The pool looks so empty at night.

Darkness covers everything but the moonlight glittering along the surface of the water.

the guys next to me are laughing,

stripping quickly until only

their boxers remain

then, they dive into the

once still waters,

disrupting the moon’s somber sleep

me, i strip slowly

first. my shirt, to reveal a soft pink

bra underneath/my breath hitches

a little as i do it.

next? i wiggle out of my

black, skirt

the new waves; they ripple

beneath my feet

so i close. my eyes...

and (i jump)

the cool water coats Me; but doesn’t

hold

me

i can gli de

my arms in front—pushing the water

away

my legs kick me

forward

n o clo thes hol ding m e ba ck

and i dare

the mo on

to watch Me

f l o a t

and know

she, she can not control

Me.

your chocolate eyes

tease me closer

dark ovals

drip drip, dripping

with the promise of paradise

smile with liquid confidence

my heart

beat beat, beating

and my cheeks growing hotter

as your gaze melts against me

you’re my guilty little pleasure

and i can’t stop devouring you

with my eyes

if he really loves you

he’ll tend to each of your petals

and make sure the sun shines

in your heart

he’ll love your vibrant colors

and watch you grow

without ever plucking you

for his own selfish desires

if he really loves you

he’ll help you weather every season

and protect you from the jealous insects that try to eat at your beauty

he’ll support you when you begin to wilt and remind you of your strength

as you flower into

who you are meant to be

but most of all,

if he really loves you

he’ll let you blossom and

bloom freely

as you grow to meet a limitless sky.

this heartache

this pain

these tears

and this moment

are only one piece

in the beautiful puzzle

that is

you.

don’t let

this single piece

define

you

instead

allow this piece

to help you

discover yourself

to help you

solve the puzzle

because

trust me

one day you’ll see

you

wouldn’t be complete

without

it

freckles color your face

like. jagged. rocks.

protecting the sea of green and blue

swirling in your eyes:

hushed waves calling—“tame me”

yet a softness unknown to the ocean

before lies underneath

my finger sails between the rocks

carefully navigating across

your

face

gliding along... the outline of your nose

and

docking at your lips.

every inch of you feels as

expansive and beautiful as

the ocean;

and my heart longs to voyage

and discover the

mysteries

lying beneath your surface...

i’m sorry

that i feel empty.

i’m sorry

that your touch

is merely a figure skater—

trying to create beautiful art

with the swirl of a fingerprint

on my icy skin;

i’m sorry

that the freezing water of my soul

would blister you,

remove the warmth of your

fingertip;

i’m sorry

that contact with me

would stop you from

making that beautiful art

(oh how you float and skip and twirl above the ice);

i’m sorry that i would make you still.

so you see

you should not touch me

or dance near me

because if you fall,

i will make you cold, too.

my lips don't pout for you

no

the ends curl up into

a playful

smile;

a fuzziness

i can't stop

from

flowing in my veins

wrapping my heart in

warmth

and that

is why my young cheeks

glow

in rosy shades

when i am with you.

the effects of another's hardened heart

pawing my mittens

i shiver in my coat

the sharp air 

clashes with the coolness

of snowflakes on my outstretched tongue

i trek as

branches and unfamiliar territory

form a kaleidoscope 

that prevents me from clearly 

isolating my love

she eludes me 

but hints of her 

skate on the dry ground

to produce a cracked swirl

of disheveled tree silhouettes 

i tramp along the stony trail

as burrs cling to me

and my feet weaken from the journey

but i continue dragging myself because

i see her spirit reflect in 

brittle arms of the trees

and broken gray rocks 

next to barren caves

wind threatens to collapse me

and i crave her touch

as my strength erodes with each

crunch of hollow twigs

finally my eyes discover a desolate clearing 

past prickly thistles and empty bushes

an insatiable hunger sets 

when i finally see her

i howl for her

only to realize 

she is unattainable

worlds apart

she looks at me with her frigid gaze

and her light reveals 

the emptiness 

of the world surrounding me.

pouting red lips

and long lashes

they ask for sexy pictures

as i sigh with boredom

and take flash photos of

my winged eyeliner

and muddy eyes

whispering

i'll be bad for you

with a fiendish wink

the boys that see

that side of me

see features to be caressed

and felt up

curled hair to be tangled

and lipstick to be rubbed away

but you

the boy that sees

the other side of me

with soft pink lips

asks for my smile

as i radiate with happiness

and stare

at my uncurled lashes

and muddy eyes

whispering

i'll be there for you

with a caring look

seeing not my features

but my soul inside

and slowly you place my silky hair

behind my ear

to kiss me gently.