mimicry

i learned
at a very early age
to observe
pay attention, be quiet
the habits of a stranger
inhabiting a strange, new world
lonely
never at home
always molding the chameleon face
to match yours
i look
at this change as a possibility
when the most important skill
i have is
the adaptation
of mimicry.

~

RNH

cut puzzle

put together
as pieces of a cut puzzle
overlapping leaves of integrated thought
litter
turning to project to magic
the evidence found in the profundity of art

placing shadows carefully
open to folding, open
to the hesitant and rush
of capturing who you are 
the loveable creases on your forehead
the flexed joints of your hips.

~

RNH

Inexplicable

she said, nothing is planned, really
as if noting the chaos of the universe
would somehow explain it
why bad things happen to good people
why good things happen to you
as if that were truth
the void upon void, inexplicable
action upon action, futile
the message, imbibed, i
cannot bury my instincts
i believe there is meaning
in everything.

~

RNH

Building a Family

the home gave birth to clouds
and spoke in riddles
word bubbles rising from the chimney
and the walls leaned against each other
emulating comfort
admiring the family they had built.

~

RNH

Winged

i imagined a butterfly
and imagined escape
and two wings grew
from the middle of my back
and i watched as the fantasy flew
away and returned
to me
while i impatiently sat.

~

RNH

One Embrace

the round arms held a smaller being
which held an even smaller being
which held a child
and the world was never lonely
knowing you were only
one palm-width away
i need merely reach up
and feel loved.

~

RNH

Hunter

tilted head of the hunter
unbowed, focused
lowered to achieve best aim
mane arching stiffly in profile
claws ready
moments from devouring its prey.

~

RNH

collapse

city collapsed in shadow
urgency woven with depression
gray giving highlight
to the cheekbones of a woman
distracted by details and events framing her
beyond control.

~

RNH

The Wick

blacker than midnight and the words
stained like the light
from a man on fire
the torched heart, set free
the scarecrow self uncertain
what is life,
what is death.

~

RNH

taillights to taillights

when we lined up
pairing taillights next to taillights
infinite red-eyed snails
we listened
to the banter
on the station
to the motor's rail
groaning that it's moving,
not yet moving, working still
and the smattering of neon in the night sky
made its own kind of symphony and thrill.

~

RNH

Not My Home

left in a room
with your photographs
and your small voice laughing
pound of small feet running
in the hallway
chases me down
and my instinct
just to flee
and leave this place, in frames
intact
claws up, choking around my ears
instead, i wait
imitating the glass.

~

RNH

Flattery

when the comment smoothed
like oil
on fingers through coiled
curly hair
i grimaced and turned
wanting to unlearn
wanting to memorize
what you felt
the pillow-like, mushed
the billowy, crushed
the gentle seam pulled tight, wrinkling
the line was wasted on a puppet
clinging to ill-formed flattery.

~

RNH

The Artist

splatter of paint
indicates fire
heat turning liquid turns
conquest to gold
caressing what you wept for
tears sliding patient
glass to the untied slip, floor
hits and slowly
arches the circle, revels
in one metal link to the other
cuffed half
and the canvas only can listen
i coax and glisten
knowing you will do what i ask. 

~

RNH

Open Symbol

lines of neck and collarbone
traced in soft beige
burnt in light 
image saturated in pigment
loss and capture, hollows
ignite
the sharp inhalation
touch and possession
fingerprints left where desire
surrenders
to an open
symbol of vulnerability
waiting to be seen.

~

RNH

If Leaving

if leaving was an option
for the faithful
for the one that stayed

if leaving was a breath
taken and released
only to be filled again

if leaving was not permanent
flawed and fatal
diving from the edge

then i would not be tearing pictures
and you would still be here.

~

RNH

Swim

rising from the surface
muscle moves through negative space
forming agency from emptiness
as the glass is hit with the flame
turning spit on her existence
plastic eyelids keeping closed
i learned to swim against resistance
when you sink into your throes.

~

RNH

Adamant

slapped with a sticker
this i know, this
rings familiar
chanting purpose to the victim
yes, i notice
what you are

recognized the old polemic
all is pouring, tragic rain
when you are adamant
on not changing
i hear exactly
what you say.

~

RNH

Gorgon

when met with the sea of terrible
wind of memory, downpour of grief
i shout in syllables
unrecognizable
silhouette soaked, disavowing defeat
i raise my voice
to verbally move
the wall, the towering, violent beast
shrieking, it bends
bowed by the honesty
i am still here
i am not afraid.

~

RNH

structure

edges marked in charcoal
where i appear
where i disappear

squares and corners
of a playground
of a staircase, stones
projected

contrast relief

carving substance from the substance
crest to core
only structure can define you
smudge and rewrite
what you will.

~

RNH

The Horizon

you were so much like the ocean
and not the rain
so much like the heartache
and not the pain
from one pricked finger
no
you flooded me over like the horizon
endless
as a sunset full of colors.

~

RNH