the power of rituals

harness me and him

into a bind

where time isn't a thing

and we suddenly become natural waves

against the outer chaos.

I am
theatre bred
I am
poet born
I will not tread lightly
I will blow my horn
I will make practice
of practice
Till every act is
that of mastery
I will steal history
for so long
that it will linger upon
me. For centuries

He Feels She Has

He feels,
               she has
a hand worth holding,

he’d call her beautiful,

but he fears
                  but he fears,

she would reject him,

so he says nothing,
            
            and walks away.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2021

She said "I'm falling in love."

I said "I'm falling apart."

I will write for you
one more poem
I will sing for you
another love song.
If you like them
and think of me again,
then forget your pride, darling
Say goodbye to your pride!

I will smile at you
if I am hurt
I will sit next to you
and forget my sore
If you like it
and feel my heart
then forget your pride, darling
Say goodbye to your pride!

I will be the evening star.
I will be in your eyes.
I'll come in your dream
and brighten your face.
Even if you don't love me
then smile a little bit more
and forget your pride, darling
Say goodbye to your pride!

My vision going black
Wishing I could go back
Back to when things began
To when I could see all my friends
Wishing to tell them all how I miss them
Them not seeing what I have become
The sick and fragile person of today
Wishing that I could stay
Nothing will bring me back
As my vision is going black

Written by
Michael Matthews