PoetryAssignment.com » relationships

I Can Live Without You (but it sucks)

Heather — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:14:04 +0000

Spring is in the air, damn it all.
While we’re at it, damn the winter and the fall.
Every night and each day
go exactly the same way:
I’m perfectly fine, though between us there’s this wall.

One Tiny Detail

Heather — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:31:17 +0000

There he was: tall, dork, and handsome in a Green Lantern t-shirt and shaven clean. What was a girl to do? I was helpless before this beautiful geek. He had thoughts in that pretty head, and listened to what I had to say? When they all said we’d hit it off, get along great, they were right! I couldn’t believe it! We got some coffee (the same kind!) and talked about books (the same favorites!) and movies, music, dreams (same, same, same!).
Where was the catch? Why was there no second date? Oh, yeah… they forgot to mention his wife.

Rather You’d Lie

JessAnn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:29:59 +0000

A month ago it was
“I have to babysit.”
“I’m just too tired.”
Came after that.

How I wish that were all.

“I don’t have any money.”
“My mom needs a ride to work.”
Would all be better than
What you say to me now.

I’d rather take the lies.

Because now, your excuses are
“Andrew won’t let me.”
“He gets mad when I go out with my friends.”
“He’s just a jealous person.”

And as much as you know
He’s mentally abusive, not jealous.
And as much as you know
You’d be better off without him.

You and I know you’ll never leave him.
Because you really believe that
Having a truthful excuse is better
Than lying to all of your friends.

Strays

Heather — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:02:53 +0000

A kitten shivers
At the back door, not knowing
It's safer out there

Outside, the wind howls
Masking the kitten's crying
Making me waver

Heavy boots approach
The metallic bile rises
The fresh bruises smart

I make a bargain,
I'll let you in, but you
Must let me go out

Assignment: metallic

Their Anniversary

JessAnn — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:34:08 +0000

The candles were lit and the table was set.
Soft music was playing in the background,
As she poured the champagne.
Everything had to be perfect for him.

She had created this all for him.
It was an anniversary of sorts.
Not hers and his, she knew.
But it was still important.

He knocked twice before opening the door.
He was early, she was just finishing dinner.
She continued stirring as he walked up behind her.
Her heart began to beat faster as their lips pressed together.

Together they ate, talking quietly around the table.
After, they danced slowly to the soft music.
Then they sat on her plush couch, drinking champagne.
That’s when it all fell apart.

He mentioned her name, in passing.
He mentioned the other woman.
The one she was jealous of.
The one whose anniversary it was.

Quickly, she set the glass on the table.
Quietly, she made her way to the kitchen
Worried, he asked what was wrong.
Swiftly, she stuck the knife into his chest.

He fell back against the cushions,
Eyes staring at her.
Wide with fear and wonder.
He tried to reach out to her.

She ran to the bathroom,
Tears stinging her eyes.
Slamming the door behind her,
She stared at herself in the mirror.

It was what she had to do.
What she needed to do.
What she wanted to do,
Since she found out about her.

She quickly turned the faucet.
Hot and cold water mixed,
Washing over her trembling hands.
She didn’t look up at her reflection.

The blood swirled together with the water.
Creating a dull pinkness in the sink.
She watched the pinkness drain,
Until all the water ran clear.

She added more coloring,
Pulling a small knife across her wrist.
The blood drained out of her and into the sink.
“Now you have to be with me.”

http://poetryassignment.com/2008/12/assignment-blood/

We

Heather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:14:57 +0000

We were friends when we were angsty children,
Writing angsty poems about bloody tears,
List’ning to The Cure, because it was deep,
On the phone all night, not wanting to sleep.

We dated in high school; our love was real,
Not just another prom queen with a jock,
We read Neruda under the bleachers,
Just for each other, not for the teachers.

We moved in together, not to the dorms,
Decorated our apartment in black,
Convenient color, as it would turn out
The perfect shade for a funeral shroud.

Though from random crime, we couldn’t defend,
We were together, beginning to end.

Assignment: blood

***
I’m not quite sure what came over me. This is complete fiction, but I picture a couple of friends of mine in high school, who loved each other quietly and wrote poems about black roses, then graduated and were gone from my life for a long time. I recently came to know where and how they ended up, and I promise, it’s nothing like the end of this poem, though I was sorry to hear that their marriage didn’t last very long.

The Game

Heather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:12:40 +0000

Because it’s easier sometimes to talk
About trivial things, than to
Share sad silences or offer
Empty platitudes and cliches, we sit
Beside each other
Arguing about the true nature of the Infield Fly Rule
Living in the moment when the bat connects with the ball,
Longing inside for life to be just a game.

Assignment: baseball

Omen

Heather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:15:49 +0000

A girl lost her voice on her wedding day
She wasn’t sick, just had no way to say
Anything about her fears and her doubts
“I’m just not ready!” she wanted to shout.
She whispered her vows; what else could she do?
It was all paid for; she must make it through.

The cathedral full of family and friends
Thought all was well, that her love wouldn’t end.
She wasn’t so sure; she wished for a hint:
Love everlasting, or just a brief stint?
How could she know–she was still just a kid–
That the can of worms had just lost its lid?

Throughout her divorce, she’d bitch and she’d whine
That she hadn’t noticed such a clear sign.