Standing on the monkey bars,
tongue stuck to the cold
steel, the girl's fear

faded. Her classmates ran
inside when the recess
bell rang. Some chided her

for being late; but how could
she respond with her tongue
so preoccupied? There was

something profound about standing
alone on the monkey bars, staring
at one steel bar, eyes crossed, tongue

affixed, no where to go, nothing
left to do, but stand amidst the
empty playground, wondering if

she'd be missed at lunch.

5th

These sheets won't come clean
no bleach, they run
freely they bleed
fully wounded
openly torn right angles
pulled from the edges
threadbare
sheets stained red
beautifully pained
precisely ruined.
These sheets can't sleep me through winter
discontented sheets
and from underneath,

I smell freedom.
Dirty sheets bled
from a weary bed.

5th