I’m the youngest I guess even when you’re old you’ll always be the baby
Growing up It was all so very complicated living separately together not together but under the same roof together by blood together by secrets
My brothers I heard them laughing and playing singing through the wall
I wanted to play but they threw rocks go away
I told myself it’s fine I’m different anyway I learned to be quiet to be alone
When you’re grown you push things aside you reason does why really matter anyway
Today we can hug say I love you together by blood together by secrets
but inside I’m still the youngest wanting to play but cautious careful avoiding the rocks
Published by 100 SubTexts magazine, issue 35, July 2025
The Unwelcome
There is an unwelcome stranger living here A thief You’ve been living here a long time You’ve stolen from me My heart My youth My spirit Stolen from me The same things You’ve stolen from yourself
You are not comfortable here There is no comfort anywhere You’re lost And you have taken me along On the journey A destination of isolation Unhappiness and desperation Decorated with lies
How can you draw water From an empty well Yet How is it That I am drowning In emptiness
Will you Rescue me God Will you Rescue my guest Will you Welcome me Will you Welcome The unwelcome
Published by Gnashing Teeth Publishing, My America, July 2024
Best friends
I’m quiet shy and introverted I don’t make friends easily
I have just one friend my best friend Devin
he has blond curly hair always smiling easy going but somehow questioning
legs splayed sitting on the sidewalk outside his house we talk for hours
about life about God about religion about girls
I’m quiet but not with Devin
Let’s go to Nathan’s let’s build a raft
one time he talked me into riding my bike all the way to Fort Lauderdale
further than I had ever been miles and miles
leaving my block was far for me leaving my front door was far
Fort Lauderdale an adventure I’ll never forget
I’ll also never forget the call his dad answered the phone
he’s gone he shot himself
my mind spinning I didn’t know what to say
I never found out what happened I guess that’s strange
I just went back back to being quiet
no more talks no bike rides to Fort Lauderdale no best friend
back back to my block back to my front door
Published by Skyway Journal, January 2021, Best of the Net 2021 Nominee
Second
I’m six I’m going to be on Skipper Chuck I’ve won a contest second a girl won first
I see two bikes a pink and a blue I’m so excited I think I’ve won that bike
this is the best day of my life
I’m with my grandmother she squeezes my hand
I have to go up on stage in front of all the other kids
that fills me with terror
they laugh and point
I can’t stop thinking about the bike
I’m standing on the stage afraid
I wave I’m wearing a little Styrofoam hat like a Mayor’s hat
my short pants don’t fit right
the first place girl has won the bike
I win a wardrobe from Sears
I want to die
I wish I had never won
second is the worst place of all
you have to go up on stage and you don’t get a bike
this is the worst day of my life
I hope no one else ever wins second
Published by The Daily Drunk, December 2020
Glory and Grace He disappeared again I was sleeping but something stirred me awake
the car was gone the old panic set in
call, call text, text track the iPhone found
near the airport I know better but I go anyway
bleary eyed wandering a sex club or technically a video store
someone’s getting fucked on the screen men in silhouette jerk in rhythm
I track the phone beep beep beep in there a man motions
the booths connected by a glory hole a cock widthdraws
and he’s there caught in remorse the red sweatshirt stuffs the opening
Glen Alan Mitchell 