the space in between
adulting
for others
and adulting
for yourself
mental health
Self Love
self love
is an alone journey
table of one
solo mission
operation love thyself
because
no one else will
Radio-head
on campus
so many young
and beautiful students
and here I am
still feeling like I did
when I was young
and beautiful
not knowing it then
or believing it now
realizing that I
look at myself
with a self-loathing
that’s so very sad
walking around
each heavy step
or hard breath
echoes
I hate you
I hate you
I hate you
More often than not, been finding myself in a constant battle of self doubt. I definitely forgot to post this on Monday 🤦♀️ was a busy weekend! Happy Thursday, all!
Unrealistic Expectations
why don’t we talk about
how
many girls
won’t discover
who they are
until they’ve become women
Recycled
all that is said that ever was
thinking about it just because
and all the stuff I cannot change
the unimportant or really strange
it’s drifting by like rolled-up news
it’s dirty gray and overused
the stuff that hasn’t happened yet
recycled things I can’t forget
Looking Back
Thank God High School is Over
It’s amazing how a cafeteria smell
Will instantly take you back
The way it smells like broccoli cheddar soup. Like cheese but with a funk
Only 20 seconds
And the anxiety flashes back
High school anxiety. And middle school anxiety.
Standing in line forever to get food
If you kept your head down, the kids that were lewd, that were cruel, left you alone, rushing to eat
Difficult to swallow when your heart is pounding
Choking down chicken and gravy
That sticks to your throat like plaster
Or a doughy pizza that’s okay. Thank God for Pepperoni
Then you got the years Michelle Obama tried to make us eat healthy, and everything palatable (fries and cookies) were taken away and replaced my wheat rolls that looked and tasted like cardboard
What will we eat now?
It was okay with friends
It was safe there
Laughing and creating together
But on my own, I felt anxiety about a crowd
A teenage boy loves an easy mark
Especially someone so gullible
Innocent, naive, and unaware of the world
A 16 year old should have been more aware
Should have been not so afraid
I didn’t know how to be
Every day was fight or flight
And mom would be instantly there. To make it all better
Dog Love
dogs tell tales
like humans do
scratch an ear
steal a shoe
a stolen slipper
means, “I missed you”
a sock in mouth
means “hello,” too
love is the language
that dogs speak
except they say it
with a toy that squeaks
or slobbery kisses,
with head on your thigh
hands in warm fur
a deep, contented sigh
and muddy paw prints
on the kitchen floor
nose prints on the window
scratching the bathroom door
a minute is an hour
when you’re gone away
because they love us
every. single. day.
If you liked what you read, considering following me on Instagram @ajmorse_writes and follow my Facebook page A. J. Morse. My poetry book Walking in Cemeteries is available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/cAsZUxa
And…because we love our two buds…some pics below! We recently got a new golden retriever puppy. Meet Teddy! You can follow them both on instagram @kodabear_and_teddy
A. J. Morse 