Poetry, by Laura Alaniz

Poetry

Nothing makes people flee

Like reading them poetry

They value it in theory

But please don’t make them read

Surprise me with your verse

You have to grab me

Rhyming will only make it worse

You won’t catch me with just flow

(2015)

Life is good A little luxury A cup of coffee Served with toast Consumed lazily

He says I could never Get away with murder For I leave Pieces of me everywhere

Blonde eyes To match her hair Life is mean She counts her blessings Hopes for the best

My poems are short Written at night In my head I wake at dawn Shake my memory

Some I like to share Fresh out of the oven Don’t let it get cold That’s why I wrote it Emotions in that moment

Clinical smells Polite strangers The only thing worse Than being here Is to not be able

Does it hurt? When you prick your finger No I do this just for fun Our fingers lose feeling

Filler words Put me to sleep Added to cushion Take away my pillow Blunt words to wake up

Down to earth I am but of dust Dust particles I see floating in the air Carbon molecules

When I think of my mom I think of malt o meal muffins When I think of my dad Memories of a child Chasing us around the circle

It’s not that I’m sad Though I am It’s not that I’m discouraged Though I am It soaks deeper

If I could paint a man Eyes so dark they shine Brooding and stormy Til the smile breaks through If I could paint a man

An idea In my head Falls flat On paper Read it

How do you describe A man so dramatic? You can recognize him From afar with his hat Always the gentleman

The medication is not me But neither is the sickness it tre… You may hear its effects In my voice In my opinions