I had an interesting revelation today, that's probably obvious to most seasoned writers:

When people know you, face to face, when they look into your eyes, when they are closer to you than your species or your pride, they read your writing differently. Of course. They're kinder in some ways. Might not tell you when you suck.

But, they also don't want to know too much. 
They already know you. They might not need to know the rest. 
What was left unsaid, was maybe silenced for a reason. 

So if you know me, and don't want to know, then don't read this.
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But I am proud to share that I've been published as part of a blog post of mini-essays on the blog TRUE at Proximity Magazine. 

true stories of silenced women

My intro when I performed this poem live went like this:  
"I wrote this as a children's story, but it's not appropriate for children. It's a gangster story called Crown and Cheek."
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Never the less, I had my son read it for you too. 
​Enjoy. 

I swear to god, I didn't coach Paco at all. He's a fricking natural storyteller at 5 years old.