she...

most of the time

it feels as if people only placate her

listening to the girl

making all the noise

while she laughs too hard

talks too fast

letting words fall out

like marbles on tile

but she is only speaking

what is at the forefront of her mind

never what is within

and the person that you hear

is not who she is

it is the surface, the mask

that gets her through the day

filtering her feelings

curbing her thoughts

so that you get the person

she thinks will offend you less

that bid for connection

and then, the shame

The Way

The way you listen
with your eyes closed 
as if to focus intensely
on every word 
to capture the essence 
of what lies beneath the surface 
of my heart 
has encapsulated me 
in warmth
of the most secure kind 

Valuable Lessons

You taught me 

that I am special

and beautiful 

in all of my ways. 

That they fit so

delicately with the things

I share and say. 

You taught me that being near me

was excitement 

beyond measure. 

And to get the chance to love me

was a privilege 

to desire forever.