TMJ

She clenches her fists,
And I clench my jaw.
Release! I say, Release!
I say it to her.
I say it to her fists,
But not to her.
I say it to the things she holds,
But not to her fists.
I say it to myself,
But not to the things she holds.

My jaw hurts.

She turns over.
I turn over.
Goodnight, she says.
I say, Release!
But not to her.
But not aloud.
I say it to my jaw.
I say it to her,
But not aloud.

I hold her in my jaw.
She holds me in her fists.
Fists are better than jaws, I think,
But why not arms,
Or hearts?
My jaw hurts.
Goodnight.

Reflections of a Rich Young Man on New Year's Eve

If anyone would follow You, You've said that he must die,

And that sounds easy.

It's just that I'd prefer the quick and painless type,

If you don't mind, Oh Lord

I'll lose my life to find it,

If by lose You mean that I 

Must lose my heartbeat.

If by life You mean my friends,

My home, my money, and my comfort,

Well, that's different.

I heard You say that sacrifice 

That's fitting is a sacrifice that's living.

But it's my life,

My life,

Oh God, don't take my life.

Shadow Puppets

there is nothing i want more than to be alive

or

perhaps

to know it.

the walls of my home guard me from the wind

the roof from the rain

and i

guard myself from You.

though i turn thoughts over and over in my mind

and search with my eyes

my hands work to shut

to hold

to guard

to keep

their lids from coming open

or

sometimes

they don't fight at all

but they make shadow puppets on the wall

and i

watch

and smile

and laugh

as if to say

"if you will deter me

do it like this"