I can

Many times I climbed
right up that “do not climb” hill.
Don’t tell me I can’t.

~ smj

My “do not climb” hill.
Ok.. I don’t actually own the hill..
~ smj

Eyeliner

“You wear too much eyeliner.
You look like a whore.”

Tigress teenage eyes rolled back
at him. Her face scrunched up in disdain
to mask the sting of his words.  Who cares
what he thinks? She didn’t want to.
What the fuck does he know? 

Innocence was overrated, anyway.
It never protected her when she had it
from those that would stare right into unlined, wide
eyes, smiling as they robbed them blind. 
Blue naivety drained to black.

Tears can take years to catch up
with repressed memories.  But, they build and spill
eventually.  One way or another.  They don’t care
how much you hate to cry. Denial can’t prevent
bleeding out slowly from the inside.

The Rebels

Sometimes, when the moon is so full
of  itself, that it seems to light up the night
and commands all that it shines upon
to offer up praises in howling song,

she seeks out the lone wolf, joining him
in his den where he offers shelter, and strength
to resist the charlatan’s charms.  Together
they refuse to bay trite songs.  Waiting

instead for dawn’s truth to rise.  Smiling
knowingly at each other.  Reveling
in their shared rebellion.

~ smj

Beyond the Invisible, by Enigma