{ After A While ...

 Painting by Frank Morrison

After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open.
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn...
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong and you really do have worth...
And you learn and learn...
with every good-bye you learn --------- ©1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall

{POETIC THURsday }

intricate.skeptic.cynic
by peps


Intricate, skeptic ,cynic .. L o v e r
sadistic, twisted, freaky.. s o u l
cut from deep-brown cloth…
embodies you whole,
Easy to fall in-love,
hard to leave…walk away,
all pride aside,
I pour out my insides,
words I choose wisely,
ambiguity… your #1 priority,
beautiful, selfish, soul…
two sides of the same coin,
But how do I know he lies…
when he speaks truth?????

intricate, skeptic lover…
unearths my desires, truth be told,
he is like fire,
burning deep down my soul,
just like g.a.n.j.a,

intricate, cynic lover…
leaves no words unspoken,
doubtful of his desires,
leaves me shattered,
I can count the m a n y
ways you leave me, insecure, hurt,
angry, dejected…
taking away the center point of my
retrospect, my identity, my focus…
beautiful, selfish, soul,
how do I love thee so?!!

{ POETIC THURSday --- }

 

 You My SELF
 by E. Curt

This is dedicated to my SELF,
And every other SELF
who never had anyone else,
so they had to learn to love their(them) SELFS,
Hell I often talk to my SELF,
Seems as if no one else
Can relate to me but my SELF,
At times I debate with my SELF
over Recession, and the dilemmas of Time,
Careful not to SELF incriminate my SELF
when in company of others cause they
May not understand me and my mind,
Some people say you shouldn’t
Talk to your SELF,
I just think they’re jealous because they
Don’t know their(them) SELFS,
So lost in the hype that they lost their(them) SELFS,
So used to the praise and abuse of others
They forget how to help their(them) SELFS,
I talk, sing, and even bring joy to my SELF,
I ain’t gone lie hell yeah I play with my SELF,
Your SELF is on the back of a milk cart missing
Because you teased your SELF,
Sitting there lonely teasing your SELF,
Risk disease and bad health with a stranger’s SELF
cause you too ashamed to please your SELF,
That’s what I called SELF fish soon to be SELF less,
So this is to my SELF educated, born to be great SELF nominated,
SELF medicated,
SELF sedated tired of being oppressed by others
Why wait to be free I can free my SELF,
SELF liberated, SELF proclaimed, hell with preaching to the choir SELF ordained, SELF sustained, SELF maintained
Some can’t deal with their(them) SELFS……..(pause) for the SELF slain,
I wrote this for you SELF my SELF you listened when there wasn’t anyone else,
So here’s to you SELF,
There may be several SELFS,
But there is only one you SELF,
so I will forever stay true to you my SELF.

{ POETIC THURSday --- }

 S.T.A.N.D. O.F.F
   by Peps

Deep hurts and words,
Gat' me baptized in wrath,
Emancipated in love-segregation,
..see,
Part of me mourns,
The rest of me that still holds on,
Meant to understand,
By choice you chose me?
But, by virtue I upheld you,
Way above what your soul could harbor,
In the naked sense of truth,
I was your Anchor!!
You lied because you loved me??
Cheated on a pure heart and despised me?..
Denied me reciprocated love and hurt me?
Put others before my worth,
Disrespected my honor without discern,
Denied me my right, so he couldn’t have me,
Emotionally disabled,
Psychologically enslaved..
I rise above pain,
Above heartache that cripples my soul,
Above the lie disguised as truth,
Above my enemies, that I so love to hate
I rise above the negative emotions,
That prevent true love from penetrating for my sake,
I rise above common words spoken,
Prejudices misplaced,
And Curse…{Exhale}