With Broken Wings (2013)

Traditions Were Meant to Be Broken

i love the way that the breeze is crisp and cool

the way that somehow everything

begins to smell of pumpkin pie

i love wearing baggy sweaters

and soft fuzzy boots

being able to drink tea

without scalding my tongue

and becoming too hot

but i also miss

spending those early mornings

on the phone with you

while you asked about school

and distracted me from all of my

assignments

and essays

and exams

i miss your terrible jokes about being old now

and teasing remarks about how university

was going to change me

to which i promised you it never would

as we chatted about temperatures shifting

and everything under the sun

i miss how you became

the only constant

in my shifting

anxiety riddled nights

but most of all i miss

your encouraging words

whispered in my ear

as you smothered me in warmth

and happiness

and love

the last time that you held me in your arms

and despite all of these beautiful things

that i love about fall

like halloween

and hot chocolate

and reading week break

it’s also hard to think about

all of the things

that won’t be the same

again this year

and sometimes i wonder

if i will ever learn to be

okay with that

and make new traditions

instead

-traditions, m.p.