The Anneslee Poems: Use with Caution

To you,
they are sounds
you make
with your mouth.

They mean nothing.

To me,
they are pieces
of your soul
dripping
from your lips
with every breath.

They mean everything.

Is it no wonder,
then,
you shattered
my heart
with one sentence?

The Anneslee Poems: TKO

You say

"I love you"

with your fists

like a boxer

in a prize fight.

 

You leave

colorful reminders

behind

so I never forget

how much

you care.

 

This is my life

behind closed doors.

 

This is how much

you care.

 

I raise the white flag,

throw in the towel,

surrender my life,

give up.

 

My body can't handle

your kind

of love.

The Anneslee Poems: Thunder and Lightning

Wherever you are,

there I am.

We cannot be

anything less

or more

than what we are

together.

 

You are the charge

in the spark

of my fire.

I am the light

in the sky

of your morning.

 

We burn

down the world

like stars falling.

You are my thunder,

I am your lightning.

 

Always.

The Anneslee Poems: Space Jump

I’ve jumped feet first

into a black hole

with you.

I hold your hand,

you hold my heart,

the world is ours.

We have no beginning

and there is no end.

We are together.

Finally.

The Anneslee Poems: Break

Jack Daniels permeates the air

as you stumble into the couch,

a chair,

the counter –

anything in your way.

You throw punches,

then words,

then look to see

the damage done.

Bone to bone,

I feel my face break

down to my toes

as the flesh of your flesh

splits and tears in two

like my heart.

You bury your fists

in me –

another version of you –

until the fuel burns out.

Two bodies on the floor,

but only one

will crawl out of here.

The Anneslee Poems: Mother

They cut the cord

when they pulled

me out,

but wrapped me

in chains

and handed me

to you,
a little doll
for you
to dress up
and keep
forever.

The chains
tightened
with every breath

as you held me

fiercely
against your chest

and told

the world

I was everything

you’d ever wanted.

I grew
around the chains
and became distorted,
nothing like
the daughter
you wanted
when you
dreamed up
my name
and bought
pink party dresses
that don't fit
me now.

When did you know
I was
never
going to be
good enough
for your love?

Was it my first breath?
Was it my first cry?
Was it my first word?
Or was it the moment
the plus sign
said I was real?

Some women

should never

have children.

Sunday Sorrow

I miss you, 
especially on Sundays - 
your favorite day of the week. 

I hope you're in a better place 
and proud of me. 

I carry your words every day, 
but sometimes 
it just isn't enough. 

Sometimes 
I need more - 
a second helping of love - 
but there isn't any left. 

We just have this one life 
and today 
it isn't enough.