day 27

"hope"

we live in this river city

and it floods sometimes

but there are mattresses in our canals

to remind us that we can sleep anywhere

there are water proof post it notes

singing waves

and open armed currents

i've been swimming in my best friend’s tears

long enough to believe that i've grown underwater wings

and she’s grown into a  mermaid

crystal shimmers and

pretty sequins

we’ve both grown gills to breathe in each other’s cries

lately

her cries could be heard

1150 miles away

inside the crashing tidal waves

of Florida

she’s had her eyes set on Miami park benches

and free bird balconies since we were 12

she would live in the sand

open handed hugging warmth

something New England couldn't give her

and for six years,

we’ve sat on dark alley cat porches

Catching lightning bugs with our tongues

I would aim to fly as tall as her

just to flick away her teary whispers

we would cry together

in the night on empty basketball court floors

theres something about hearing dew drops grow

on open mouthed tulips

that makes you want to cry

and i would hold her hand

not because i love her

but because i love her

and i would bite my tongue

from saying what her love means to me

it is growth

and we are still growing

and i still wish to be as tall as her

to catch her morning growing dew drops with my tongue

she is a rose

in a field of baby breaths

we've been taking baby steps since

we were 12

when she first had her heart broken

and i still clench my fists around her heart

every time he manages to break her ribcage open

my underwater wings have gotten used to

open armed swimming in her

crashing waves of heart break

lena

I will always be a short swim away

In our dirty town canal systems

But there will always be dirt soaked mattresses

In the bottom of your screams

Its okay to want to cry

But its been 6 years and your heartbreak will cause tsunamis

In the midst of growing tulips

They are open mouthed and full of warmth

I will pick them for you

Plant them in an underwater casket

We will all grow breathless together

But full of baby breath park benches

Do you remember

The time we were 12

And we spent half a day discussing dreams

You’ve always wanted to be a teacher

But I never thought that id be here

6 years later

telling you that

you can live on the coast

even if you live in the sahara desert

there are tears worth remembering

and there are tears that just force you to drown

hes been growing with us

but you’ve been carrying leeches on your back

giving your blood away like you only need water in your gills to live

I swore

That I would always bite my tongue

And never let you hear my realities

But there is a free bird

Sitting on a sun warmed balcony

1150 miles away

It is singing to the mermaids

That are crying over lost shimmering leg bones

lena

I know

That you’re already used to your mermaid tail

so if you have forgotten how to walk

you still have hands for me to hold