It begins
in awe
a stunned staring
with a grin that expands
from mouth to feet
’til even toes are smiling
with delight.
It grows
in time
as kindly sharing
expands experience
from then to now
’til familiarity leads
to comfort.
It rests
in fondness
warm embraces
transcending miles and
knowing paths will cross
again.
You gather me into you
Entangling limbs and
Tickling kisses on the neck.
.
Your breath tangles in my hair
Escaping through quivering tendrils
Trembling into the night.
.
Your heartbeats drum against my back
Exquisite timpani.
Time stops.
He says
her laughing smile
captivated him.
The smartest girl in the school
he thought, as he sat silently
at the back of the class.
Too good for him.
The only girl who listens
to that crap classical music
that you like, they told him.
So he braved to venture a date,
but she turned him down
in favour of dorm pork chops
He was determined,
and Mozart entertained
Before she knew what had happened
she had a ring on her finger,
and a lifetime
of devotion promised.
Her laughing smile is
not quite as captivating,
she’s unlikely to be
the most intelligent
in the room,
time brings rationalization,
after all
she says he’s too good for her
with laughing eyes
that are still his.
You speak gentle words
parting with empty promises.
Our dream has died
When your wife
thinks you should apologize
you should.
If she says you’ve hurt her
don’t doubt her
Come with flowers
(even dandelions)
Embrace her
Just admit
you didn’t realize
that your actions
would be received so badly
Just apologize
and mean it
and everything
will be fine.
Next time,
when your wife hurts you,
you can tell her,
and she’ll apologize
to you.
I saw the sun
dazzling across the water
glinting off your smile
frying through my brain
a laser lighting love.
I saw the cloud
covering across the moon
shadowing the light
wearing darkness like futility
frustration burning.
I see the sun
laughing at the cloud
shimmering through mist
overcoming all
Seeing is believing.
Snow falling
a white world
Pure motives
clean character
Love calling
to warm bed
longing
laughing
falling.
.
.
(This is my 1300th blog post! Hurrah!)
Put it away
It’s past the time
for you to escape
the fear
the hoping
the wish
that it will change.
It won’t.
The drinking
The shouting
The hitting
The habit.
It’s routine.
Routines don’t change.
That dream
That picket fence
That reflection in your rosy shades
will never be reality.
The reflection behind your shades
will always be blue and black.
Walk away
Put away
that dream
and claim
life.
Florists
and card stores
declare a forced affair:
“Purchase a card and dozen roses
or your affections are suspect!”
I prefer
memories carved
each morning from
all the days before
in a collection of kisses
stretching back through
years of anniversaries
Memories of Mister and Missus.
(Though notes are nice,
and I like roses, on sale).
She hoards memories
In books and art.
She hoards accomplishment
In clothes and fabric
She holds tightly
Against insecurity
Things are a bulwark
Against uncertainty.
She creates a
measure of control
against anger, anxiety
and angst.
When she is safe,
Secure and satisfied
The barriers may
Be burnt, but for now
She clings to what was.
Shawn L. Bird 