Itus and Itis Crashed my party I didn’t invite them! I whisper to my sister They make my skin crawl

She is no longer Part of my life I’ve moved on My life is full With friends

I wallow in my sadness As it pools up It has not swallowed me Who floats above its surface This surface

I cannot apologize For writing what I feel inside If it is hard to read It is harder to live I will understand

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 love to hear poetry read Rather than performed I love to hear each word Appreciated Rather than memorized

I’m watching a woman in a bikini In great shape with a swollen bell… Play with her puppy named Gatsby A Hispanic family comes The little girl dips her feet in

Bags full of diapers Cars waiting in line Smell coming from the load Ashamed it was mine He noticed my insulin pump

I’ve known Deep inside All along My value That I matter

A palomino gallops Beside the highway Look out the window Rides over green hills Through yellow flowers

Scratchy plaid blanket Red with yellow stripes Hot and itchy underneath Claustrophobia strikes Purple and blue prisms

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