Riley Lavender: Favorites

i push people
away.
but the few friends i try
holding on to
tend to slip
away
from my grasp.
the sensation still
r u n n i n g
through my fingertips.

people like you
leave paper cuts.

the third poem in a collection that unravels into a story. read it on my wattpad, the link is in my bio if you're interested.

#love #romance #breakup #freeverse #slip #lowercase #lowercaseintended

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

The Dance

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

R.S. Thomas

The Dance

She is young. Have I the right
Even to name her? Child,
It is not love I offer
Your quick limbs, your eyes;
Only the barren homage
Of an old man whom time
Crucifies. Take my hand
A moment in the dance,
Ignoring its sly pressure,
The dry rut of age,
And lead me under the boughs
Of innocence. Let me smell
My youth again in your hair.

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

Just to Have Her Close

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

Jon T Wagner

Just to Have Her Close

I'd give up my left arm to always be right beside her. My right arm for her to know she's what I have left and both arms to be able to hug her when's she away. I just don't think I have enough to give to get the courage to tell her when she's here.

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

ocean floor

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

Juneau

ocean floor

on this boat I am safe as long as I can see shore
but that is not what I have built this for
I sailed out for adventure and a chance to explore
this place is too mundane I want something more
to navigate by the stars like in the times of yore
and find rubies and gold treasures galore
but first I must get there so I reach for my oar
and row into the unknown until I am sore
I look out to the east and the clouds I just abhor
the waves grow higher and the wind starts to roar
the clouds begin to light up and the rain starts to pour
a storm such as this one I have never seen before
and all this premonition I can no longer ignore
but I am not turning back I'll risk the ocean floor

August 30, 2014
Thirty-one

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

Lighthouse

Sep 2014 Riley Lavender

Jo

Lighthouse

I am 1,000 pounds,
weighed down by memories,
by crushing defeat,
by failure,
by loss,
by regret...
yet I am weightless,
empty,
a trophy in a dusty case,
my varnish dim,
no longer new,
no longer shiny,
I struggle to stay afloat,
but I am still swimming,
because I see the lighthouse,
tall and shining.
a gleam of light beckoning from it's highest point,
come to me
swim to me
I am the way out
and so I tread.

#love #loss #movingon