Flesh, in all its glory

Live, love, laugh.

Three things,

 such a simple recipe for everything in life

when said aloud,

dictated or preached.

We practice them, every single day

or at least you and I,

above the ground.

Tell me, what makes you alive?

What monitor screams

THIS ONES LIVING?

Your heart does,

when it's pounding

when it's aching

when it's light

and even in fright.

What else does your heart do?

It loves, of course.

What is love?

Love is when your brain

is spelling out

I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E

and your heart is

frantically scribbling

Y-E-S.

Love is when your heart pounds

after seeing the same smile

fifteen years in a row.

Love is being able to laugh

at yourself.

What is laughter?

Laughter is

the cheapest,

most intoxicating

(addicting, even)

substance we’ve ever invented.

Nothing hurts your

stomach, cheeks,

eyes or sides

nor heals and mends

souls and friendships

relationships and moments

quite like

laughter.

Wilt

My secrets are sticking to me,

bogging me down

left right and center,

sending me askew.

Little bricks stuck to my skin,

pulling me off-center.

No physical cleanse can remove this adhesive,

will truth set freedom loose,

or are these words going to be my noose?

When do staggering steps become cohesive?

When the steps become strides,

when without guilt,

you start feeling pride.

On truth this foundation must be built,

because I will not let this flower wilt.

Achilles Heel

I've got a whole lot of words to say

ready and waiting

but they're not pretty, or packaged,

they are crudely lumped up

an awkward jumble

stuck in my throat

stuck in my head

stuck to my pen and not

quite making it to paper

I've spoken of the world to you

of its wonders, its terrors,

even its disgust,

all at length

all at ease

but this?

This is the peanut butter gluing my tongue;

my achilles heel is the very muscle I tenderly tone?

My very words?

Whether it be

you
or the words

I am afraid of, I'm not sure.

Either way,
I'm still left with telling you something you already know.