Reputation

Photo by Octoptimist

When the white fangs pierced your skin, you knew you chose wrong.

When my pride lost its throne, you realized I have known all along.

So, take me back to the forest, put your blade into my shaking back,

Show them that you are the ice queen, only seeing white or black.

Oh, how I have been wronged, but I never uttered a single phrase.

You told me to hold my horses, then put hot flame in my face.

A year ago, I would have told them you do not deserve the reputation,

But those times are long gone, and they have killed my patience.

-Jackie

Fall From Grace

Photo by Octoptimist

The time has come to pick up the sharp pieces and reinvent myself.

I have to choose a better mask before the dogs are sent after my scent.

It’s time to practice smiling in the mirror, practice laughing at jokes.

The people I used to call friends, they all hope I finally choke.

Yes, it’s time to drink champagne as my life collapses around me.

They will send rescuers to the scene who will claim they cannot find me.

It’s time to spin at the edge of a steep cliff and pretend I do not care.

I wish they knew how cruel it was to treat my heart as a dare.

-Jackie

Unanswered

Photo by Navid Sohrabi

They combed the old forests searching for you,

They stared at my arms, looking for a faint bruise.

I could feel the rage, could feel the daggers landing.

How could all this wrath come from something romantic?

They cried for seven nights while counting my breaths.

Remind me, honey, was it something I said?

I saw them stealing my sanity like it was a drug.

Tell me – do you love this grave that we dug?

-Jackie

They Took My Kingdom

Photo by Ali Karimiboroujeni

Good things never come from fragile egos and weak backbones.

God, I look back and wish that I could rule this kingdom alone.

They charmed me with their split tongues, made me into a zero.

Now my palace burns with hateful chants and self-proclaimed heroes.

I wish I knew how to make it right, but all I seem to do is break things.

My teeth have bitten way too many skins for me to boost ratings,

And they know that once the world finds out I will be just a wreck.

Good things never come out of people that capitalize on regret.

-Jackie

Circus Clown

Photo by Hebert Santo

My feet tend to take me to peculiar places,

They never once take me back home.

And my friends ask me to slow my pace,

So, I always have to walk alone.

My feet take me down to dark castles,

They stomp on ancient graves.

People always treat me like I do not matter,

So, I only have myself to save.

My feet walk through mud and clear water,

They get cut open on rocks.

I wish I could finally call my father,

But he has my number blocked.

My feet tend to take me to scary towns,

They take me where I belong.

The locals think I am a circus clown,

And, honey, they are not wrong.

-Jackie

Darkest Hours

Photo by Ferdinand Studio

You swept me off my feet like flood tends to do with towns,

Then you kept me under the water, hoping I would drown.

Baby, I am not your demon to burn or tear into pieces.

You can tell god whatever you please, save your reasons.

You think I do not notice the purple wounds that you leave,

You think I do not hear how you curse when I sleep.

Still, I have heard every syllable, felt every single punch,

But you are convinced you have long killed my raging hunch.

Do not doubt for even one second – I will shoot to kill.

I will scrape you off my brain, slay you with white pills,

And your pouring rain will form rainbows under my sun.

Yes, you swept me off my feet, but you never held the gun.

-Jackie

Wishful Thinking

Photo by cottonbro

I hope you dread the hour witches come back to haunt you,

Spinning through your room, screaming that they all warned you.

Some tongues will come loose, and your thin hair will grow greyer.

I could have saved you this circus if you ever spared a prayer.

You promised to erase me, then shuffle the blank pages,

Get me down on my knees in front of your jokers and your sages.

I hope you dread the hour these witches come back to life,

Shooting through your lies, smoothing you over with their knives.

-Jackie

Another

Photo by Santiago Sauceda González

Another pale taxi takes me home tonight.

I watch the streets blossom, watch them flourish.

God, thank you for lending me all this might,

All this spite to stay this sleepless and famished.

The weight ensures it is breaking me daily,

Coming over me, tasting just like your breath.

The demonic neon city still stings me gently.

I prefer this numbness over being a red wreck.

Another pale taxi takes me to your place.

I watch the streets burn, I watch them crumble.

God, thank you for ripping apart all my lace.

I have never been naïve enough to tumble.

-Jackie

When The Cup Spills

Photo by Stacey Gabrielle Koenitz Rozells from Pexels

Do not get too sobered up by my confessions.

I really do not come in peace, I swear.

Truth wins hearts yet smiles win elections,

And there is no feeling more truthful than fear.

You put in the work, and you fix the mistakes.

Honey, I do not buy all these decorations.

You erased me in one, two, three shitty takes,

Then went ahead and called it validation.

So, do not punch yourself when the cup spills.

I really do not mean any harm, I promise.

Smiles dull blades, but truth – it always kills.

Honey, I was never your lost Alice.

-Jackie

I Wish We Were Dreaming

Photo by ArtHouse Studio from Pexels

These walls crawl with bugs,

Don’t utter a word.

Check the ceiling and rugs,

Don’t touch your sword.

My palace is rotting,

Please help me kill it.

The tongues have been plotting,

My skin has lost feeling.

I howl at dark nights,

I pray to the moons.

But nothing makes it right,

Days turn into noons.

These walls keep screaming,

Listen how they yell.

I wish we were dreaming.

There is no way to tell.

-Jackie