WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING

Haiku String:

Till I'm sure I've got

the goal, I seldom show my

process for winning 

It upsets people

when I don't share the details 

cuz they want the tea

But my goals are not

gossip; they need protection

from outside dangers

Like a pregnancy 

the fetus is showered with

intentional care

Only folks who can

help mom have a successful 

birth are on the team

Gotta be careful 

who you give access to your

plans for happiness 

Don't be so hyped to 

tell folks where you're going; they

might not wish you well

People don't always

like to see you win when they're 

on the losing end

Their energy may

be suspect; monitoring

spirits bring envy

A snide remark here,

criticism there, now you

second-guess yourself 

Keep your cards close to

your heart, your mouth closed, and your

journey under wraps

Give them the play by

play after you succeed and

they can't steal your shine 

©2026 Charlene E. Green 

ERROR IN JUDGMENT

They think because

I don't bother nobody 

and I'm all

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

and life coaching

about how to maintain 

peace of mind...

that I won't

hop out this gentle buggy ride

I'm lettin' them experience 

and before they can blink

rudely awaken them

to unevolved me:

Miss Chariot of Fire

She is never more

than a coupla your fuck-ups

away from slittin' your ego

The only reason 

you might have time for two

is cuz she's busy

tryna control herself 

and make sure she don't 

go to jail 

or an early grave

behind her reaction

to the first one

Don't git it twisted 

Sweet Buggy Ride 

has firmly planted roots now

works hard on her disposition 

painfully aware of the trouble

she has attracted with it

in the past

knows how to talk 

Firestarter off the ledge

keep her flare match-sized

quicker to fizzle

If she lets it

But while her foundation 

in the soil

may be strong

at her core

she's still

a hurriquake

so if you wanna

shake things up

fuck around and find out

what happens when 

the Buggy Ride stops

then rest assured

she has enough matches 

to light a hefty blaze

to the Chariot

and see to it

that you go up in flames 

©2026 Charlene E. Green

BOTH GLASSES ARE HALF EMPTY

Physical wounds and emotional wounds

require completely different care

To heal a physical wound

is to cover and protect it

salve its bleeding heart

stifle its screams

intervene

so it's not forced onto the battlefield

to fight against the elements

immunocompromised structure

making it a prime target

for raging infection

or sepsis

The physical wound

is a bit of a victim

a poor dear

cry baby

fragile and timid

hands off 

for it to get well soon

cuz if you touch it too much

trigger it

before it's outta the woods

your assault will have

dire repercussions

It has already shrieked 

"Leave me alone!"

but it's just like you

to not listen

The emotional wound

has alarming fortitude

zero compassion

wakes up every morning

happily greeting you

with a sword in one hand

and a middle finger 

planted between your eyes

its only intention for the day

to slice your self-esteem

into a thousand teeny chunks

hatefully cast them to the floor

watch them scatter and bounce

deep-belly laugh

while jabbing you with its blade

as you dive and scramble after them

like a frenzied dope fiend

trying to gather enough parts

to piece back into yourself

so you can properly handle 

the day's crises

That bastard

you absolutely

cannot protect

you gotta bring a gun

to this knife fight 

or it will feed on your ego

and mentally cripple you

It has

history and depth

size and strength

knows exactly how

to have you wrapped

in a straitjacket

before 9 a.m.

It is

your all-day abuser

inside job

with outside influence

on the clock 24/7

will never quit on its own

so

you will have to terminate

Show it no mercy

find some courage

snatch its weapon

while it's reaching

for the next heinous move

impale it—

never mind all the gushing blood

it's toxic anyway—

lay it across the table

uncovered

uncomfortable

and

fillet that MF!

don't be scared to touch it

this one

you gotta put hands on

grab fistfuls 

of its wicked innards

rip out the unhealthy beliefs

it's had you brainwashed by

remove the cancer

that's been shrinking you

discard the remains

and launch yourself

into full recovery 

Physical wounds and emotional wounds

can both kill you

in different ways

Learn how to defend yourself accordingly

©2026 Charlene E. Green 

 

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Collecting data on my skeletons 

while an overcrowded graveyard 

rots in your closet

is interesting audacity 

Pungent bones twitching with tea

piping hot

ghost-pepper spicy

leaking scandal from their joints

playing Twister in pitch black

plea-pounding against the door

aching to relieve themselves 

to betray you

in the most satisfying way

tell the world their names

which book of secrets

they come from

how many chapters

it took for you

to finish doing your dirt

how many characters' spirits

you killed off in the end 

relationships you T-boned 

with crash-outs

all the lives you lost

in the flesh

inoperable love

splayed in the streets

covered bodies carted off

with the forgiveness 

you were suddenly starved for

but would never be nourished by

So you wither

while your closet rumbles

goes bump in the night

causing jittery sleep

skeleton prom in session

dancing around the subject

of your sinning

like you do when you're awake

Sweetheart...

my collection 

and your collection 

ain't the same

 

My site is small

properly tended

my past rests peacefully 

You might wanna

spend more time

making sure what you did

in the dark

doesn't come to light 

cuz while you're distracted 

by my crimes

the worst one of yours 

finally got loose

and is proudly waiting

in the Netflix documentary chair

©2026 Charlene E. Green