Hey!

Hey!
Tell me that story again,
the one about that thing,
you know the one I mean
the one you used to tell me all the time—
when we were cuddling on the couch
you’d start by saying—
hey,
did I ever tell you about,
you know,
the thing
the thing?
Oh yes—
no,
yes,
no,
the thing?
Oh, the thing,
yes—
what thing,
you know it,
I do?
You do,
oh the thing, yes—
tell it to me now
I love that story

That thing

I live in cupboards dark
I am almost a thing of the past
was once used in abundance
life was good
rewarding, taken for granted perhaps
Oh damp
depressing
dark place
where I sit—
for that person to remember me
rare times
special times they are
relished thought
giddy with pleasure and want for more
remember me—
again
make me a part of your world—
again
languid pleasures of yesterday
today, technology scares me
life is fast
time is never enough,
no wonder really
I am forgotten

Heavy

This thing—
this heavy
heavy
thing,
such a burden—
such a load
heavy to carry
this load,
upon my back—
poor back
the weight
the heaviness of it all
trying
trying desperately—
to ease,
the burden
the load
share
the load,
pass it around
but no one cares,
no one wants to help,
just a little—
please?
A little—
even for a short while
until,
I gather the strength
to do it all again

A memory

Yesterday it rained
the entire day
fat drops of water
fell from the sky
they were angry—
fell so hard
pelting against the windows
of my house and I sat and watched
and then decided to take a walk
in the rain
not something I would do
though I felt the need
I took my umbrella
the one you bought me—
red stripes
fraying ends
wire poking out
from when that great wind swept it up
that one time—
small pin holes
I should have thrown it out
but never could make myself do so
saturated as soon as I stepped off the front porch
the rain came from all directions
slicing straight through to my skin
No point not continuing
so I did—
down the street
across the road
and that's where I saw you
waiting
standing still
drenched
like stray kitten
matted fur
matted clothes clinging to your body
you looked—
I looked
I walked—
you looked
until I got to the other side
and there we stood
wet face to wet face
I brought the umbrella down
black hair clinging to my face
in my eyes—
I waited for your smile
so I could smile
you turned
I reached for you
but you were gone

Storage compartments

Young at heart
in mind
in a shell of an old person
stuck with legs that won’t budge—
nimble once
arms that are weak
that had the strength of a lion once
young mind
compartmented
into sections
holding bays
for those memories
that happened so long ago
oh—
if only
to relive them
down aisles and aisles
forgotten ones
stored in the back
valid once,
not any more
I hear me speak
no one listens
I hear me talk
there’s no one there
who says I have nothing
to say—
stay
for a while
at least,
please—
you’ll see

Burned

Burned from the inside out
ash
covers my being
floating bits
of me—
float to the sky
into the air
to the sea
tiny parts
of my heart
of my body
and of my mind
flutter through the wind
fall still—
upon the ground
gather with other bits of nothing
or something
that meant something
or nothing–
once
to someone
or something
and now are gone
or not
who knows
really

The time

If ever I get lost
and wonder where I am supposed to be
I take the time to breathe
count and
collect my thoughts
take time for me
I breathe a little easier
and things become clear
there is always a tomorrow
a new day
for life
for new beginnings
and I know that I will be
the person I dream to be

Small steps

Tentative steps
Where to go from here
A world before me

I am me

You took my home
called it your own
took my land
and claimed it was yours
took my child
and raised it in an unloved home
you took my identity
and left me with nothing
my home became empty
my land barren
my child a stranger
my identity lost
I prayed each day
when the sun rose, I offered her my gifts
and hoped that she would respond
understood what I asked
for a home to call home
a land to live off
a child that would never replace the one you took
but one to fill that space in my heart
an identity to tell me
who I was
and a life I could live
freely

Life under a bridge

Poor man lives beneath a bridge
I saw him the other day
I walked by, held my breath
scared
hidden in his rags
and bags
and bit of old debris
he peered at me
then turned around
shame was in his eyes
poor man cries beneath a bridge
I heard him the other night
I walked by, the night cold
My heart heavy
I looked at him
sad
his head in hands
his shoulders heaved
broken hearted was he
why
poor man lives beneath a bridge
no longer would I remain—silent
I offered him life
a new beginning
he declined—
sighed
said life is this
every day
he couldn't imagine any other
too much time had passed
poor man dies beneath a bridge
I saw them gathered around
sirens, wail
lights, flash
all that remains
a body, a bag,
a number—
of a poor man living
and dying
beneath a bridge

The raven

A raven
black as night
held his wings close
his body
rested on a branch
waiting
waiting for the time
when he could
f
  l
    y
stretch his wings—
glide through the night
find a home—
though he knew
that could never be
leave this branch
find a new
home that would never be—
give his freedom
all he knew
a chain around his foot—
nights are for ravens
with wings
fly be free
sinister thoughts
malice
the old raven's life is this
he calmed his heart
settled his mind
for this was where he'd be

Winter skies

Winter grey skies
puddles form under foot
a glass of water

Weathered heart

Weathered heart free
Worn, tattered, bruised, lonely
Free too good home

Sometimes there seems
there's not enough room
inside
this place
the walls inflate
try to extend
to accomodate
the things I want
but sometimes
there's a pain that wants to exhale
and tries to let them out again-
though as much as I try they remain
exhalation
inhalation
expel
but
not
quite
and the room fills
and fills to capacity
and with a sense of urgency
I purge
to make room
for those things I want
and let go of those I don't
harsh
I know

Summer smells

Summer smells like-
sweet
fruit
honey
bees
flowers bloom
summer winds bring sea
and salt
and endless laughter
happy children
happier adults
relaxed bodies
tan lines
endless love
summer nights come around slowly
night noises soothing
tempest awaits
winter
brings a longing for another summer-
carefree careless stuck in time

Just another day

Those moments when you feel alone
while standing in a crowded room
people sipping martinis- laughing
Those times when there is no one listening
even though there's someone sitting right beside you
Those times when the burden you carry is more than you can bear
shoulders ache dragging you back-
d
o
w
n

Your strength

Your strength is in your palm
you guide it where you need too
though sometimes it is much too heavy-
never doubt the person you are
Your eyes tell your story hide your pain and laugh even-
when your lips don't agree
Your soul is deep and pure and true your smile melts my heart
Could I think of my life without you in it not a doubt-
it would be incomplete

My shadow

You are my shadow
the one I see when no one is there
the one I feel when it all gets too much
the one I want when I feel all alone
A shadow that grows-
and grew-
draped your cape protectively around my soul
blanketed my heart
and took a piece of me-
that in my mind
I wished that you would have-
forever
Yet, that still wouldn't be enough-
you are my sounding board
when things get too much-
attentive quiet full of praise wisdom-
even when I disagree,
the fix I need
the air I breathe
the love I give
the warmth I seek