I ordered a Polaroid camera
And bought some film and filled it
I brought it up toward my brown eye
Squinted and the room I lit
The flash so strong the smiles so real
The little white photo snook out
A moment not only frozen but hidden
White, hushed voices trying to shout
Slowly the moment came back
The scene melted back into place
The people came back even brighter
The smiles returned to each face
And I wondered what makes a Polaroid different
What gives the physical photo more appeal
Why do we care so much for something to hold
Why are flash and film a big deal
I don't think it's in the style
In its retroness or thrill
I don't think it's in the speed
You wait for it a little
I believe in that small photo
In that something you can hold
You think what is in the palm of your hand
One could not possibly unmold
That moment is for ever
The smile evermore
No matter the time that passed
No matter how long before
There's something about holding it
That's makes you think you can have it forever
That somehow you'll freeze time
That somehow time isn't so clever
You feel you have time in your two hands
The control with small fingers
That this wouldn't slip from your grip
That those grins would always linger
Although it may not be so
And cameras aren't time benders
They bring you back and forth
Through the memories they render
So maybe holding on tighter  
Doesn't do a thing
But having it to hold
Just may give you wings

at the time a polaroid was a mark of friendship
so we decided to go raid a photobooth
but the pictures never captured
they never got the time to

because across the street was a fancy new camera shop
with a fancy new cashier
who had pretty, pretty hair
and could actually fit into a polaroid with you

but i hit the wrong button
and the flash never came
but there were pictures printed
just of your hands around her waist

i took about 50 copies
and tossed the receipt into the lake,
i scattered the letters of your name into the rain.

Bring it back to the polaroid,
To the ink in our hearts,

To when we were the blue sky,
Warm nights under warm sheets,


                Now we stalk in the cold concrete city,
                Together we roam and trudge through,
                
                Finding moments in between to remember being,
                Breathing in each others scent on the ocean breeze,


Bring it back to the polaroid,
To the ink in our hearts,

To the days that are on their way,
To the years that will begin and end with us.

Looking at the world
through sunglasses,
the brown tint of a polaroid photo.
I hear nothing but
the wind in my ear creating white noise,
blocking everything else out.

as the squares charred,
lying to my eyes that their
matter was disintegrating, salted
droplets eroded streams of
regret that deepened my dusk
and dulled my blaze.

but it’s somewhat amusing
isn’t it, that my own fleshy
urn holds no shape as
symmetrically sound as the squares
that charred and lied.

call out my name; let my ashes be the
penultimate vibrations that echo as
the squares squares squares grasped the twigs
and tufts of amphibological
debris, beckoning my
eyes to glow ablaze.

while the wisps of smoke
escape the dancing radiance that crackled and
cackled as the memories i was
too burnt out to memorize, decomposed
knowingly, deceiving my
orbs that will
indeed always forget the
silently sleeping squares.

with a Polaroid camera
I captured you
I captured us
made us tangible
made you mine
face to face
skin to skin
rough hands
bringing me back to life
I've been cold for so long
A touch and a tremble
Ignites new flames
Consumes me
Soft sounds
Perfect chemistry
Unfamiliar devotion
Belonged to no one
Belongs to you now

Lightly graze your fingers across my bare skin leaving trails of sparks as a memory

Hold me in the ever forgiving basket that is your arms

Leave me for days in the shadow of lust

Give me a look that the stars would envy, keep it between us two

Explore me, map every inch of my unknown skin and call it yours

Paint kisses of color on my canvas below you

Dig your nails into me, leave the smile shaped scars as a Polaroid

i took a polaroid photo to give to you but it came out blank and i feel like that’s us; a shot taken and still nothing.