Normal Rhythm

I haven't done a poem and poem post in a while. I wrote this poem about a year ago about an ex. The drizzling rain always reminds me of a pleasant memory with him. No hard feelings.

Unsurprisingly, I went with an ex-lover theme for today.

Here's mine. I'm fine with it as is, but I think maybe the ending isn't conclusive enough. My poetry teacher offered great advice: if you think you're done, write another line. I believe this poem needs that.

I hide away, your ghost in mind

I hide away, your ghost in mind
as I cross my legs in a dim Best Western room
in an ushanka, beer in hand.

Vision blurred, I can see you behind my eyes.
Your silhouette, far ahead, sauntering
through raindrops, with dog close by.

A glimpse outside reveals
a flickering McDonald’s arch
and the disappearance
of your drizzled silhouette.

No sweat entangled between us tonight.

But still as I sit, head in knees,
blood cells constricting in rye,
there is your apparition
on the curb
dog leash in hand
glancing back at me
waiting.

I'm usually more into contemporary poets, but I do hold some classic poets dear: John Donne, Shakespeare, Sappho, and above all Lord Byron. I think of him as the Bourdain of romantic poetry. Beautiful form with an edge.

When we two parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow--
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me--
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well--
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met--
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?--
With silence and tears.