to no one in particular (poem)

Sometimes I think of those days
of our days
the wistful feeling is unwelcome
nostalgia
a memory that causes pain
there's no way back
not that I'd go
we fell away
it was for the best
I think
I know we didn't work
but I've never been good at fortune telling
reading the stars
always comes out wrong
I'm glad we had our time
though it's long over.

-Zero

the wishing stars (poem)

I've been seeing shooting stars lately
flashes of light against the dark sky
gone before I recognize what they are
it's been so long I've forgotten how to wish
what am I even allowed to wish for
can I wish for a better world
in times full of death and injustice
or do I have to wish for myself
so I finally have a place I belong
do I have any wishes left for me
have I spent my tokens carelessly in youth
when all I wanted was romance
though I already had all I needed
privilege blinded me to reality

I hope I have one wish left in me...

-Zero

a fire out back (poem)

that afternoon
I drained the firepit of rain water
we ripped up cardboard
watched it burn on wet ashes
cardboard led to wood
we hunted for some sticks to burn
grabbed the logs for good measure
and a fire was born.

that night
we sat staring at smoking embers
glowed like a dying sun
the moon above was almost full
scattered its light across the bay
all I saw was orange, blue, and you
the embers whispered a secret to me
it wouldn't be our last fire out back.

-Zero