In the Way

I roll my eyes
at the sight of another
sappy cliche
of love and passion
But from afar
I love thee always
in sonnet or song
sparks my jaded reaction
Sadness overwhelms
my feeling of loss
and my fragile soul
pretends to ignore the pain
I watch your world spin
into stability and control
and step out of the water
so you can swim freely again

Jealousy

Will poetry convey it
beautifully enough
even though
it is still ugly green and destructive?
My eyes absorb
too many facts
a photo
and too much in common
My mind predicts
the upcoming constriction
of my already slow, waning breath
Even though she's new
and different
much safer than me
I read her words
and know your heart

Please don't start

For D.

Love bends and sways
just like the tree
that stands so quiet
so peacefully
Its branches grow
the limbs bear fruit
but never break
entwining roots
Love remains strong
just like your gaze
upon my tears
while talking to the rain

Today’s Music

Today
life happened again
Despite the smell 
of cornstarched baby powder
upon lavender bathed
wriggling newborn skin
crisp, clean linens
brushing gently against
my moist cheek
the striking sounds of Vivaldi
previewing spring's symphony
with the rising melody
of the mid morning sun
attempting to dry
my crescendo of tears...
I still feel an emptiness
filled with the lyrics and music
of wasted years

Conversation with God

You do this everyday
play in the innocence
of cereal and smiles
I lean back and watch you
hands together
then apart
making beautiful art
of imperfect circles and
awkward squares
Screeches of delight
bring me out of my own thoughts
and I stare lovingly
Through all of those
first sounds and babble
Slowly, I begin to see
When you happily shake
that red polka dot rattle
and knowingly look up
with bubbling excitement
proudly grinning
your emerging two teeth
You are having a conversation
with God...

And sharing it with me

Break

Four teardrops linger upon my cold cheek
Clinging to you in spite of our morning
I silently dread the end of this week
Your missing goodnight was my first warning
I'm gripping the glass --certain it will break
Millions of pieces will scatter around
My mind feels dizzy, my hands release faith
Souless, I watch it crash hard to the ground
Your voice sounds empty, lonely and tired
Don't you remember that I feel it too?
Something has left you so uninspired
Like an overcast day clouds a bright view
The irony of trying hard to stay
Is I always push you farther away

Reassurance

I simply wonder
what sick temptation
convinces you to lag behind
in nonchalant frustration
and eventually causes this
miserable complication --
a shrug of your shoulders
and an empty explanation
when I tell you something is wrong
with our communication