Old Poetry

I have often pretended to be a poet. Most of my "poetry" is really just ramblings of emotion, without much true form or beauty. Here are a few (unmodified) pieces (among many) from years ago (high school and freshman year of college) that might be more bearable than the rest.

A Time to Love

There was a boy I loved once.

He was smart and handsome and strong, I thought.

I admired him and felt we could be deliriously happy together.

I tried to tell him how I felt, but he rejected me.

He said he didn’t love me like I loved him.

I treasured him in my heart, but it seemed I held no place in his.

As the years passed, we moved on.

There were other boys, yet I still thought of this one.

What could have been, if he had said yes?

Many years later, I saw him again.

He looked at me with gentle eyes

And pulled an old picture of me from his pocket.

“I love you,” he whispered.

I smiled weakly, stroked my hand gently along his cheek,

And said simply, “Good-bye.”

Then I turned and walked away.

It was too late.

I did not love him anymore.

Moments in Time

Stop. Pause.

Wait and look around.

Its a moment,

and its passing on,

dying forever.

You cannot stop

it.

At one moment,

I thought I knew.

At one instant,

I felt I was at the top.

Moments in time,

time ticking along.

Never the same again.

The raven had it right.

Never will we return.

Never will it be again.

Nevermore.

Breathe.

And life goes on.

What I had is gone.

Could there be something better?

Moments in time.

Seconds ticking away.

What is time?

What is the future?

Its different now.

Nevermore.

Yet it could be again.

And it could also be better.

I Never Realized I Was Thirsty

I never realized I was thirsty until you gave me something to drink.

I never realized I was hungry until you fed me.

I never realized I was empty until you filled me up inside.

I never realized I was dead until you brought me back to life.

I never realized how much I needed you until you fulfilled my needs.

I never realized you could love me so much until you did.

I never realized you were standing right there until you opened my eyes.

I did not know what thirst was.

I did not know what hunger was.

I did not know what need was.

I did not know what love was.

Now I do know.

I will never be thirsty again.

Chocolate

Candy coated craze.

Combine clusters.

Eat it all.

Savor.

Melting inside.

Pure, rich, creamy,

beautiful.

Such a treasure,

such a vice,

such a shame.

What a waste of wanting.

Amazing attrition of affection.

What a waste of love.

Luscious love weakens.

What goes inside this way,

is only skin deep.

Not all that is real is genuine.

Ingest something that matters.

The Flag Still Waves

“Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, ore the land of the free and the home of the brave?” -Francis Scott Key

In the dreaded darkness of night,

I thrust my sight up to the highest building.

There I saw a pure light shining on our flag, flying brilliantly,

The stars and stripes forever.

And I knew I was free.

Then I watched in horror as the flag plunged to the bitter earth below

And a great, wide chasm opened in the earth before me.

I looked across the dark and dangerous void

To where the once glorious flag lay dead and defiled.

And I knew I was not brave.

I need courage again.

Freedom is not enough.