fear in the hearts of

American bigots is

more powerful than

a manifesto.

he proved that and now we all

will suffer for it.

He holds his kid close on the boat to America,

says, “We’ll all be safe when we land in America”

You put your hand on your heart and say what you

know, go on and recite your prayer to America.

They never tell you in songs and in chants, the

nation’s divisible. There’s two sides in America.

A man spews hatred from the platform and has the

balls to say “We can become great again, America.

It all ends with silence hung in the air, noose

around neck, the final prayer for America.

So from me to whomever, I say so sincerely:

please, let’s do better. We fucked up, America.

i came from       the ocean

and       the ocean       is where we

return when life on earth

becomes a burden.

my mother returned to

the water       when i was young,

i think i was her burden. i

sent postcards twice a day,

i wanted to hear her voice

bubble through the waves

to me. i addressed them to

the sea           hoping

they would drift to her and

land gently on her lap.

they were always gone in

the morning. i found them

years later in a closet- top

shelf- after my father

swam away.

you said

    we lost our spark

over the phone so

i thought i’d surprise

you here.

i waited fifty

minutes at the

terminal for

you.

that may not seem

like long but

i’ve already

waited

a lifetime.

your lips curl into a smile and

it smells like the sun. when you

speak your words taste like licorice.

our hands intertwine and your 

fingertips become the stars

leading me in the dark. your

purity is contagious leaving 

traces of you behind everywhere

you are. there are things i don't

say things i can't. but you look at 

me and you know. your eyes tear

into me taking what's yours and what isn't.

(i don't mind i'm all yours anyway.)

so i sit across from you and let you

take what you want. your smile

lighting me on fire. your words

leaving a lingering taste and i 

realize: i never liked licorice until

i tasted your lips.