Run

Keep being amazing,
never stop, never stop.
These tribulations may seem fazing,
never quit, never quit.
Life is troublesome and crazing,
never break, never break.
Those dreams still need some chasing, 

342

Anabelle liked to smile,
because that's how you avoid the tough question.
That tough question poured out the lips
of people who thought they knew Anabelle.

Those people who watched Anabelle.
Intently.
Waiting for her smile to break.

But after decades of practice, Anabelle's smile wouldn't break
because she couldn't hear the question again.

She wouldn't answer the question again.

No one really wanted to hear
what she had to say anyway.

So each morning, before Anabelle walked into a world
that belongs to those people, she stood in front of herself.
She turned on their voices in her head: "What's wrong with you?"

Over and over she played that question.
And the corners of her lips turned up with determination,
setting her mouth still like concrete;
an unbreakable smile.

she closed her throat on the words, the answer,
the only one she ever knew, but wouldn't say.
Until the day I kissed her.

On that day, she wouldn't shut up. That day she learned to stop
chewing on the scars from biting her tongue when those people spoke.

It was beautiful.

Moonbeam

In case you didn't notice
in case you never go
she's up there in the sky
and she is all alone.

She's far enough to watch us,
but close enough to know;
she'll give you her last breath,
because without you there's no hope.
Her cheeks have become shallow,
her lips sullen and thin.
But her eyes stay sharp as ever,
the years can't force her to give in.
She thinks one day, just maybe,
she'll feel a feeling and know it's right.
Like someday she could wear your smile

or feel someone hold her tight
enough to feel a little fuller,
instead of just another empty fool,
who waits in the sky and watches,
wanting the world to be less cruel.