POETRY

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 

Michelle SharkeyComment