Heart of Stone... a poem

Heart of Stone

Our love

was fossilized coral.

You found it covered

beneath Jamaican sands on a beach

across the sea

a holey, hidden, heart-shaped symbol.

You thought it was a rock

a refuge -- steady, sturdy, stable

but it was pierced and punctured

malformed and manhandled by the waves

a stone of lifeless remains.

Holding our love in the palm
of my warm, living hand

it was cold, hard 

like stone, ridged and lumpy

appearing firm but so fragile.

Formed and molded

but not at all stylized

the coral was unique to only us.

Potentially pure 

but tainted an ashy white--

chalky traces of the past.

The color is gone.

The memories... set in stone.

~cdw~

09/11/13

embrace ... a poem

-->

embrace

You told me not to hold you tight

but what was I holding on to?

When we embraced, I squeezed your waist

You told me not to need you

I buried my face in the center of your chest

Inhaled and tried to breathe you

I shut my eyes ‘til I saw spots

Determined not to leave you

But hugs can only last so long

and what good do they lead to?

A forehead kiss? I was dismissed.

I should have taken heed to

your warnings that said, “loosen your grip.”

Your worried gaze deceived you

I ignored that look; I thought it love

and now I’m left to grieve you.

~cdw~

09/04/13 

blue ... a poem

blue

I've been crying over you

shedding tears that stain my cheeks blue.

Close my eyes and hide my face

hoping that no one sees a trace.

But when my palms try to dry the pain

all they do is smear the hurt again.

Then I wash and scrub with water, soap.

Clean away the woe and re-reveal the hope.

But the dream is gone and love, in vain,

Drowned in salty sobs, bitter acid rain.

And my skin – moist and choked with heartbreak,

flushed the dark indigo of a body suffocated –

lost its glow, the rosy rush of love obtained.

Sunken, shadowed, hollow, royal-tear stained.

~cdw~

09/03/13