If only you knew I wish you could understand The power behind self love And your preciousness despite size Yes, you will take a lot of shit Grateful for scraps and tidbits From lovers who could never measure to your grace or wit or presence…

  in those so-long-ago     days oh.     how felt born to dance with you i know     none      of those dance-dreams jiggled in you nor   loosened arms in tingling      wingling circles      about your hips   nor tilted the slight      quiver of a mouth alight with      unspeakable savor…

Spirit A history heavy burden For the act of breathing Religion drew lines in the invisible Filled with prescriptions Too harsh to swallow Faith made it good and evils spoils Each life choice the movement Of a chess piece I set down the weight Of…

Rain cascades from the sky creating thunder as it splatters on the tin Roof I stand in the sky’s Tears letting the cold water drip the shampoo from my strands.

Grocery shopping time Shop shop Don’t shop when you’re hungry You’ll be spending more money Make sure to bring your list Check it off despite fits Grocery shopping time Shop shop Remember to read those labels Not that they’re readable anyway It’s grocery shopping time…

At twelve An awkward age The things that fill your mind Some things you really shouldn’t know. Great guilt.   Your mind Is not your own No control where it goes Feelings come that you can’t explain. Great fear.   Let go Get it all…

How I’d like to go back and talk to my fat self– The one who sat all alone, like a book upon a shelf. I’d tell that unknown beauty of a secret she’d soon know That fixed the problem she endures, that burdens like a…

  Poem Eleven   Dear Harvey, Who’s about to be Born   Make sure you’re born on May 8. Do not rush things and come out the day before. Repeat: NOT THE DAY BEFORE!!! That’s a good little boy…just cozy in and relax.   May…

You’re going to regret this. He’s not “the one;” he doesn’t even love you. You’re going to cry on the way back up the aisle after and they will not be tears of joy because somehow, you already know. But marry him anyway, because for…

“The Wisdom is Found in the Journey” by Mandy Austin Cook dear past self, i forgive you. i forgive you for the times you didn’t give me enough credit, that you didn’t believe in me like you should. i forgive you for all of your…