But Steve had asked Becky to be his date
to homecoming court; and everyone knew
Becky belonged to Alex the linebacker.

So Alex the linebacker set out to claim
what was rightfully his, according to
town rules and high-school tradition.

No one would hear her screams over cheers
of drunken teenagers and town volunteers;
even her best friend, when later told details:

“Becky, chill out, it’s only your virginity.”

And certainly no one heard her cry when
Steve changed his mind; no one wants
the town slut to be homecoming queen.

———–

See other blood poems here.

You took me to a small hotel outside of town,
I remember that.
The girl at the desk didn’t look me in the eye,
I remember that.

You felt that what we were doing was wrong
You felt that I was more perfect than you
i felt your body press against mine.
I felt your hand move across my body.

You were gentle at first,
I remember that.
You never put your lips to mine,
I remember that.

You didn’t last very long,
I remember that.
You were interested in your pleasure alone,
I remember that.

Your eyes, your face, your hair,
I don’t remember that.
Your clothes, your smell, your name,
I don’t remember that.

After we were finished,
I sat on the edge of the bed,
Not looking at you,
Staring at the floor.

After we were finished,
You sat on the edge of the bed,
Not looking at me,
Staring at the floor.

“Thanks for your time,”
Getting up, you dressed.
Reaching into your back pocket,
You threw a handful of bills on the bed.

“Call me, if you ever need to again.”
I put my hand over the money,
Reaching down, I picked up my purse,
Counting it, before swiftly slipping it in.

You opened the door, stopped, and turned around
“Oh, by the way,”
You began, not sure how to leave,
“Nice tattoo.”

Leaving quickly,
You let the door slam behind you.
I smiled and got dressed
Math geeks were my best customers.

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

She knew he was lying and she told him as much
but he was driven to take the easy route
and she was determined to prove to him
that there was no simple path away from this.

So she lit up their lives one final time
sparks of love letters and greeting cards
birthday gifts and Hershey’s kisses,
once a trail of chocolate down halls leading
to angelic sighs on passionate nights.

Watched aluminum purple wrappers
glow and then brown and disappear
reasoned her actions by saying they’d tried:
attempted to figure out how to make it work
when they both had known it wouldn’t.

If black smoke means the fire is fueled
and white smoke shows it’s smouldering,
she leans in closer, eyes on their heat, wonders
what it means to be teased by both colors.

They breathed into each other
and this decided everything.

“I have already fallen in love with you,”
was his response and she wondered if
this perfect man on this perfect evening
simply had the perfect words …

or was she – dreaming?

Cab ride home – one stop, not two

She took his hand and led him
down the hall and to her heart;
opened up the bedroom door
stopped to consider her own soul

wondered about turning back
pushed thoughts aside and let him in

because after all, if she was dreaming
that means this was only sleeping …

———-

See other sleep assignment poems here.

No hot dogs for sale this winter day
but a look in your eye and time
on our side, you pulled me in close.
I said, “Honey, let’s go slow?”

and you tried not to look amused,
said “You must not know this game
but trust me, I know how to play
and it really is all about the score.”

To see other baseball assignment poems, click here.