Hey.

                                   I think I left my coat 

                                   & some baggage on &/or around you

                                   & I think maybe I left that last    

                                   conversation hanging in the air

                                   framed around that sad stare of yours,

                                   around those eyes telling me something 

                                   I don’t want to hear. 

                                   You were using telekinesis 

                                   to break my heart. 

                                   You were bending & shaping 

                                   my experience, 

                                   reminding me of my stubborn & impatient side 

                                   & that the world can hurt you with truths

                                   but also lies; 

                                   my mind gets to decide 

                                   which is worse.

                                   No one can tell me. 

                                   I’ll find out for myself

                                   because I need my coat back.

                                  Ripples of flames 

                                  consume the cells in my brain 

                                  & I am the blood rushing 

                                  towards whatever I let ignite me.

                                  Our touches kiss,

                                  I rearrange my hips,

                                  & forget about carrying my body 

                                  & thoughts around

                                  as you go down. 

                                  but I grab your hair

                                  to let you know 

                                  part of me is still there,

                                  lost in this familiar chase,

                                  falling into a vulnerable embrace.

                                          .Laura Curren.

               I love you like 
               overplaying my favorite song.
               I love you like 
               the pair of jeans I've worn for too long.
               Even when I get tired of the melody,
               even when you rip & you're tired of holding me,
               I still miss the feeling.

                       .Laura Curren.

                              On an episode of Forensic Files

                           Imagine being an envelope manufacturer 

                           & the machine that slices the stacks of paper 

                           into its shape has made a mistake 

                           & the flaps of glue don’t meet & match.

                           This is overlooked by the packagers

                           & is sent to the shelves with defunct folds.

                           How embarrassing to not deliver 

                           what it always strives to be, 

                           but imagine now that this seemingly stupid flaw

                           solves a murder. 

                           The killer’s typed threats were held 

                           & discovered by the odds of this error.

                                                .Laura Curren.

                                                               An Ode to Fuckboys

                          Tell me what you like
                          but not what you're like.
                          Something casual,                                       
                          nothing serious.
                          You're all pictures
                          & no description.
                          I know labels make you nervous
                          but my friends don't  
                          take my clothes off.
                          I know there's more pressure 
                          once you know my middle name 
                          & my birthday. 
                          I know expectations frighten you 
                          in the worst way
                          but a vague text about bad timing 
                          should get you off the hooks 
                          you've strategically been dodging.       
                          The reasons why you've been backflipping 
                          over dealing with feelings
                          can only be found
                          by sifting through your loneliness,
                          but that's not fun,
                          that doesn't make you cum. 
                          So until then, 
                          I hope you find the something 
                          & the nothing you're looking for. 
                         
                                   .Laura Curren. 
                          

                       

                   I liked having you nearby,

                   just around the corner,

                   always almost there.

                   I was thinking about it,

                   all the what if,

                   & maybe in another world

                   I would be yours

                   & you would be mine 

                   & all the what if 

                   became what is.

                               .Laura Curren.

              Why am I so preoccupied 

              with wasting my time?

              Whether it’s 

              typing on a magical rectangle-

              handheld or lap,

              why do I 

              escape myself?

              through someone else, 

              all the episodes of a show, 

              by staying up late,

              staying tired & out of it, 

              having the sudden urge 

              to put on a playlist 

              & clean every last corner 

              except for what’s going on inside,

              everything looking pretty 

              without admitting 

              it needs to be fixed.

              .Laura Curren. 

             Why would you attack your own face? 

             That’s like the billboard of your details,

             the display case of your moods.

             Why would you show people

             this is how you treat yourself,

             this is what you do. 

             Beauty is in the heart,

             but what you see affects you.

             I can’t tell you why 

             my fingernails become knives

             & pick at every suggestion of imperfection. 

             but I would say  

             this is a weird form of control.

             This is a strange way to hinder myself.

             Some small relief 

             for a bigger picture I don’t want to see.

             It’s a compulsion

             to dig at the surface but not within.

             I can edit myself & paint on my pride,

             I can hide behind sunglasses 

             & filters

             but ultimately,

             I can’t mask my mentality.

              .Laura Curren.