Kitten Foxx

“I wanted a reminder that things can still grow out of emptiness.
I wanted a reminder that things can still grow in this small, yellow room even though you’re not in it.
And I keep buying books even though nothing holds my attention anymore.
I have them stacked up to the ceiling. I have them stacked up to the moon.
I broke a bottle of red nail polish all over the kitchen floor, but it almost all came up with just a little remover. It looked like cleaning up after a crime scene. It felt like cleaning up after you left me.
Just takes a little elbow grease. Just takes a little time.”
― Trista Mateer, Honeybee

“Imagine somewhere there is a poem that tastes like our goodbye felt.
Biting down on foil, swallowing an unexpected mouthful of ocean water.
Too much of a good thing: cotton candy, soda pop, licking chocolate icing from the jar.
Acidic throat. A stomach ache.
I have given up trying to write it. I don’t need to hold onto it anymore”
― Trista Mateer, Honeybee

“I swear you always knew me better than I knew myself. You saw me in ways I didn't know how to see myself yet. I was happy listening to you snore while I lay awake. I was happy hearing you talk about things that mattered to you, and realizing that they mattered to me too.”
― Madisen Kuhn, Please Don't Go Before I Get Better

“I'm in a constant battle with reality and pretend
with who I am, who I want to be,
and who I wish I could be
with picking up the pieces, painting portraits of something strong, something whole,
something to be proud of
and shattering crystal vases on wooden floors
while smiling, without blinking
with seeing just how far I can run away from myself
without forgetting myself”
― Madisen Kuhn, Please Don't Go Before I Get Better