Occasionally, I write poems to reflect what I am thinking about. Below are a few poems I have written. I hope to write more.
A Barmaid's Rag glides across the countertop,
Sweeping up sorrowful spirits.
In the distance, a tune plays:
Ragtime.
The Patrons hobble to the dance floor,
Overflowing with tonic spunk.
A shimmy offbeat; right feet then left feet:
Free time.
"If only I could drink and dance through the day,
But nay! My duty binds me to this counter.
Up and down I roll this boulder burden.
Eternal time!"
But the Barmaid joins the crowd,
Leaving the soggy Rag on the counter
Upon which it was thrown.
Does it leak the very same booze that it swept,
Or does it weep from being alone?
The orange-smiling Autumn sky
And that orange voice in her song:
The final moments of our happiness
Before grey-hearted Winter
Brings forth love's sorrow.
My love gifted me chocolate,
Wrapped with frightened hands
In a film of ephemeral plastic.
I tore off the wrapping and
Tossed a chunk into my mouth.
I first felt an honest sweetness;
A tender saccharine embrace
Reminded me of the first time
I held my love in my arms.
After this, a seducing savoryness.
The glands in my mouth deluged
From peanut and almond desire.
My cheeks flushed with craving.
Then, the timid approach of salt —
Berber Sea salt boarded my palate.
A surprising advance from my love
With mysterious, brackish intent.
Next came the feral bite of sourness:
Indignance slammed onto my tongue.
My shriveling face contorted into
That of an ornery, old-lemon man.
Finally, the arrival of cruel bitterness,
As leather blight swept my mouth.
I fearfully swallowed what felt like
A hatred stewing for one thousand years.
But my love had a guiltless smile,
So I chuckled, while exclaiming:
“Excellent and curious, my love!”
For how could I thrust the acrid truth
Onto this face of chocolate?