He didn’t say it.
Not on the day
or the day after, when he used to remember.
No more embers. glowing.
Not hanging on the threads anymore, I just realized.
How strange when forever
truly dies.
poem- honestly February 15, 2019
If I were being honest,
(truth hurts, my love)
I’d say that while the quotidien care
powers an appreciative couplehood,
sometimes cares require more than chores.
Sometimes, it needs a hug (you first)
or cooking a meal (with vegetables) and setting candles on the table.
Sometimes it means holding hands instead of striding ahead,
and no sighs of impatience or vibrations of irritation.
(Yes. We feel those, when you’re pretending, and it spoils the effort).
Sometimes your diligence with household chores is enough to know you care,
but sometimes
we need more.
poem- missed August 25, 2018
Your eyes glow
when you see me across the room.
It’s been a long time.
You’re still wearing your heart
on your arm.
Once again,
I feel appreciation for your admiration,
awkward it’s still unrequited.
Oh, the confusion of my youthful charms.
Thank you, for
reminding me
so sweetly
who I used to be.
poem-Wednesday September 13, 2017
I woke to my alarm’s
jaunty greeting, lay lulled, wondering where you were,
until I found the sense of you, pressed against my shoulder blades.
I lay, enjoying the warm weight of you,
until the alarm started up again.
It meant it this time.
So, regretfully,
I pulled away from you,
buried my face in your warm belly,
said farewell as you stretched and smiled up at me.
Wednesday will be a long day apart,
but I will return,
and you’ll be waiting,
eagerly.
.
.
.
(a little homage to my canine companion!)
poem- alteration April 5, 2016
Love is not love
if it alters when alteration finds
It is an ever fixed mark, said Shakespeare.
Constancy is a quality of mind
that removes sparks of fear.
Love is love
when the word can be relied
upon and expressions of affection
will be supplied, for
faithfulness in word and deed
is the essence of true love’s need.
poem-dedicated July 27, 2015
This is for you
across miles
words
music
a message to the masses
A heart hung on electrical wires
or floating on the wifi waves
thinking of you.
.
.
.
.
Thinking about these memories.
poem-crept December 2, 2014
Quiet crept
through rustling leaves,
soft snowfall.
Quiet crept
through murmurs heard
under our hearts.
Quiet crept
through gentle touches
sweet sighs.
Quiet crept
through me
to you.
poem- ghosts November 9, 2014
You were
exorcized
letter by letter,
word by word,
phrase by phrase,
sentence by sentence,
paragraph by paragraph,
page by page,
chapter by chapter.
Now you are
merely a spectre
who peeks around corners
whispers at my ear
hums for my remembrance.
My only benediction
on the lost boy
from long ago
is the bittersweet smile
and the faraway glimmer
in my eyes.
poem- returning September 22, 2014
I tried to
return your letters
once,
but they are
still here,
and the hurt
in your voice
still echoes,
when I unfold
pages.
Shawn L. Bird 