New Growth

We stumble into 2014

Licking our wounds

Fresh with blood

In search of

Butterfly bandages

To minimize

The scarring 

Compound fractures

Broken bones

Wanting to 

Wash

Burn

Set

All that damaged

Us this past year

Casting off 2013

Like a weight

That has kept us

Underwater

Not able to see clearly

Because  the salt

Burns our eyes

Not able to hear

One another through the 

Murkiness

Of the deep water

From our own despair

This year fucked us good

In all the worst ways

We were both lost

Clutching to one another

Out of fear, habit

It can only get better 

From here

We will burn it all

For new growth

Making our forest

Lush with promise 

Hold my hand 

Don't look back

For those ghosts

Will just cloud your

Beautiful mind 

With doubts 

And we can't

Afford to take on any

Extra baggage this year.

~Amber C. Smith 2014

Gemini Full Moon

"This alignment also triggers a powerful release of the past, clearing out old trauma-based belief systems so we can see the present and future more clearly."

It's Wednesday morning

I am drinking coffee

Upon the red bricks

Of my back steps

Thinking of you

My house is shrinking 

By the minute

Suffocating me

My hunger

For fresh air is overwhelming

The December Sun is blinding

Illuminating the bare branches

That pierce the perfect blue sky

I mended your slip again last week

The one you gave me when I was 16

It has been tattered and worn

Lovingly through the years 

My body has grown and shrunk 

With each inch of silk and lace 

It hugs me perfectly now

Reminding me of you

Your laughter

Your flaming red hair

Your beauty

Your stories and scars

Hidden by pride

How you would cup my face

With your elegant fingers

Gazing into my eyes to say

"goodbye,

I love you,

don't be a stranger"

I didn't visit as often as I should have

Even less when over 600 miles 

Grew between us

Coming home has always been like 

Stepping into a boxing rink for me

Leaving my heart and head 

More sore and bruised

With each return

I wanted to bring the boys to see you

I wanted you to be tangible to them

Not just a character in one of my stories

I know you loved me through all the madness

As I loved and forgave you through yours

I only smile when I think of you now

There is a breeze making the hem of your slip dance today

And I know that is your way of telling me it is all going to be okay.

~Amber C. Smith (December 2013)