Blistered ego, aching self,
scared girl in lion's mane.
Teeth bared, upturned
to keep sanity.  I don't want
to inconvenience, I
don't want to "kill the mood,"
so I laugh, joke, smother
myself in sweetnesses.

Lights painted promises years
ago, on wet pavement.  I opened
like an outstretched hand,
trying not to tumble
off an edge.  Maybe
it wasn't the right time;
you let me fall.