Helium

by Rudy Francisco

It just sits there, with a mouth full of entitlement, staring at you and wondering why it is still not a masterpiece.

I imagine, when God made you, he cussed for the first time. He turned to an angel, gave him a high five and said: “Goddamn, I’m good!” You are that beautiful.

my scars can tell the story of how I fell for you.

I will bleed all the crippled reasons why you deserve one more chance.

I spoke you into sunflowers.

When you choose to be a poet, you become a place that people walk through and then leave when they are ready.

There is nothing logical about cutting off the most important parts of yourself then putting them inside hands that shake, that tremble, that crack like a Haitian sidewalk.

Cupid is irresponsible, and I’m tired of him using me for target practice.

I want you to tell your God that my God is looking for him.

a weapon will always be a weapon but we choose how we fight the war

I am learning that a man is not defined by what he can destroy.

I am learning that the difference between a garden and a graveyard is only what you choose to put in the ground.

Some days, it’s just me by myself, the room is at capacity