Nanny and Pop

I saw an old couple on the beach today,
sitting in chairs near the water’s edge.
Laughing and chatting to the sound of waves,
which covered up the marks they’d tread.

And as I sat there, I watched the sun’s light,
shine for hours on the island they had made,
No tracks forward, and not one behind -
Only themselves. The white. And waves.

I didn’t see what happened to the two.
The sun set and the colors went away.
So I made up my own ending. You should too.

They’ll live a thousand lives this way.

Tiffany

Tiffany,

There’s something I meant to tell you,
today when we were on the swings.
But I was quiet, and perhaps I proved -
that people rarely say the words they think.

Well, I like you – and there’s really nothing more.
I hope we can talk soon, I guess.

Or perhaps you could pass me a note before
we start our math hour and take that test?

Please forgive me if these words are rough.
I’m twelve, and awkward with such things.

Oh, and I’m sorry I look at your back so much.
It’s just…I swear I see wings.

Real Quick…

One of my long term goals as a writer, if I can really call myself that, is to write series of poems from various vantage points on a specific topic.

An example of this is the five poems I wrote using the focal point of poetry – the poet, the poetess, the poem, the pen, and the page, in which I tried to illustrate my idea that every moment is a gift from God – not just moments of intense passion.

 

Another long term goal is to write eighty or so poems on my belief that romance, at its core, is innocent. Each poem in this series will exhibit this innocence at different ages in the life cycle.

 

The two poems below are some of the first in this series, intended to reflect love around age five and nineteen respectively. Another one is “her hand”, which is meant to reflect love at fifteen or sixteen, and also “wife”, which is meant to reflect love around twenty-five.

 

I admit at first glance this portrayal of continued romance, and continued innocence, appears naïve and impossible. I would agree to the first account, but not to the second.

 

For most people, it may be impossible. Love is too hard and people too self-centered for something innocent to survive for long in this world – alone. But I believe there is a God who has the power to renew and to bring innocence and love to any relationship again.

 

Anyway, enough prose.

6 – Lori

Lori,

I like you.

Do you like me?

If yes, check yes.

If no, check no..

You can borrow my crayons.

YES NO

25 – Wife

When we move into our new house,
I must tell you of my plan.

I want to run inside and lock the doors,
and have us stay a week like that.

For I’ve traveled so far without you.
The reverse would just be nice:
to just travel nowhere with you.

Because every journey has its price.

15 – Her Hand

I almost touched her hand last night,
while we were underneath the moon.
I almost touched her hand last night,
and she almost touched mine, too.

Oh, the pleasures God allows!
Oh, the gifts formed from the sand!
Please, I need a moment now…
I almost touched her hand.