Same Puzzle, Different Box

August 17th, 2025

Staying in your life felt like solving a puzzle
When none of the pieces seem to fit
The shape appears to match without lining up
And I’m stubborn so it takes a lot for me to quit
The puzzle was hindering as the years passed by 
But I was determined for so long to make it work
Now the puzzle sits like a story on my shelf
Because I was the only one doing the legwork

Note: This was actually the last poem that I finished this year. I’ve started many, and I will post later next year once they’re complete. For now, I’m going to pause while I draft my yearly recap and then dig through my old poems to continue sharing things I wrote in the past. I hope you all have a great New Year!

Unfinished Business

August 11th, 2025

Not sure what you got out of this
When you never wanted more
But you still wanted to talk to me
And not close the door
I have to fill in the blanks
Bridge communication you wouldn’t say
Trying to figure out what happened
When you asked me out for Valentine’s Day
Your eyes wouldn’t meet mine
Across the table at Leatherby’s
Maybe you were just lonely
I guess I’ll never know why you invited me

It’s Not All Bad 

July 1st, 2025

I thought if I got to know you
I wouldn’t like you anymore
But I now know that I was wrong
You’ve continuously surprised me
Wanting to read as a New Year’s Resolution
Deep diving bibliology while not religious
Protecting your inner world so strongly
Still letting me see glimpses
How much you loved your dog
How ambitious you are to get your job done
And even though you’re not blood related
Helping your Dad and being a good son
I love listening to you talk
The things we have in common
The things we disagree on
Playful jabs while being a hater
I like how much of a nerd you are
I think you see how much I see you
And maybe it scares you
But it scares me that I still care
Even through the distance
As me clearing the air brought you closer
I thought that I had already lost you
But you say I’ve done nothing bad
I don’t think that’s true though
You’ve constantly accepted the blame
For things I have never apologized for
I’ve pushed boundaries you never set
I’ve blamed you for my emotions
When I should’ve been looking in the mirror
I’m just an imperfect person
Who fell for another imperfect person
I don’t know what to do with that
Because we weren’t meant to be
But I learned a lot about myself
So I’m still glad that we met

Note: This poem was written five months ago, before I fully accepted that someone I cared about was unable to show up with integrity. I no longer relate to this version of myself, but I honor her for trying to find the good in people.