A blend of threads
Complex
Yet dead
Intertwining
Mingling
A braid on her head

She's young
Yet old
In mind
She's bold
Young girl
I could've told
Her
"Don't lose
that fierce sense
of self."

But she's gone
Moved on
Dismissive
She's become
It's like
Her identity
Was sold.

No more
Will she know
Who she is
She's only told
Things that don't make sense in her head.

She's lost.

That smell isn't around anymore.
I didn't even realize it until I could barely remember it.

It's the smell of the old place I used to live
alone.
The smell of the doors at night
and the corn patties in the cupboard
and the leather sofa
and my old cat.

It's the smell of the doubt.
The lack of the light.
Being stuck in the middle of the tunnel.
The smell of the tunnel vision.
The smell of the fact that it was
midnight after the journey through the tunnel.

The smell of my heavy chest,
that I smelled with my head hung,
nose close to my heart.

Straight ahead, it doesn't have that heavy smell.
Now it smells of ethnic food.
And breath always on the side of my neck.
It's warm.

The smell of trying and failing.
I only smell success from effortlessness.

So, you've read my poetry?
You've skimmed the lines and picked out words you think are pretty,
delicate, intelligent, or odd?
You understand me now, I see!
I'm yours to dissect, pick at, ****,
but never keep, of course not that.

Yes you've read my poetry,
but did you know I sometimes cross my l's as t's and often wish
to travel far and far alone.
Alone: myself and only me.
I'd adventure, danger-prone;
You would only slow me down.

So what if sometimes late at night I want to dance on balconies and feel your breath upon my ear?
That really doesn't matter
for I don't need you, and you don't want me,
even though you've read my poetry.

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
in city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
but now it's come to distances and both of us must try,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time,
walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
you know my love goes with you as your love stays with me,
it's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea,

but let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't
untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
yes many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
in city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
but let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't
untie,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.

I heart you like
My heart hearts beating,
Little drummer boy
Keeping the pulse;
Still a little kid
Marching along,
Never going to
Put the drumsticks down.
As long as there is still
A rhythm to keep me flowing,
My blood runs redder through me
When I see you; and those eyes
Piercing,  I'm flush all throughout
Little drummer beating faster,
Hear it so loud through my chest;
Church bells tolling couldn't hush,
But then you speak, his drum
Resonates to a flutter; light
Pitter patter, gentle lullaby
Of your voice, my little drummer's eyes
Are closing now, beating low
Like a whisper, this moment is sweet
Sweet serenity, as your gentle touch
On my soul is weightless like a feather
Upon a lake just floating with the current,
And then you start to leave,
Drummer boy is quickly making haste
Banging getting faster stronger
Surely you can hear him now,
Marching no more; he is sprinting
Lion in the Sahara after a gazelle,
But my legs aren't moving,
I'm just watching you walk away,
I know something my little drummer
Doesn't, you'll be back again,
And he'll lose his cool once more...
© okpoet

we are connected
one in the same
unified by an invisible force field of nothing
nothing tangible
nothing visible
but it is there
I just know

maybe by love
maybe by hate
maybe by that look in your eyes
when you stare into mine
and I see the world
all for me

I am overwhelmed
by so much love
I could sing solo
or go tell a stranger
or just lay here and cry
and realize I've never been
this much loved before

yet my heart is empty
I say forever
or something. whatever.
but how can you really
trust an 18 year old?

and the force field?
it is still invisible
nada
...*thy nada come
thy nada done
on nada as it is in nada
Amen.

I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.