you are not being judged
because your bones decided
maybe in a moment unplanned
to rest near my bones
passion has no punishment
except the ones
we place upon our own hearts
I mean
we were runaway trains that night
and I was wearing my voice
at just the right decibel
you never stood a chance
besides
I understand those urges
that make you question things
like sexuality and I want to know
what this feels like
regret doesn't live in my heart
it simply can't afford the rent
and I am no test dummy
no one takes advantage of me
without my permission
if your tongue is tied
my prayer is that your thoughts are not
I am drawn to all things beautiful
and like it or not you were
you are beautiful
I mean
we were a head-on collision that night
and I never saw you coming
well
until I did
Added: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 / From "After This We Go Dark" (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2013). Used with permission.
Theresa Davis is the mother of three and was a classroom teacher for over twenty years. She reclaimed her love for poetry eleven years ago after the loss of her father. Since his death she has emerged as a nationally recognized slam poet, youth advocate, and teacher of poetry. Theresa co-founded the Art Amok Slam Team, and has competed in multiple national and regional competitions culminating in 2011 when she took first place in the Women of the World Poetry Slam Competition. She is the author of After This We Go Dark (2013) and Drowned: A Mermaid’s Manifesto (2016) with Sibling Rivalry Press.
