Gulf

It comes
in
waves. 
Heavy and
light. 
Dark and
bright. 
This ocean
of us
that can’t
be tamed. 


~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Life Element

You were the last rain droplets
before the drought 

but when you returned
and I welcomed you
appreciated you

you chose not to stay
and drought returned 

But now 
you’ve created a flood
its currents carry me along 

and while I fear 
I may drown 
in your depths

I also hope
that you’ll drop anchor
in mine

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Ironic Isolation

through
geometric
gaps

eyes engage
mouth maneuvers

hands hang
placards of platitudes

but
heart harbors
lies
fuel fears


and
feet forgo
forging ahead

self-sabotage
flies the flag
of self-preservation
only to fall
to self-destruction

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Territorial Tension

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

[untitled]

photography
is like
fishing

sometimes
it’s more about
the activity
than the results

so I find
my photo fish
appreciate the beauty
and gift of the process
but then release them
back to the world

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Isolation

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Rock

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Mirror

Your uneasiness
makes me uneasy

Let me anchor you
aquí, ahora

Place your hands in mine
Look me in the eyes
Acércate

Feel the stabilizing
pull and drift
centrándonos

Breathe
Trust
Descansa

You are safe
You are seen
You are known
You are loved

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

My Heart

full of potential
loamy, healthy, fertile soil
that knows its value

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

simple intimacy, pt. 1

ink drawings on palms
delicate X’s and O’s
and so it begins

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Tormenta

I need your storm
to come disturb me

thunder to shake loose the clutter
rain to wash it away
lightning to illuminate
all the space left for you to fill anew

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

May I be

a vessel, not a destination
a well, not a fountain
a means, not an end

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

My Response

You are the trip
I never planned
the vacation
I didn’t know I needed
until I stood on the brink
in wonder
marveling at
the conspicuous contrast
between
the before
and the before
that betokens the bearing
of the in between

You are the trip
I want to convert
into a change of address
all the while knowing
this cannot, will not be

And so I stand at this brink
perpending the perplexity of my position
watching and weighing
wondering
which way
my heart will wander

Should I stay
and simply savor
the here and now
the status quo
for what it’s worth
because it is indeed
still valuable

Or

Do I dare risk
Do I dare attempt
Do I dare explore
those wild waters
of uncharted territory
come what may
…because that is
also valuable

Either way
I’ll leave with the shells
souvenirs of you
kept and cherished
regardless of
what follows

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Be

Take my hand and walk with me
Pursue my heart and you will see
Just how free yours, too, can be

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Still and again

I know it sounds cliché
but I can’t get over the way
you can overtake my day
with one simple thing you say

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Summer Night

rumpled sheets
splayed hair
filtered street light
generated air flow

You see the remembering
in my eyes

You look at me
as though I am magical

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Morning Moment

Wake me
tenderly
with quiet voice
and sweet words
gently
with soft touch
hand on my side, thumb caressing
lips against the back of my neck
kissing, resting

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Mis-

The knife was never mine
and yet you put it in my hand
as though I plunged it into you without a thought
and now you bleed
and blame
and break away

But you draw blood from me
as you bleed on me
and leave behind your knife

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Remedy

Sometimes
you have to write the chapter
that will never happen
in order to tear it to shreds
and watch it burn
and disintegrate
in those fierce, fateful flames

grieve what won’t be
give space to
the chapters that
will
be written
embrace hope again

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~

Not a haiku

don’t give forethought
to anyone who treats you as
just an afterthought

~ copyright Kelly Elaine ~