Selmhem Naise
03/2016

Poetry is so much
more
than many people think it is.
It is
the place
where the battleground of light and dark
makes its  finest stand..

or most pathetic fall.

Today I got a hug, out of the blue                                                             ­     
                                                           ­                                                               
and it even came with an "I love you''                                                            ­    
                                                            ­                                                        
Such a simple kind gesture                                                          ­                                                  
              ­                                                                 ­                               
  It brought me such pleasure                                                         ­                     
                                                                ­                                                          
It picked me up when I felt down                                                             ­                       
                                         ­                                                                 ­      
  turned my day totally around                                                           ­                 
                                                                ­                                                  
  Just when I thought no one cared                                                            ­            
                                                                ­                                        
someone loved me, someone shared

I don't want this to be
Like a movie I'd see
I want the good, the bad
And all the boring in between.

I was once curiously asked:
"Why write poetry?
Does it pay the bills?"

I replied with a smile:
"It does far more than that -
it heals."

We can be strangers if you like
We can talk about the weather
Our silly plans for the weekend
Or how life has been kind to us
Trust me, I'm a terrific actor
You'll hardly be able to tell

We can be strangers if you like
Or at least we can pretend that
It doesn't shred us to pieces...

But the room was so loud and it was so late
(But you have legs and I have a voicemail)
But I forgot all about it
(But you remember now)
But I lost track of time
(But you saw the sun go down)
But why should I have to?
(But why don’t you want to?)
But the world is ending
(But you are my world)
But I don’t love you anymore
(But did you ever?)

When there is nothing left to say
And you don't know what to pray--
God knows what's in your heart,
The Spirit did He impart.