a poem from each month of 2021

01 January 2022

Written by Jada Harris

january | 1/07/21

Is getting in touch with your feelings

the same as becoming numb to them?

february | 2/11/21

all I've ever wanted

was to use my voice.

march | 3/18/21

if I am the only one seeing me

am I still being seen?

if my needs are not being met

am I still a human being?

april | 4/21/20

I know we play pretend

because I still look at you

the way the sun

shines in my eyes

if we make it out

you’ll look at me

like the heartbeats

in your chest

keeping us both alive

may | 5/14/21

I have to stop

thinking about it

so I can remember

to breathe.

I have to let it go

just long enough

to finally

get some sleep.

june | 6/01/21

it's not peaceful over here

but at least I have someone to blame

I hold my own hand down the street,

wipe my own tears, know my own pain

july | 7/05/21

I just want to be known by someone

and loved at the same time.

august | 8/07/21

I am like the moon in the night.

never close enough to touch,

always around though, always in orbit.

september | 9/26/21

how did I become so obsessed with something

I was never really trying to find?

I didn't notice I've been slowing sewing myself

into your side this entire time.

october | 10/23/21

I think there’s a possibility that you are going to hurt me

and that means I’m doing something right.

I’ve never been able to let someone in,

and now I want you cut me open like a kitchen knife.

I'm comfortable in the conflict because

the only people I've ever cared about have always put up a fight,

and I think that's what being vulnerable is,

showing other people each shade of your pain.

november | 11/13/21

we could make everything beautiful

if we just took the time.

van gogh's starry night was just another night,

monet's water lillies, just another lily.

december | 12/02/21

for the first time I feel like

I might be capable of experiencing

more joy than I am pain.