Put My Hands Down

I've lived these days
Looking over my shoulder
At you, looking over mine,
And I am afraid of
What you'll see
And what you'll say.
You always ask too much of me,
And you take success for granted.
You take more than I can give
And drag me along,
Laughing when I fall.
But I can't stand up;
Can't leave yet.
I can't put my hands down.
I'm still too weak
To walk my own path, I
Haven't learned to fly
Yet.

This is my first poem for NaPoWriMo2015! I'm running behind, but I'll catch up soon, hopefully.

My inspiration for this poem was the over-demanding nature of school. I'm really feeling a lot of pressure right now in that regard since it's the last month of the semester, and I'm taking 18 credits. There is just a lot being asked of me right now and I'm running out of energy to meet those demands.

I wrote this poem intentionally vaguely with a loosely implied metaphor for some sort of dysfunctional relationship, be it parent-child relationship, friendship, or romantic relationship. I like leaving room for interpretation in my poetry, because I like to leave room for people to relate.

Obviously, I pulled the title from one of the ending lines of the poem, but I wanted it too be an independent thought as well. The title is a command both to the speaker of the poem to make a definitive statement, and to the object of "you" of the poem to release the speaker from it's influence and demands.

The rhythm is meant to be like an extremely short slam poem if you read it out loud. Here is a link to me reading it.

Gone

How many times
Did you tell me that
You were sick of this place?
Well, you won't
Have to tell me anymore,
Because you ran away.
At least we know
That you're alive,
Because you didn't leave
Anything behind.

I wrote this for National Poetry Writing Month in 2012. It was poem 28. I wrote it after a good friend of mine ran away because he'd been bullied in school. It was actually a really long time before I was able to reconnect with him. As far as I know, he's alright now though. 

Ubiquity

My head is dizzy--
Enough caffeine for two,
Enough sleep-debt for ten.
Focus-adrenaline.
Focus on everything.
Focus on Nothing.
Focus-fog.
My head is empty.
Wake, wake, wake,
Wake up!
Eyes snap around--
So many colors;
So much light.
Sound. Sound. Sound. Sound.
Achy head means more caffeine.
Lean against the swirling walls
To make them stand still.
Somewhere along the line
The work gets done,
But I'm not really sure where.
Sleeping means starting over
Tomorrow.

This is my first poem for National Poetry Writing Month 2014. The prompt was ubiquitous.

Plane Tickets and Credit Cards

Together, you and I should leave this looping scene,
Forget the stress, and find something illogical to do.
Who needs plans when we can pack a credit card,
Plane tickets to Paris in my purse, and travel guides?
I've no need to be inconspicuous.
You can kiss me publicly in perfect daylight,
Exactly like you can't back home. But here, who cares?

This is a poem written for National Poetry Writing Month in 2013. It is an Allitersen, and I used the prompts "One Ticket in your purse," and "illogical." I hate alliteration normally, so this was especially challenging for me. I remembered this poem that I had written because of the terrorism going in Paris. Vive la France.

They Make Their Own Lipstick

They crushed feelings
And wore them on their lips,
Which was brazen
And uncouth.
And they liked it.
They liked the way
Their razor-teeth flashed
With each sly smile.
Mortar hands are waiting for
New hearts to grind
With their pestle fingers.

This is my 10th poem for National Poetry Writing Month 2014. I didn't have anyone in particular in mind, but it wouldn't be difficult to come up with a list.