Otherwise

I say, “I’m fine,” otherwise,He’ll say, “I’m sorry to hear that.”Another lie through our masks.Can we please stop?Stop going through the motionsTo spare othersThe burden of being human?Instead,Swallow me in a bear hug, already,Compress me until my eyes run dry.Fold by fold,Tuck me into a cocoonUntil I snoreDaintily as a […]

Can You Ride

Crab pots and peach pits, flagstones and biscuitsGuard the beard on your chin, fully stocked adrenalineCesar comes and he goes, spin his top, let him flowWhere he pops, we don’t know, will he stop, no no noAre you high like Cesar?Will you fly like Cesar?Do or die,Can you ride like […]

Drop

Drop(lazy country, A, F#minor, A, alternate chords in chorus)[Verse 1 – A, F# minor, A]Let’s brew your favorite coffeeSoak our mugs in the sinkLeave the toothpaste on the counterJust maybe, I’ll start to thinkYour laundry in the cornerIs not a figment of the drinkYou’ll be here in the morningWon’t lose […]

All Beast, No Tame

Loam and stone in breath and bone,Cut the dial tone, Danny ain’t home.Reign so insane, don’t pop the chain,All beast, no tame, shred you in shame.Get your daily fruits and strap-on boots.Jump and jam, Danny’s on your can.Listen if you’re simple, gonna make it plain,All beast, no tame, shred you […]

Take What is Yours

You study me,too afraid of rejection tofill me up andplay our song.Pour me a drink andshare the rhythm.Stay close, stay steady.I am your cadence.You are losing,me before you.You are losing,take what is yours.You study me,me before you.Pour me a drink andtake what is yours.Too afraid of rejection toshare the rhythm.Fill […]

Exhibit One

Strewn self serve legal papers and a collapsing curation of unfinished ideasilluminated by a warm peek-a-boo sun.My dream of Nihon preservedin a clay mug of cold tea.Good intentions obscured byNow, Late, Eventually.The disarray, a masterpieceof my own creation, as am Imy greatest work of art.-Melissa Donley

I Wanted to Reach Out

For affirming clarityAnd the home in your voiceDissolving jagged agonyFrom every clutched breathTo post my mending handsOn your face and your chestReleasing the torrentsof starvation and absenceMay I have this dance?Conjuring alchemy in our bonesWe are outside of Time andThe Universe says YESWill you please look at me?I wanted to […]

XXX

Your Name

Allow absolution the blasphemyParting my pregnant lips.You declare you are namedFor a prophet,The king’s favoredInterpreter of dreams.I know your name.A slip of the tongue,It dives beneath my hems,Unlaces the seams,Leaves me undone.Incisor savoring Flushed neck and expectant mouth,Opiate undulating.Granting my greedy seizureOf all I demand.Edge steady,Whisper the crescendoOf rooted oscillation.The […]

On Top

Can’t stop, won’t stopI know you want me on topOn tap, hit thatWhat you got to win me backDo you do or do you don’tLike the way that my ass floatsHold your tongue, hold my faceI want to know how you tasteDown South, up NorthI got the map, I plot […]