stoplights.

my heart gets lighter
when you smile at me

and the city skyline glows a bit brighter
when our voices blare out onto the highway

and you squeeze my hand a little tighter
when i turn and look over at you

and everything else feels right 
when you step on the brakes 
just before a stoplight.


(RL)

when.

when was it?

the first time i told my mom i was too mature to play with dolls

and stopped playing barbies with my sister?

when was it?

the first time my friends and i stopped playing hopscotch

and began sitting around talking about boys at lunch?

when was it?

the first time my friends excluded me for not looking "cool enough,"

and i started caring about the way i looked?

when was it?

the first time my mom asked me to play with my brother

and i didn't remember how?

when was it?

the last time i left a part of my childhood behind me

without even realizing it?

when did i start growing up so fast
and when will it stop?


(RL)

a little bird.

i was a little bird
who flapped my wings
and yearned to fly

i was a little bird
who was afraid of falling
and afraid to die


little birds are meant to fly
so why can i not?
no matter how much time passes
no matter how many days go by
everyone else is soaring
so why can't i?


i am a little bird
who cut off my wings
and is afraid to fly

i am a little bird
who can't stop falling
and yearns to die


(RL)