A conversation and all
human communications
require more than just
one single person talking.
It's a two party exchange
of giving and receiving.
If one party is obsessed
with only incessant "I or
Me" topics and hardly ever
pauses to take an occasional
breath, it becomes a discourse
of self-absorbed hedonistic
over glorification, and the
other person (s) might just
tune out, elect to walk away,
or hang up the phone.

These sybaritic talkers may
merely find their dog, or
house cat and bore them
with their narcissistic prattle.

If their critters wish to eat
they are obliged to at least
appear to be listening.
The rest of us have no such
obligation.

In mirrored depths, a truth unfolds,
Love casts an image, more than mortal holds.
Not just the shell, the laughter, and the grace,
But whispered dreams, on your hidden face.

A strength that blooms, where shadows hide,
A gentle spirit, deep inside.
The fire that burns, the tears you've cried,
Love's tapestry, where secrets reside.

So gaze within, and let love be your guide,
For in your eyes, your truest self confides.
When love casts an image of your soul

How do I get you alone?
This night alone
Without spending time
In the crowds
At high Park
We both need to love
Each other
And built some trust
In each other
We should not
Lie to each other
Because lie is not good
Also, we should respect each other
I need you in my life
And I hope you need also
Me in your life

To all the girls whoever loved me
Just know that you were right
I couldn’t change
Because I didn’t want to
You only get to live one life

It was always real
As ugly as it got
For some it was easy
For others it was not

Tried to make it better
A bandaid doesn’t fix a broken heart
Can’t make it better
I’m not certified in love

The curtains closing slowly
The applauds start to dim
The show for some ended slowly
For some the second act was grim

To all the girls whoever loved me
Just know that you were right
I couldn’t change
Because I didn’t want to
You only get to live one life

I was always empty
I had nothing ever to give
You were sold a bad investment
It was never going to follow through

Your questions may be never answered
If there were any from the start
I know that mine are never ending
But life is like that in the end

To all the girls whoever loved me
I wonder where you are
I wonder if your happy
I hope your where your meant to be

You didn’t know what you were in for
When you made your move
And when it all came unraveled
You felt like you’d been lied to

15 years later
Still I
Randomly
Wake to your face
Your smell
Your lips
Your eyes
These dreams of you
As if you were still in my life
As if we would
In reality
Run in to each other
Surreal feeling this
An insanely distant possibility
Yet
The excitement
Bizarre

as summer
lopes
with days
more doggy
than ever

it seems
keen sight
has given way

to acute hearing
of things

like a clock ticking
and putting down

bottom
to the soundtrack
of my life

and when i hear
my cat's meow
and see the red

yellow green
pop and flash
behind my eyes

outstanding

I tell him
as he limps
on his clubfoot

by me
into the haze
of this magic afternoon

Whit Howland © 2020