dig through the past
and find the holes
open them wide
and look within
try to make sense
of what’s living there
and start the journey
of exploration
of healing
of repairing
all the broken pieces
restoring what was lost
walking deeper
into the truth
and live to tell
the story
this is how
you break free
This is an excerpt from This is How You Know: a book of poetry. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
It’s just one drink.
You deserve it.
Look at all you’ve
done this week.
They’ll never know.
You don’t have to tell them.
It’s just one drink.
Two drinks won’t
do much damage.
You can handle it.
You’ve handled
much more than this.
Two drinks won’t
do much damage.
Three drinks are
completely within
your control.
You’re just celebrating
the end of a rough week.
That’s all. It doesn’t mean
more than it is.
Three drinks are
completely within
your control.
So you’ve lost count.
It doesn’t matter.
You deserve it.
Look at all you’ve
done this week.
They’ll never know.
You don’t have to tell them.
You can handle it.
You’ve handled
much more than this.
You’re just celebrating
the end of a rough week.
It doesn’t mean
more than it is.
So you’ve lost count.
You’re not an
alcoholic.
(Photo by Daniel Cheung)
Adulthood
We like to pretend
we’re grown up, but we’re really
just kids underneath.
Childhood
Crouch beside the door
A restless shadow. You’ll hear
what you need to hear.
These are excerpts from Life: A Definition of Terms, a book of haiku poetry. For more of Rachel’s poems, visit her Reader Library page, where you can get a couple of volumes for free.
Summer I
Summer unfolds hot
and endless, it seems, but it’s
gone way, way too soon.
Summer II
Summer forgets its
structure, in favor of long,
lazy, fluid days.
Summer III
Summer likes to play
games on the floor, do puzzles,
and most of all read.
Summer IV
Summer has a quite
distinct volume about it:
loud, louder, loudest.
Summer V
Summer offers days
of building amazing things
on a Lego mat.
This is an excerpt from Life: a definition of terms. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
freedom of speech
does not grant you
the right to forget
who you are
who I am
who we are
freedom of speech
does not grant you
the right to hurt me
in the places
one can’t see
freedom of speech
does not grant you
the right to
lash out
diminish
tear down
there is responsibility
that comes with
freedom of speech
it must be used wisely
it is no excuse
it is no justification
it is no reason
for filthy words
that attack another
take care with words
take care with hearts
add to the conversation
without detracting
from the dignity
of another
we belong
to each other
remember that
this is how
to be human
This is an excerpt from This is How You Know: a book of poetry. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
She was pink,
new, untouched,
unknown.
It is all
she would ever
be.
