What We Said

Last night I dreamt
That you and I were talking.
I knew I was the only one
Who could see your smile.
I knew I looked insane.
But I was with you
And it didn't matter.
Your shirt was white
And your hair was brown.
You didn't need your glasses.
We were on a bench in the park
Enjoying the summer air.
I heard your laugh again.
I heard your voice
And touched your hand.
When I woke up,
I was sad.
Because I couldn't remember
What we said.

(April 5, 2019)

Alone

Alone

I can't tell you about it
Because it hurts and it is true.

So I'll come over here.
Where no one looks,
And no one sees.

And I will cry;
I will sob
Alone.
Because you are gone.

A Poem About Hearts

My son had to write a shape poem for his homework today.  The instructions told him it had to be about love or hearts.  He almost cried because writing poems is hard and he said it's something he isn't good at.  I told him it's not something he has tried to do much, so he shouldn't tell himself he is bad at it.
He said he wanted to write about hearts.  So I suggested the line, "If your heart stops beating you will die."  He laughed.  And I told him about how to do an AB rhyming pattern. As with most boys, things sort of took a morbid turn, but he had fun writing it, so it's all good.
The paper gave him a heart-shape to write in, but it's a lot harder to put a four line poem into a heart-shape on the computer, so I'm just going to let you read it the way he wrote it before he put it in the heart.
So here it is.  My eleven-year-old's poem about hearts:

If your heart stops beating, you will die.

If your heart stops beating, I will be filled with sorrow.

If your heart stops beating, you will go bye-bye.

If your heart stops beating, you will be gone tomorrow.

(February 8, 2016)

Where My Heart Is

Where My Heart Is

I drive this highway more often than I can say.

As I glance at the blue sky filled with brilliant cotton clouds,

I wonder if I truly belong here.

The evergreen and aspen covered mountains surround me.

I am encircled with beauty and love.

But it's difficult to determine.

Can I really call this place mine?

Sitting in this circle with you,

Reading words from a page.

Surrounded by black fabric, gray walls, gray floor,

I look at the empty chairs in the House,

And my gaze lifts toward that magic box.

My soul is filled 

With an overwhelming sense of wonder and elation.

As I recognize - this is home.

(July 24, 2015)

Longing To Be Loved

Longing To Be Loved

Everywhere you look
You will find people
Longing to be loved.
Desiring to be touched
Held.

We try to find something
That feels like home.
Even if we don't know
Exactly what that even means.
Familiar.

The truth is simple
Love is ambiguous
And cryptic at times.
Nobody can be sure.
Uncertain.

But we give it our best guess
And we learn to give
What we can
And take what is given.
Love.

(February 4, 2015)

You Don't Love Her

You Don't Love Her

I heard you slept with her again.
Even though you told me
You don't love her.
I wouldn't say I'm angry
Well, maybe just a little.
You said it won't work.
You don't even want it to,
But you're stringing her along
Every time
And then you accuse her
Of obsessive behavior
Which might be justified.
You tell her it's over
But when she craves
Your affection
You don't resist the temptation
Of her charms.
So don't be that guy.
Because you told me
You don't love her.

(February 4, 2015)

I Don't Know What To Do

I Don't Know What To Do

Listen to me.
I'm going to be honest.
I don't want to be here.
I don't want to visit you.
I don't know what to do.
I'm an actress.
Not a teacher.
I can't force him to do his work
Any more than you can.
I'm lost.
I don't understand.
I did my homework.
I came home and got it done.
I wasn't allowed to do
Anything until it was.
I knew what I had to do
And I did it.
He has the same rules.
We've taken everything away.
I ask what he needs to do.
He says he's done.
What more can I say?
We lecture.
We yell.
We threaten.
We swear.
I don't know
How meeting like this
Is going to change anything,
Or even help in any way.
I don't want to be here.
I don't know what to do.

(December 2, 2014)