Change your hearts and lives

skies open up to me
my feet rooted to this earth
hands as trembling branches
sing your songs in memories
they dressed differently
hiding behind the door to the world

my people were simple
from small towns
swallowed up by the city
books became the bridges
all your dead relatives
wait on the other side

my first funeral
for a stranger
for the fairy tales
that kids believe in less
while death forms
only becoming more real

Hands out, head down, eyes closed, hope they just go away

there i was at five-years-old
telling me to push you
off the platform
didn't think i should
when you reassured me
watching you fall
something shifted inside of me
i ran but it was too late
i was already seen

there i was at ten-years-old
still trying to hide
from falling to fear
my smile was real
for which they despise
and wish to take away
something's breaking inside
their fingers pointed
i just want to feel safe