my love for you was unconditional.
your name engraved itself in my heart,
embedded itself into my soul.
loving you came naturally,
as if I were made solely to love you.

but you
you had your terms and conditions.
you would love me
so long as it was easy.
your heart never ached for my warmth.
and when the time came,
you let go
without hesitation.

for you,
I would have always tried.
always fought for us.
always stayed.

for me,
you had your limits
and I exceeded
your terms and conditions.

It's Funny....

How the ones who could speak taught me pain,
While the silent ones tought me love.

It's Funny.....

How the ones who could see like me gave me betrayal,
While the ones who can't see like me gave all it's trust.

It's Funny.....

How the ones who could walk on two legs never stood for me,
While the ones who crawl on four legs always stood for me.


It's Funny Right.....🙃

Polka dots tumbled from your dress
Settled
To mirror                           
Constellation Andromeda
                                     Far from home
Your attire
Changed character
Became lost in surroundings
              That didn't ask you to leave  
Gravity changed
Clouds were contained
       Moon was outpaced by the sun

Always Here

for you my love.  I said
that last humid afternoon.  The
melt of love dripped,

refused to release
into rivers, steamy and
loud. The birðs

squacked
inside the black
cage,

as if they were prepared.

Love never lasts
in my yellow
world.

It is always  in Shakespeare

that tomorrow
accompanies
the winding down of
a love affair.

True north
is

Rarely ever

True


Caroline Shank
April 30, 2025

I longed to call her mine,
But she wept for a love not mine.
One heart broke so another could survive.

Respect-
r
e
s
p
e
c
t-
Why can't i imagine even a
single person i "respect"
that I'd be able to touch?
uncle, father, brothers,
not one of them i could caress!
thus,
let us find what i respect-
i respect those
i fear!
i inferior am!
who make me QUESTION
everything;
why not you?
honey do i not respect you
why?
is this why i push you to be assertive, "tough"?
for i can not respect one
I DO NOT FEAR?
and thus
i cant touch any of those people
BUT
let us remyth here-
cut the ties that bind-
∞
and now,
heres what i respect-
and a daily habit it is to engender, dear!-
softness,
patience,
empathy,
ability to be held,
honest,
forthright,
NO LIES - well, may be whites!-
FEARLESS
yet(!)
TENDER-
able to cry, oh my dear,
you do cry do not you?
and not only when
glugglugglugglug
OOPSIES i am drunk let me act the way i would never sober
AND THEN
blame the behavior on alcohol and then once again get drunk and do it again-
BORING!-
nay you,
you cry intentionally-
with intent,
with awareness!
Yes,
a life's work here,
to find new modes to respect;
and then?
eyes touch,
smiles shared-
and yes,
i would like to give them food--
aye, i agree
it IS lovely.
A new journey.
Thanks and Warmth and Hugs.napo

when I met you
I knew that there would
never be another you
I think of you on the daily
but alas
miles of roads separate us
my feelings are true
whether they're reciprocated
or not
there will never be another you

love is like a flame
it can make you warm
or it can burn you
love can caress you
or throw you to the wolves
love can find you your perfect match
or it can find you someone
who'll never give you their time of day

i want to find love
a love that is reciprocated
a love that is gentle and passionate
a love that picks me up
a love that is the one for me
who can laugh at my dumb jokes
who can see me for me
who can show me the good in the world

i always seem to find the love that hurts
a love that beats me down
a love that hates me for me
who only loves the idea of me

maybe this time will be different