LEAVE

I'm naked and it doesn't matter
exposed and I don't care
I'm no longer inspired
just tired
and once again, you're not there

My soul has long been splintered
I'm past forgiveness now
I want you to leave
so I can breathe
and I don't really care how

You're naked but it doesn't matter
exposed but I don't care
I don't want your soul
I just want to let go
and find myself somewhere

---

ON THE TRAIN

We're all bleeding
said the lady on the train
trail leading crimson
awash over the city
our wounds, the fabric of society
red patches stitched with threads of loss
the blanket smothers us all
no one can breathe

We're all hurting
said the lady, her face a map
worn smooth around the edges
and often, we choose to go it alone
then reach out a hand
amidst the tide
and so we remain separate
and the wounds deepen

All it would take
the lady said, faintly
as the train groaned to a stop
is one hand reaching out
for the wounds to heal  

she sighed
as she left her seat
and turned to me
will it be you?, she asked
then disappeared, unsteady into the station

My hand reached out  

too late  

she was gone  

Brandi N Powell
copyright 2004
Dallas , TX .  

BIO: When Brandi isn't writing poetry, which is all the time,
she's sharing inspiration on planetsark.com, ranting on emergingwomenwriters.com or doing a downward facing dog
to the sound of her own breathing. Further examples of her
poetry can be seen in Beginnings magazine as well as anthologies for the International Poets Society and Noble
House Press.