She Was His Ever Forever

She was his ever forever,
beauty bound in human form,
ocean tide and summer storm
sun kissed beneath blue skies.
Arm in arm clinging to each other,
to endure and to conquer
the mountains and valleys
they travel over and thru together.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2020

Stick Figure Boy (Brian’s Song)

He was
the stick figure boy
He was
the stick figure boy
He was
the stick figure boy,
gangly,
and a little weird

The things
we had done to him
The things
we had done to him
The things
we had done to him,
being,
cruel without the kind

We then
drove Brian away
We then
drove Brian away
We then
drove Brian away,
and I,
was knee deep in it.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2020

A Monster with Roses

A monster with roses in his hands,
is still a monster,
and he will force-feed you thorns,
sugarcoated and chocolate dipped,
turning your window eyes
bloodstained and cracked.
Then leaves you when he chooses,
your soul sickened, body broken
and bleeding upon the floor.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2020

Your Silence Has Been

Your silence has been
a cancer on my heart,
removing you has been
an emotional mastectomy.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2020

He Touches Her Gently

He touches her gently,
lifting her chin
that they may lock eyes
and stare into
each other’s eternity.

James E. Roethlein copyright 2020

Love in whispers,
silent to me,
though she is there
on the other side of this wall.

Longing's lament takes shape
and leaves, no longer welcome.

The 8th Deadly Sin of Backsliding

The fractured wellspring of my soul
adds fuel to the fire,
threatening to consume my refuge.
In a moment of pride
I showed You the door,
so I could keep the fire at bay on my own.
But the smoldering inferno grows,
slowly engulfing all I hold dear.
And You whom I sent away,
still stand outside my door,
with words of admonition,
to let Him back in to fight the fire.

James E. Roethlein ©2018

A Familiar Exposition of Dorian Grey

The shadow of a diseased reflection,
rests, upon his evening eyes,
the venom he desires to spew
at his mirror-self, refusing to be
constrained behind clenched teeth, breaks loose;
vomiting itself off of his tongue.