i was always afraid of being watered down
afraid a tide would wash away the strongest parts of me
so i became a blown glass tank to keep
the flood at bay
burning myself at both ends
melting under the pressure of the limitless sea
i grew up in the rush of a brush fire
catching everything in its path
my job: to burn, to singe,
to grow, to ignite, then ash.
the sight of you sparked a connection
i saw my glow in your reflection
and when you drizzled
my light fizzled,
with ease you squeezed
through the cracks i trusted
to prevent leaks,
and i blazed in combustion
i thought you evaporated into
the air that fills my lungs
the air that fills the breeze
that hangs in the distance
between you and me
the tides receded enough to see
the sand turned glass
a chemical change within me
like letting off steam
Kailani is an amateur writer. She writes for the love of writing. It is her sincerest form of expression—a way to put her wide-ranging ideas and life experiences into something cohesive. As a clinical therapist, she helps others find, listen to, and use their voice. And her writing is her voice. The world as she experiences it is her inspiration, and her love of personal flair fuels her style. She doesn’t think she’s to write the next great American novel, but she’s to write something. Stay curious.
Featured image by Kyle Peyton on Unsplash.
