I have three poems up at Nine Muses Poetry, a new online poetry journal out of the UK. Many thanks to editor Annest Gwilym for taking these poems.

“My father runs Palucci Brother’s Construction with his brother,” began Sandro Palucci from the front of my 10th grade Careers class. The night before, we had had to interview our parents about their jobs, and create a short presentation from those interviews. So far there’d been three construction company owners and one bakery owner’s offspring in the class.

I glanced over my notes quickly for my impending presentation. Mine wouldn’t be like any previous presentation. I’d interviewed my mom. She was much more unique. She’s officially a “Skin Care Specialist,” which I thought was a cool title, because it kind of makes it sound like she’s a dermatologist. Of course, she’s not. She works retail. She sells super fancy cream at a super fancy department store. With an official sounding job position.

From the centre of my forehead, a juicy, bulging red pimple snickered at my notes as it throbbed…

I’ve just really gotten to a point where I don’t care to be around people who I KNOW don’t have my best interest at heart if I don’t have to. Some people I tolerate for the sake of peace or because we’re family but here lately .. my tolerance is low. I don’t have a desire to be around those who I know have sneaky motives and bad intentions period. 🤷‍♀️ Like I literally don’t have the energy to deal with what’s clearly negative nor am I trying to find the energy to even fool with it!
I find peace in keeping my distance. And honestly, a small part of me feels guilty for being so distant towards certain people because I know it probably makes them feel some type of way but the rest of me is SO content with it! If keeping my mental health at an all…

You don’t ever have to feel guilty about REMOVING TOXIC PEOPLE FROM YOUR LIFE. It doesn’t matter whether someone is a relative, romantic interest, childhood friend or a new aquaintance. You don’t have to make room for people who cause you pain or make you feel small. It’s one thing if a person owns up to their behavior and makes effort to change. But if a person disregards your feelings, ignore your boundaries and “continues” to treat you in a harmful way, they need to go. – DANIELLE KOEPE

Can I share something with you? Something honest? Something…real?

One of the downsides of being unapologetically myself, is that I’m a bit headstrong and extremely decisive. I’ve always had things under control with my to-do lists, planners and bullet journals. This applies to everything. This shocks people, it intimidates people and what people don’t understand, scares them and they will try…