Pretend not to notice. Pretend you don’t see.
Protect at all cost your illusions of me.
 
Don’t read what I write on the lines of my page,
you’ll only find flaws that you’ve long wished away.
 
Just keep smiling at me, I’ll keep smiling at you.
You be who you are, and I’ll do what I do.
 
I’ll try not to let all the things in my mind
stray far from my pages, or too out of line.
 
But I can’t promise much for my pen won’t allow
the truth to be hidden, so I don’t know how
 
I can be who I am, yet the one who you see.
So, protect at all cost your illusions of me.
 
And don’t read what I write it’s far easier then
to see me through my smile… instead of my pen.

I offer love without expectation,

A vulnerable gesture, that's often misread.

They confuse my kindness for desire,

And distance themselves,

To spare me the heartache.

Sometimes,

I'm reminded of the ones they hold dear,

A constant comparison, that ends like a quiet eclipse.

I laugh, then reflect on my own ways,

Questioning why my selflessness drives them away.

I treat others as I'd wish to be treated,

Loyal, attentive, and true.

Yet, in giving freely, I lose connection,

And when I withdraw, I sever ties anew.

I've learned to shield myself from pain,

Recognizing the only harm that comes from within.

I'm better off on my own,

For the only person capable of hurting me is myself,

And no one else should hold that power.

~
Ladies-in-waiting
reflecting on
a fragile state of mind

precarious creatures, these
hunters of coal
that outlines both
eyes and words

black paint for blue girls,
they pray in a circle
for their queen's wedding night
to be one of celebratory rapture

deep into the looking glass
they peer for a sign,
a soul, a stigma,
but cannot see
beyond their own glib faces

a universe ago they
caparisoned as pixies
in sunflower corsets,
twirling in a centrifugal forest

tonight in eclipse,
in their all-together,
they merely wear masks
of their former selves

the firelight dramatically shifts
in bacchanalia pratfall
--the oblong menace
of their smiles, fingers and navels
dancing to the age of Sideria
~

the key went
in the lock
easily enough
with no resistance
in the cylinder
nor any loose pins
catching inside
yet try as i might
it would not turn
all three keys
were the same
identical in height
of teeth and
depth of notch
i could not have
picked the wrong one
still the deadbolt
was unmoved and
would not let me
into my own home

On a Friday afternoon, in the Burger joint for my weekly treat
Celebrating another week in, that I'd survived another week in the job
I ordered my usual, a Veggie burger meal
They have this lovely Veggie burger, it's a burger made of potato with a lot of other vegetables through it
Is very tasty, this and some nice big chunky chips/ fries along with it, with some sachets of tomato sauce
All rounded off with a nice Black coffee... very nice...
The restaurant was quite busy that day for some reason, my usual seat was taken
So I had to find somewhere else to sit

As I sat there feeling happy with myself
I was reminded of something I'd once read  about the great Irish poet W.B.Yeats
He was sitting in a teashop once looking out the window at the passing crowds
And he suddenly realised that life was good, that he could bless and be blessed
I thought to myself "I knew what he meant"
Then suddenly out of the corner of my eye I notice someone looking over at me... looking directly at me
Indeed they seem to be staring at me
I thought to myself "Better not make eye contact, might be some kind of ******"
Then I noticed someone else was looking over at me too
"What the **** are you looking at!" I thought to myself
And then there was another person and then another
"What the **** are you all looking at??!" I thought getting a little flustered at this stage
Every few moments a head would pop up and start looking straight over at me
I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable
Suddenly it seemed like they were all looking over at me... the whole feckin' room
"What the hell are you all looking at, you bunch of feckers", I thought
"Had I turned into the elephant man or something !!"
Finally I said I'm getting the hell out of here
Their all looking at me
So I stuffed my bag of chips in my pocket
Drained my cup of coffee and wrapped what was left of my burger in a napkin to take away
As I stood up to put on my coat I turned around
And noticed for the first time there was a big TV screen up on the wall right behind me
So that's what the feckers were all looking over at
It wasn't me at all!!!

"**** !" I thought, "spoiled my whole feckin' lunch
W.B. Yeats my ****".