‘Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone.’

Why does the world expect
My other half to be
my everything
To do so the world
would miss out on
All of me
But I do not miss
The world

‘Love to all of you’
Ms Monroe

Once swallowed and stewed digest
Brings health benefits to bones
Riches the blood and clears the chest
To the marrow, aches and groans

‘Tis a seasoned batch prepared
The choicest flour and oil of olive
With roasted meats the finest fare
Another death so I may live

But not of least this time a brew
This water mixed with chrysolite
Was not so choicest, fine or new
A vile deed done to judge the right

Born of man and brewed by spite
A jealous heart no one could tame
A caution and a crash each night
No salted drops to quench this flame

It scorched the house inside and out
Its inhabitants fled to far afield
Awaiting while her stomach pouts
Expectant under weight of yield

Bursting out with torrential storm
Sunflowers opened break of day
A fair one came at last was born
The spell of bitter brew gave way

Numbers 5

It was so very cold to hold
I looked forward to the end
When I no longer had to bear
This burden of a thing

But instead I took it walking
Out into the eery night
I spoke soft words into it
In case the dark core came to light

Not a tremble or a murmur
Exuded from its shell
I had to share it with someone
What can this be, pray, tell?

This cold thing you carry all round
You ought to wear some gloves
Protect yourself until you can
Find another whom it loves

So able now to make attempt
To crack it to its core
I chipped and broke off little bits
But it just grew some more

Tenderly carrying for years on end
Just drop it, what is it anyway?
It’s unlikely to be worth a thing
the passersby would say

So let them pass while i protect
The cold and fragile core
Of something that of unknown worth
Someone just might adore

Even though she had the mouth of a sailor
She turned every ear in the room in
to hear her joviality, no upper-deck grooming
She was one of the best friends I ever had

Even though he tells people wrongly
That I was the only girl he ever kissed
Truly it was another, but his memory is amiss
He was one of the best friends I ever had

Even though the tongues were wagging
When it was I who drew the smilies on her cheeks
As she flashed the crowd, drew stares for weeks
She was one of the best friends I ever had

Even though he was lost and searching
For any warm heart a king to crown him
And I was all out at sea and drowning
He was one of the best friends I ever had

Even though the memories long and aching
Fill the void in our silences and stares
Not one single other vow do I declare
He is one of the best friends I ever had

Even though practically some other person
So long now that I’ve forgotten to look
Into the whites of his eyes, dare not mistook
Him for one of the best friends I ever had

Even though she’s like a whisper in the night
Never sure what’s good or what ails her
Not even sure of her and I, if it’s a failure
She is one of the best friends I ever had

I reject the senseless notion
That I am but a rock
A tiny gravelly pebble
Buried deep in someone’s sock

Instead I lay beside
All the tossing and turning
Through one squinted eye
I see the levelling and yearning

For underneath the floorboards
There’s a shudder and a creak
Of all that’s buried deep within
The memories of the weak

For what we all do crave days end
Is softer ground to lay our head
A quieter rest and patience deep
On rock the wise do tread

Isaiah 32:2

Partnered to a boy
Set to music like a dance
Keeping time and motion steady
Not daring a single glance

Palms hot and sweaty
Reluctantly hold to fingers
Pimpled brow and sticky fringe
Eyes cast down as left foot lingers

Whirled around awkwardly turning
To each partner in a row
Blushing when his eyes point toward
My dress and its untidy bow

A secret delight we keep pace
Do they notice my dread?
With all the music and haste
I am enjoying it instead