets.
I'll leave them there on your night stand.
I'll leave them there with my heart and all the love youth can give-
which is infinite.
Every last drop of 'yes'.
All the intention of 'we'.
The very hope of 'can'.

She's a vessel

She's a vessel

A curving vase

Hard like stone, thin as glass

With just drops left in the bottom

But somehow she turns that water

into wine and

pours herself out

Oh, she'll fill your glass up

But don't get drunk and lazy

on her love

I'm warning you

Don't get too comfortable with 

a fragile-strong thing

Don't get careless

Or you're liable to break her

How cruel

I'd write a book about you, but I'm fairly certain it'd burn itself.
Possessing your poison and fire-
all the words you've spat at me.
My blood would be there on every page.
Because I'm still dealing with your demons-
all lips and daggers.
But that's my fault, darling.
How cruel I was to stay so long.
How cruel I was to walk away-
from the absence of love.

Today I am pink

Today I am pink.
I am brand new-
like babies,
like love.
Women, if you cannot
smile at the curve of your own neck-
at the strength in your legs,
don't ask anyone to do it for you.

Be new.
Unfold the essence you've so neatly put away.
Uncrumple every word you've hidden
for fear of being heard.
Unslouch that spine
for fear of being seen.
Make eye contact.
Dear god, let people see you!
Even if it hurts.

I won't

I won't chase you
but if you put your sneakers on
I'll stop running
I'll stand real still
I'll let you catch up

But you better be wearing a smile
and speaking softly
Make it worth the waiting, love
Make it worth the worrying, dear
Make it worth the wanting, babe

Because if there's anything I'm good at
it's running
If there's anything I'm fine with, it's hiding
If there's anything I'm afraid of, it's fighting
If there's anything I'm hoping for, it's love

I don't know where to look
so I keep my eyes wide
I'm always surprised by sweetness
I'm always caught off guard by kindness
I'm always grateful for both

Don't make me regret
the scenic route
I prefer a little wind
I like a little speed
I want to feel my heart race, but...

I won't chase you

Peace

A little transparency, please

We're all a bit broken, a bit tattered

Oh, we're worn right through, darlings

Maybe that's what has been happening

They can't see us, just through us

But you know the sun shines more 

In the spring

I'm predicting good weather for this year

And that light's going to hit our strong spots

Just right, just right

They'll see we've been standing all along

Still as stained glass

Fragile, beautiful, and pieced together with lead

We're the stuff churches are made of

If you'll sing, I'll sing, too

We'll sing love, love, love

But most of all, peace

Your skin

Your skin belongs with my skin
I want to know the story of every scar
Take me to the summer of each freckle
I'll trace your lines, the width of your arms,
the length of your spine
Slide along your legs and creep each rib
with my sneaking fingers
Knowing that every inch my lips touch
is mine