Flirting with Poetry

In recent months, I've written a handful of poems. While they may not have much merit, they're mine, so I thought I'd share them here.


We Were Green

It was green. We were flying and the sun-dappled wonderBecame our hearts while our mindsClasped hands to burn sunlightThe wonder so hard to reach and the blueSo far away.But the wisps of dream colors would stayUntil the breeze carried thickening downTo the sparkling dark-diamonds of farewell.We were young.The warmth kept us safeSo that hearts could poundArms could reachFeet could danceSongs could soarUntil the day when they couldn’t anymore.But I recall how it felt back thenWhen it was green.

More

I loved you so much moreWhen you were waxy and grayAnd the whole world stood on youWhile I whistledNow you are golden and untouchedAnd it’s all very sad to meThe only thing that I likeIs your plinthAnd only because of the wordPlinthRolls off the tongueAnd if you rolled Your perch would be precariousAnd you might sayNo more rolling for you becauseEven if you fellI don’t think I’d love you anymoreBut I would still enjoy saying itPlinthWon’t you miss it, thoughThe bombastic abuse And the unicorn-fiction Of your hopes that somedayI’d stop whistlingAnd they’d see youWaxy and gray and so lovelyThe way you were to meWhen I whistled

Boarding House Requiem

When open, the eyes do sing aloud and long and shimmerBut closing, bend the weight of care along forgetful pathsSo, too, must I go before you to open, close, and fadeThe garment worn when open still is shed and shreds and shattersYour persistent face I think will stay upon my path the longestThough mine was a shadow to you even before we metAnd my garments now bear the print of your eyesCan I walk this way without your hands having laid the very stonesOr do my works mark the measure of the steps of your ownSight unwavering though I fail to blink and blush and stammer and holdBecause if I were to lose myself now…Where would you go?There is a requiem that has played since that birthWe together constructed these worlds, these hearts, these painsThe children of our hearts did sing so loudly for a timeUntil clasped hands unclenched and the clock advancedEyes close even as the cloth wraps more tightlyMy lips form the truths that I cannot speak aloudI know you; I know you; I know you—And that truest heart for which we both mourn is the one we created together.

Bound
I am selfish and childishOut-of-turn, wildishAnd still, here I stay at your feet
Your vanity is apparentBut my devotion is inherentThe balance clings you to me
Cruel and so brittleBitter and uncivilCold was the day we did meet
Trapped and constrainedIn love have I changedThere is no will in me to be free
If you were kinderOr if I were blinderTwo different people we’d be
So I worship your clawsYou adore all my flaws And in mutual pain we do cleave

Parisian Mime's Lament
I could hold you close, but you’re gone I’ve lost any hope of you, and you’re goneAnd I’m miles away from who you are todayI could have held you once, but you’re gone.
I could face your fears, but you’re goneThose battles you lost, and you’re goneAnd my arms reach out to soothe your doubtI could have helped you once, but you’re gone.
I could kiss your lips, but you’re goneI tried but missed, and you’re goneAnd though I ache for you like I expected toI could have loved you more, but you’re gone.

Regrets are like Roses
Regrets are like roses, Their tender thorns Do prick and wound With beautiful scorn And e'er the soul know discontent The flower blooms and soon is spent.

Why
If I askedWhyWould you evenTry to find A lieThat might quiet meMake my questionSilentAs my words so oftenTo you areUnheardRefracting offDiamond-hard convictionThat your reasons areSo much better than mineBut you stillWill not even say Why

My Love is Like
My love is like a red, red roseMy hate is like a garden hoseAnd all the spaces in betweenFertile with words I didn't mean