Hopeless Romantic

Oh my god

Was that the only real thing

To exist?

Woven together

Trailing your back

Angela

Sarah

And I

Braided into your

Strawberry blonde hair

I used to never like

How braids looked on me

And you never could figure out

How to do a French one

But you taught me

When my little blonde dolly’s

Braid fell out

Over under

Over under

Again

And again

And again

Until I finally figured it out

Now I’ve come to love

How I look with a long plait

Trailing down my back

I used to find it so maternal

Now it suits it me so well

And keeps it out of my face

While I hold my darling

Baby girl in my arms

Her hair is no more

Than a downy tuft

Of strawberry blonde strands

But someday I will braid it for her

Whether it be for school

Or sports or dance

And I’ll remember

How yours looked

All those days we spent together

Angela

Sarah

Jenna

Woven together with you

Forever

And I saw a stretch of blue

As far as my eyes could see

White sand

Hot underneath my feet

Then cooled by the sweet kiss

Of the tide rolling in

Wave after wave

We stood laughed kissed and played

Complete freedom

Found in this incredible ocean

Which is alive and gargantuan

The very thing

God hovered over when He created this place

And there I was with my husband

Overcome by it all

So far out

That the beach grew small

What wonderful days

We have shared together

Anything I could do

I was so tired from ripping my own heart

To pieces to give it to you

But I had this dream last night

You were smiling so wonderful and bright

And I hope you’re out there somewhere

Where it’s true

I hope to God you found someone

Who was able

To change your hue

If you told me I’d hardly believe it

Alone again on this day

He just left for a week long trip out of state

But the difference is he’ll be home

Not just back

Home

To find myself

And our two cats

Right where we’re supposed to be

The difference is he meant it when he said

In murky pond reflection

But If I were being honest

I couldn’t tell you the difference

Between a pond and a lake

All I know is that when

My fingertips grazed the image of you

It all rippled away

I haven’t two more years

To wait for the water to calm again

Standing overhead

Watching you drift away

From what I once swore I saw

Novella

A galaxy sharing space with infinite

Black holes

Cigarette ash that covers the earth

Like a comforting blanket of snow

Not afraid to go under

Dirty river water

Reborn under the sun

Knowing that there is no moving on

Grieving tremendous loss

With every slow guitar song

The way my lips curl into a smile

Showing my entire row of top teeth

Now ground perfectly flat

I even remember your fathers red hat

Finger tips teasing to go further

Until they hold the other

Love you always

I’ve known it so long

You stuck around in my thoughts

In every raindrop

That kisses treetops

During a summer shower

You held the power of

Daylight with every twirl

Pulled from the nape of your neck

My favorite story

You breathlessly whispered

Our sad little tale

Not even long enough to qualify

For best seller

But I’ve read it until the pages

Wilted from my fingertips

Remembering your brilliance

In every latte I know you’d scoff at

Preserved within a glass box of my mind

Like a butterfly with its wings

Pinned into place

Sorrow that will never organically

Exist again

The permanent earth stuck in your knees

And my beat up combat boots

Washing it away in a college

Bathroom sink laughing

Angel wings sprouting from your spine

While I cry on hardwood flooring

Humming seeping through your ribcage

I swear the whole thing was filmed

On 8 millimeter film

Blue bikini Polaroids lost forever somewhere

Pages and pages of poetry with your

Name in invisible ink

Always

Always?

Always.

Sweet as honey

Cute as a bunny

I used to be so hellbent

All the good days had been spent

Putting my life on the line as though

It was nothing more than a cheap bet

I would lay in my bed

For nights on end

Wondering when he may leave my head

Until I fell so deeply

When you’d look at me so very sweetly

And put all my trinkets on your dashboard neatly

We listen to music together

And you always mean it when you say forever

Honestly nothing could ever be better

I know that on at nine pm on a sunday night

We can spend it dancing just right

Not worrying about last weeks fight

You teach me all that I learn

And we share all that we earn

You’ll always make sure I get my turn

I love you

And all that you do

Nothing has ever been more true