rain in midtown

Just outside Grand Central Station,
I am pushing through the crowds
Between the walls of glass and stone
below a sky that's free of clouds.

When on my cheek I feel a drop,
away, I wipe it like a hair,
look in puzzlement at the sky
and continue on to Pershing Square.

I feel another droplet fall,
hit cold and wet upon my arm
like icy little pins they start
and each one fills me with alarm.

The sky still far and clear and blue
reflects its light on mirrored tower.
No one is reaching for umbrellas
in preparation for the coming shower.

Along Madison Avenue
the rain begins to pour.
It soaks through my ivory blouse
and chills me to my very core.

But on the street, not one looks up,
their heads and clothes stay dry.
As puddles forms inside my shoes
bike messengers and business men go by.

My hair is sticking to my face.
Water is collecting by my feet.
Make-up is running from my eyes
as I turn right on 38th St.

The flood begins on the corner
when the streetlights change to red.
Waves of water rush past cabs
and splash into the traffic ahead.

The rainwater rises but no one cares.
They walk unfazed below the tide
as I choke on liquid, gasp for breath
praying for the waters to subside.

I struggle to hold to the building's side
As the waters continue to rise.
My fingers slip, I fall below,
hands reaching up to clear blue skies.

Below the surface, the water's cold
it's iciness numbs my fear.
I close my eyes to fall asleep.
I hope nobody finds me here.

Changing (Leaves)

In moves the crispness of autumn nights,
leaving behind yellow days
for the heavy scent of decaying leaves
and unanswered questions.

Ruby maples shed their weight
to be naked in time for winter’s frost.
Aspen leaves skitter across the pavement
to give me a golden road to nowhere.

Arid land turns muddy earth
under clear blue but chilly skies.
Does the old Oak fear change?
I’m too scared to ask.

Jealousy's Fool

Bite your lip when she walks by
and to hear you speak of her
I start to imagine the scene
without me.
I coy smile from her
and whisper in her ear
and a toss of her fair hair
You're heart divided
or your heart was never mine.

I see the gleam in your eye
when you make her laugh
and she blushes now
but without me:
You tell her you love her
with that same gleam.
Kiss her neck
sweeter than you kiss me.
You will soon forget me
or you never knew me at all.

Lower my eyes to your glow
I don't know who you see
when you look at me anymore.
Because without me
You hold her in bliss
and breath in the smell of her hair
and laugh at that other girl.
You either love her already
or I am jealousy's fool.

Please, please

A puzzle of flesh and liquid
the mystery of my own body.
To hold me from knowing
what is happening within.
Growing inside?
I’m not ready.
My life barely blooming
with self-actualization not yet realized
Fill in the blanks.
I don’t want to throw it away
I should have been more careful
I know
But please, please, please
Not yet.

In a Perfect World

In a perfect world
You would never be out of reach.
Without telepathy I could read your thoughts
And they would be perfectly like mine.
Each morning you would wake up wrapped around me
And my breath would smell fresh
And last night you didn’t snore.
Your kisses would taste like ripe cherries
And I would never miss your lips.
In the middle of the day, you would call
Because we have nothing else to do but love each other.
That’s our job and it pays well.
I would never tell you my secrets because I would have none.
You would never have to forgive me
Because I am perfect
And I would never have to cry
Because you are too.
Instead of waiting, I would have found you sooner
And you would love me forever.
In a perfect world
I would have never cursed us with perfection.

One Morning

One morning
I woke up and I loved you
The date and time remain unclear
But on that ripe red morning
You were the Sun.

One morning
I told you why I fell in love
It was your warmth
Your beams engulfed me
And banish the bitter night.

One morning
I asked you to forgive me.
I still have dark patches in my soul.
Places that remain cold
Even in the heat of your summer.

One morning
I said I am sorry
I can never give you everything,
But know I love you.
I have known since that morning.

One evening
Imagine my surprise
When this bright day ends
And you creep over the hills
To shine on other souls.

I should have never been so greedy.

Costs of Conflict

I saw War when I was young;
it found me where I lived.
Two sides conflicted in close quarters,
Vying for a homeland.
A battle raged from nothing,
Quiet is never peace.
Atom Bombs in the family room
Nightmares in my sleep.
Mother's tears fell like Agent Orange
and Father's words were napalm.
Be careful where you step;
Verbal land mines in the backyard.
I made a shelter out of blankets
but it didn't muffle sound.
My reinforcements crumbled.
Surrender, Surrender…
"You're a brave little soldier,"
they would say
but I didn't want this fight.
Papers were signed but there's no treaty.
I am a refugee from my own home
where we marked my height on the wall.
You can't take that with you.
My homeland is occupied now;
they have painted over my name.
War has a heavy price to pay
but you ask me "what’s the cost?"