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)

The strings that attach me To this world Ground me Yes they sometimes Keep me from flying

Ask any female Love Is in the details I love you Three greatest words

Long and slender Her every movement Deliberate and graceful Composed as She listens quietly

My parents always say We’re proud of you I am too I got out of bed I used to get so much done

I will be Forever in debt To my mother Any gift Would come up short

An idea In my head Falls flat On paper Read it

I would never choose To eat a granola bar Or peanut butter crackers Though I eat them All of the time

Rough day Rough night If I could live In my bath Water would never

If I could draw a tree In all it’s complexity Would you be impressed? If I could draw a human face It would be but a trace

How do you measure pain? All is relative and personal Even with one’s own self It is impossible to compare As memory distorts pain

I am unique In so many ways But while variety excites What we look for Is our common thread

Beside you I am At peace Our love A connection

Traffic Irritation becomes a nightmare As the lines start to squiggle Bending in and out And the world starts its attack

Itchy It has to come off Nerves Makes me pick His look

Desperate for his attention Knowing it will drive him away Jealous of a game - how lame Choking self-esteem where I lay Desperate for his affection