I Die Every Hour/Within Irises

I I die every hour, watching you conform to all the ideals you were never meant for. You were never meant for… If only you would fall between my lines. I write to you honestly, my messy love, before midnight. I love you truly, complicated heart. You beat against your cage— rage against the cage

A Love Poem

His tongue tastes like saliva and cherry Skoal. When he wants to fuck, he asks if I’m in the mood; is that respect or indolence? Why should I care? His irises are two oceans alight with bursts of butter yellow sun; a pair of pupils are black holes I navigate. I love him, and I

What I Am

I am but paper, gatherer of verses— rip me rip me when I die.   Tear me tear me into mouth sized morsels. Consume me when I die; Let me exist though I may not live.   © Kindra M. Austin

A Wedding Poem

Our loved ones who’ve risen and live now in the bless-ed skies of rose gold— they beam down upon you two, as we all who breathe are smiling upon your grand unification.   This day, you’ve both chosen to tie your souls together before devoted eyes. We are all bless-ed witnesses to these oaths. We

I Breathe Still

For a minute or more, I was dead as you, as you were technically dead before the end was absolute— before your brain conceded. For a minute or more, my world was edged in blossoming dark, engrossing, on the cusp of consent. Blackbirds congregated, chattered ‘round my head, and they called dibs on my vital

For the Women I’ve Lost

Nothing scares me. I’ve built my house around those who haunt me. Brick and mortar rises tall—a keep. The older I grow, so does my fortress. Soon, I’ll be left alone to revel in my ghosts in peace. Soon, I’ll be left alone, where I belong. Soon, I’ll be happy in spite of mourning. Soon,

Last Judgement

Come on down from there, if only for a quick minute. The last time I saw you is unsatisfactory in hindsight. Retrospection is a bitch dressed in my skin— I’ve become leprous. I may not pray to God, but I do talk to Jesus. My words fall on dead ears. Christ will not come to

Anyway, Always

Thinking about it now, I’m not the least bit sorry for the hateful shit I’d said to you eleventy years ago, when I was a kid and you fucking knew better. I rescind my apologies. Not that my sorries ever meant a good goddamn to you, anyway— they were ever only as true as your

You Remind Me

You are droplets of sunlight in the midst of a rainstorm, reminding me the Constant breathes for me when I am drowning.   You are the Roar when my words won’t come— speaking for me, reminding me I am never voiceless.   In this world disparaged by the Blight of divisiveness, you are true Eden,

For My Truest of Loves

The day was grey-blue, echo of your eyes; sky filled up with promise of rain, and we waited for beloved petrichor. Lemon yellow and speckled black, a noble friend clasped your flaxen strands and flexed its wings. What dreams did she bring, my darling? Do you know how often I dream of the daylight that