LOSS (A COLLECTION)
POEMS ABOUT LOSS AND RECOVERY FROM LOSS. ALL POEMS UNDER THIS SUBJECT ARE ON THIS PAGE. NEW POEMS WILL BE ADDED TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE AS THEY ARE WRITTEN. THESE POEMS WILL BE PART OF COLLECTION FOR A BOOK BY MICHELLE SHARKEY.
CAPTIVE
Waiting
Worrying
Wondering how he will be tonight
The door slams
Hiding in front of my desk
Out in the open
Vulnerable to his attacks
His heavy footsteps
Clamor down the hallway
As his hand hits the knob
I shudder
A piece of myself
Falls off of my shoulder
The door slams open
Brooding glances
Exposed to his hisses
And cowardice
Beatings bearing words
Like a hammer
On my head
Another piece onto the ground
Swimming in confusion
Pieces keep falling
Floating in fallow puddles
Stunted to crumbs
Too many to count
Like sand
Falling though my fingers
Blown by the wind
Away floats my soul
Lost as he leers over me
His hatred harrowing
Cultivating barrenness
Harvesting pain
From his malice
He retreats only for now
And locks the vault
His treasure of sorrow
But I’m already gone
And broken apart
Torn by torture
Looking upon a vacant mirror
Visceral emptiness
The limp body of a little girl
Her heart ripped from her chest
Floats away
Past the sun
Into the darkness
That he created
Captive
SUNGLASSES
My sunglasses are on
So you can’t see me cry
Still waiting to catch a break
A Father that used me
Poverty
Poverty
Poverty
Kids to feed
A home broken and falling apart
I drive through the world
With sunglasses on
Covering the hurt of my soul
Cloaking the past that still feels present
Hiding from sight
Hiding my sight
Waiting for the time
To take them off
And feel free
I HAVE YOU BUT I’M LONELY
Walking through the room you pass by me like a ghost
Silent
I start to speak
But there are no words there
Speaking to a stone
What’s the point?
A single tear becomes a waterfall
It drops to the ground
and floods over me
And I drown
I CRIED TWICE
I found a card you sent
It was my birthday
But you missed me
The last time we spoke
I told you, Mom
“You will never hear from me again”
And you didn’t and don’t
And I didn’t want it
But you sent a letter
Five years later
Forty five years too late
Saying you love me
With a pop up insert
And miss me
As a side notation
You sent a new address
Somehow you knew mine,
The address I hid from you
You sent a new phone number
Knowing I changed mine and blocked you
You made a handmade card
With sparkles and die cut flowers
Knowing I didn’t want it
But I found it today
In the same envelope you sent it in
Because I never threw it away
And I cried twice
BETTY
Beautiful Betty
The smile of your eyes
The sun in your hugs
You rocked me in the chair by the window
Swaddling me
I felt safe
And loved
You guarded my heart as I grew
You stood up for me
When others would not
We were never apart
Until now
And for the past 15 years
I have missed you
As I walk alone
Through the swamp
On Christmas Day
Our time together was too short
But so cherished
Your rings on my fingers
As if your hard is holding mine
My heart holds your memory
With the necklace on my chest
My mind hears your voice
Telling me that you love me
You were a rocket scientist
Aeronautical engineer
A golfer, you made a hole in one
That fateful year
You were a buyer for a department store
Adorning me in the latest every season
A fantastic mother
A giving friend
And so very much more
Softly outspoken
Bravely kind
But most of all
You were mine
Reminded of you
I walk thought the woods
The trees full of egrets
Flying to the clouds
To be with you
Carrying a message
Oh how I long for you
A plea to wait for me
At heavens gate
But until then
I miss you Betty