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<title>Love tastes bitter when it's gone.</title>
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<h1 align="center">Love tastes bitter when it's gone.</h1>
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<!--Freetext--><center>~matchbox20~<br>more <a href="/rock/brytness/poetry/someberlove">somber love</a></center><hr>
<b>Clocks Going Out of Time</b><br>
She was standing there<br>
like a time bomb ready to explode, <br>ready to show all that's been locked inside. <br>But the matches and flame<br>belong to the next guy <br>along the street, <br>with its golden glow... <br>I used to have a motto: <br>"What you see is what you get, <br>and the rest will suffer <br>with what you beget." <br>So I will forget you for safety, <br>for the memories were always sugarcoated anyway. <br>Some might say<br>we gave up too quickly, <br>but we knew where we'd end. <br>Only we could understand<br>
the repercussions<br>of a clock-star radio, <br>a table for two on the patio, <br>and a blanket<br>of a blind tomorrow. <br>Oh, but we saw<br>no holiday in sight. <br>No, I wouldn't let you interrupt the sound<br>of chimes to allow you in, <br>and now I cannot let you <br>hit the ground<br>and take me for a spin<br>while you're drunk on the high-life. <br>I should have known your thrust<br>to be more like a knife<br>and all else you use to bleed<br>your victims. <br>Remember, I know your bedroom rhythms, <br>but forget this rhyme. <br>I will move away, in time.		071500<p>
<b>Return to Sender</b> <br>
You drained me, <br>
so now I'm left to drain myself<br>
of dye, and drinks, and dry<br>
the letters with virgin crimes<br>
to be satisfied only in prose. <br>
(For the lovers who cannot compose.) <br>
I've turned the cycle<br>
and called the psychic<br>
for direction in this desert<br>
to-be-drowned in dirt. <br>
I'm barren. <br>
Hell, Arthur, I'll never be flowing free again<br>
without thinking of your <br>
helpless grin<br>
at the sounds of my moans. <br>
While your priests atone, <br>
you'll take full advantage <br>
of your sword and stone. <br>
Have another show. <br>
We took another go<br>
on the banister of "dreams come true." <br>
So it was you, <br>
my 900 number, <br>
my love-letter receiver<br>
during my youth. <br>
I want you to take back your plugs<br>
and have them returned. <br>
You've done enough<br>
with your 33 cents. <br>
071500<p><b>Window Seat</b><br>
Pull the shade. <br>
Quicken the fade. <br>
Watch everyone slip away<br>
in their cotton blanket of clouds. <br>
We're bound to fall. <br>
Less gravity pulling me. <br>
Pretend you're pretty<br>
because you're sixteen<br>
and don't know what <br>
it's like to be eighty-three. <br>
For the memory, <br>
take this page<br>
and lock away melodies<br>
before they're stained. <br>
You'll hear them on the radio<br>
again someday. <br>
You will know better. <br>
We'll cut our loses<br>
behind the "Vacancy" signs<br>
blinking, <br>
though there's never room in the inn<br>
to breathe. <br>
Take a drink. <br>
Put it on the rocks. <br>
Don't let me ask questions. <br>
I want it louder<br>
than the knocks in my head: <br>
"Let me out!  Let me breathe<br>
you in!" <br>
I used to want the truth, <br>
but it's no use. <br>
So I pull the shade<br>
to make you fade. 	071700<p><b>The Worst Sense</b><br>
I caught a breeze of your<br>
air, and I got all disheveled. <br>
Stripped myself naked, <br>
locked the door<br>
in hopes of finding something more<br>
than I thought I knew. <br>
Once all I knew was you, <br>
your gestures, your desperate measures, <br>
you sneaky endeavors, and all you planned for<br>
your future... with me, <br>
and without my decision<br>
you cut me out like a paper doll. <br>I will never dress again, <br>
but if I do, it will be merely to defend<br>
my soul against little demons<br>
who want to dig deeper. <br>
Now I'm the keeper of your secrets<br>
because I wouldn't want to divulge<br>
more than half my full. <br>
Maybe one day<br>
I'll see you on the patio<br>
at a party I wasn't invited to, <br>
and I'll show you how happy I am<br>
with a butterfly on my arm, <br>
to be completely without you. <br>
Yeah, that would be nice<br>
until our eyes locked, <br>
turning my fire to ice, <br>
and all I knew would come crumbling again, <br>
just at the sight of you. <br>
But maybe by then I'll forget the truth, <br>
move on to more small talk: <br>
"How do you do?" <br>
And maybe I'll pretend<br>
that you won't keep what you knew<br>
with you<br>
forever. <br>
But your scent, <br>
I will never forget.	071700, #663<p>

<b>Carry the Moon</b> <br>
If anyone were to fly <br>
it would be my moon carrier guy, <br>
rescuing me from shooting stars <br>
upon which I'd wish to be by <br>
someone else's lips. <br>
It slips-- <br>
onto paper through quill. <br>
He taught me the thrill  <br>
of getting high on flings and flame. <br>
I taught him to tame <br>
the fire in his heart, <br>
perhaps in the part of him <br>
that could have taken me over.<p>
He rescued me <br>
with wings on his back last night. <br>
Fireworks strapped to her back, <br>
he had touched his inner self; <br>
he knew why his stares <br>
washed away the lies <br>
he told himself; <br>
he asked himself why <br>
he never wanted to go back <br>
once he breathed her scent. <br>
But he never knew why he was sent <br>
to take me away <br>
more and more this way.<p>
So I strapped on my winged shoes <br>
to catch up with the air <br>
in this push towards freedom. <br>
And though I might fall again one day, <br>
I won't forget him <br>
and the lunar eclipse in our hearts <br>
as we parted <br>
for a while. <br>
070700<p>
<b>Rush the Hour</b> <br>
You come and you go <br>
over mountains<br>
below seas. <br>
I don't know how to let go<br>
when you keep chasing me <br>
up and down--<br>
even in my dreams, <br>
you know how to direct me <br>
beneath the trees<br>
where we used to lie.<p>
You once wrote "why"<br>
on my calloused flesh. <br>
I didn't know at the time, <br>
but you said it answered every question<br>
I'd ever have. <br>
There are just better times<br>
to grow together, <br>
to fall out of place. <br>
We'll meet again<br>
in an unknown land<br>
where bruises are less noticeable, <br>
where we'll forgive and forget, <br>
and perhaps be loyal... <br>
When death is to understand<br>
and all teachers are mad<br>
as they test us before our lesson, <br>
we'll rely on reason, <br>
rush the hour to find the next valley.<p>
Hear us hit the brakes<br>
to avoid the imminent collision<br>
and just fly away<br>
when the steam engine comes our way.<p>
But you come and you go. <br>
Why don't you stay<br>
someday? 070700<p>
<b>Quicksand Was Saving Time</b> <br>
I'd say good-bye <br>
if I thought we'd truly end this way. <br>
But I know we won't. <br>
We'll settle apart again, <br>
live our separate lives <br>
thinking that awkwardness <br>
was enough to keep the other way. <br>
But we'll always crave to know.<p>
I don't know to whom you'll say, <br>
"She was once beautiful-- <br>
but we divorced anyway." <br>
Rather, I know I'll never be the same. <br>
Yes, you've come and you've gone, <br>
and each time I think <br>
this one will be the fatal bye-gone, <br>
but you never failed to leave your track <br>
in the sand of our <br>
hourglass.<p>

I was never sinking <br>
though you burned a hole. <br>
Thanks for changing. <br>
It's stability you stole <br>
with your faked security <br>
I used to hold. <br>
You'll run away once more <br>
and think you've healed again. <br>
But this, my love, will never end <br>
until you break the glass.<p>
Then your time will truly pass. <br>
071100 <p>
<b>Burning Man</b> <br>
I needed to see him burn<br>
to be satisfied, <br>
knowing he sat there all alone. <br>
But the swell<br>
would have to make up <br>
for everything else, <br>
and the tide would have to<br>
whisper the answers from now on. <br>
It will be me and my gun<br>
alone and restless. <br>
Who won on those lonely Saturday nights? <br>
Let's just say I learned to bleed--<br>
and call it a day. <br>
Drain the pages dry<br>
to learn my secrets, <br>
but don't ever think you taught me<br>
to live. <br>
I learned myself to be<br>
and be by myself. <br>
I learned to donate my feelings<br>
to the cowardly and needy, <br>
but that was only a means <br>
of survival--<br>
and knowing he'll burn<br>
for eternity.	<br>
071200<p>
<b>To he who drives me to poetry</b> <br>
I never wanted more than words and rhyme<br>
and a little time to learn myself, <br>to take you on the ride into my wringing soul<br>
out my vicious tongue.<p>

No, I never wanted <br>
to have been sitting here<br>
wondering if you were<br>
thinking about me too. <br>
I didn't want the memories<br>
of our better times<br>
to fuel me through the next day, <br>
to think it would be that way<br>
again. <br>
I never hoped<br>
to see every sunset <br>
and think it was only for us. <br>
I didn't need anniversaries<br>
to fly by<br>
without a call from you. <br>
I didn't ask for reflections on the water<br>
to reveal your face from heaven. <br>
I'd know why you were here to plague me<br>
even in my sweetest dreams. <br>
Then I'd know why the blue bird sings<br>
and the west wind blows<br>
and the vows and rings--<p>
but no one knows these things, <br>
and I just turn circles<br>
to find out why I hold on so long, <br>
why all my words come out so wrong.<p>
I could never show you in verse. <br>
That was my deepest curse. <br>
071200<p>
<b>8 o'clock Sunset</b> <br>
It's much safer to love from afar. <br>
You're not confronted very time you see his face. <br>
It's just left to sit inside your throat, <br>
to multiply and be swallowed<br>
just before you might say anything.<p>
The blues have never been deeper. <br>
The fire in your brain<br>
has never been brighter. <br>
And all the colors will explode<br>
after you divulge your secret<br>
that grows and grows<br>
until it meets the debris of all you<br>
always knew.<p>
Then you're forced to <br>
take it down below<br>
as you die and die<br>
away<br>
with the fading colors of the day. <br>
071200<p>
<b>Sing for Your Supper</b> <br>
I still remember seeing you again<br>
for the first time. <br>
You mumbled about<br>
avoiding this place so long. <br>
I should have seen <br>
that this would go on.<p>
So we flipped some coins, <br>
tried again. <br>
Regained my faith<br>
and shattered myself again<br>
because I cared too much<br>
while you never knew what to say. <br>
I'll never forget late May<br>
and all I was forced to do<br>
to get you out of my head--<br>
but you were never dead.<p>
So it too until now<br>
for you to move on<br>
and get around. <br>
A motivation of a different sort, <br>
to get out of there<br>
and sail off port<br>
because to be surrounded<br>
would be to be alone.<p>
I used to watch you swimmin'<br>
but I'd sink off the shallow end<br>
just wishing to see you again<br>
in your copper wire. <br>
I would have died right then<br>
to hear what you might say.<p>
But by now I realize<br>
you don't care anyway; <br>
if you did, you wouldn't have sailed away. <br>
071200<p>
<b>Third Time Around</b> <br>
Don't worry, Love,<br>
I was safe and sound<br>
when I hit the ground<br>
third time around.<br>
Luck was found,<br>
growing around the edges<br>
of the crust you left behind before--<br>
when dreaming meant so much more,<br>
I was sure I was picked from the sky.<br>
Now I would much rather lie<br>
between decades,<br>
to catch better light on the brigades.<br>
The pain will dwindle<br>
before angels die to rekindle<br>
lives as dirty as my hands.<br>
I always felt I more understand<br>
the cycles in your eyes,<br>
the reasons why<br>
it's better to leave the past behind--<br>
for a time I thought <br>
meant to be was not supposed to end.<br>
I used to think, "Why didn't I bend<br>
over backwards for the last one?"<br>
I only caught myself more bait,<br>
but at least I know this time.<br>
062600, #639<p>
<b>Just a Little</b><br>
He crowns himself his own throne<br>
because he doesn't know better.<br>
He's safer when he's closer<br>
because the breathing isn't so hard.<br>
I can't decide whether he's as innocent as she,<br>
but he plays it off nicely when the waves sweep him away.<br>
Does he dream like the other dreamers?<br>
Does he pretend to care as if his conscience disappeared?<br>
Does he read smoke signals?<br>
Does he rely on the reflections<br>
so he doesn't have to look into her eyes?<br>
I realize I'll never know,<br>
but when he says he cries a little,<br>
does he cry for her or for me?<br>
Just a scream would be fine.<br>
Just want to know he's doing time<br>
but just a little.<br>
Pretend you're feeling more pain.<br>
Assume you know the rain<br>
and its intentions as it twist-turns and bends<br>
on the rims of your glasses.<br>
Catch your own purity on the way down.<br>
I've learned when it's good to stay around.<br>
I'll see him on the ground<br>
when his wings grow tired.<br>
Until then, he knows I cry<br>
just a little<br>
for him.<br>
062600, #640<p>
<b>Sphalerite</b><br>
(<i>"too fragile to be cut sharply"</i>)<p>
Right, I remember that fight, <br>
trying to figure out who would win this night--<br>
the softer end of both our swords,<br>
we're both a two-timing battle<br>
turning into one won tattletale<br>
of dreams, of addictions--<br>
never read those restrictions<br>
when you took my first piece.<p>
I saw your sphalerite eyes<br>
searching within all my boxes--packages of lies,<br>
but I never doubted,<br>
never knowing<br>
your true intentions...<br>
never doubted<br>
the meaning of these feelings<br>
when you asked such blunt questions.<br>
And now you ask me to stow away<br>
my love, the sealings<br>
that made me more real<br>
day after day.<br>
Now I'm asked to fade away<br>
but stay<br>
close to feed you some more<br>
words of wisdom from just as fragile a girl.<p>
Our two became one<br>
but only in my eyes.<br>
(Brilliant disguise<br>
when you held me.)<br>
Can't say I'll fade away so easily.<br>
Too bad I know better what you need<br>
than whom I should be.	061500<p>

<b>ScanINg</b> <br>
pages always told me more<br>
about how long to stay in one place,<br>
watching one face.<p>
Funny how we only know from grins<br>
what's on the mind,<br>
what's on the brain.<br>
"When fame has got you down...<br>
I'll be around."<br>
When the tide has come back down,<br>
a path will cross you<br>
to my grounds.<p>
You know where I'll be found,<br>
and I'll wait for your bleeding halo<br>
to come around the bend<br>
or the echoes from your unfurling wings.<br>
I'll write melodies<br>
as I learn to respect the rights<br>
of Earth--to resist the lights<br>
from your birth.<br>
I'll be ready for you<br>
when you hit the ground.<p>
This time I won't fall with you.<br>
I'll know how long to stay<br>
in one place,<br>
when to watch your face.<br>
061500<p>
<b>My Five Words</b> <br>
We collected sunsets<br>
on the last Sunday of May. <br>
I thought it most beautiful when it came from you, <br>
though nothing lasts longer<br>
than our possessions when remembered.<p>
I wait for my lawful tune. <br>
It’s always playing in your attic. <br>
I always see a light. <br>
I never forget our last night. <br>
I cried before I could even say good-bye. <br>
And to think, that was the easy part.<p>
"I love you, ____ _____," you hear in my voice, <br>
as if my words, controlled by a puppeteer, <br>
were my choice. <br>
If I could, I’d leave. <br>
I’d pack up my memories, <br>
be satisfied, and flee<br>
before you’d climb my veins again. <br>
I’d scream loud<br>
if I thought you wouldn’t hear<br>
what you should naturally find in my voice: <br>
"Loving you is complete misery."<p>
Don’t take pity on me, <br>
just respect that you’ve made it harder<br>
than it could have been, <br>
Your beauty, I cannot even hold in my eyes <br>
anymore.  And I cannot take it<br>
anymore, how you can climb and conquer<br>
while I’m left somewhere below. <br>
My five words—no, you don’t know. <br>
My shadow claims to show<br>
you everything naturally<br>
as our sunsets slip away<br>
more and more every day. <br>
That’s all I’m left with today. <p>
How could I wait<br>
to see your flaming chariot? <br>
Two-face, two worlds, two chances<br>
down the drain. <br>
If you choose to read anything, <br>
read my face—<br>
not the trails of tears, <br>
just the reflection of drowning future years. <br>
I’ve gotta let go to come back. <br>
I wanted it all; you’re taking it back. <br>
There’s so much more I would I could keep, <br>
but "I’m in too damn deep."	061100, #632<p>
<b>Pay Phone</b> <br>
Leave me on this bed of lies<br>
that must be  <br>
burned; cursed too many times<br>
over for thinking I could be virgin anymore—<br>
or enough to be more appealing than before, <br>
more than just a net below<br>
so you can fall and bestow<br>
prospects and hopes for a partner. <br>
And, she will never be me. <br>
You’ve "figured out" things<br>
that include me but subtract me<br>
from being the one you want ever. <br>
And I’m forced to accept the<br>
declaration without questioning<br>
motives, a change to the Constitutions. <br>
So I’ll bear my arms<br>
so I won’t feel so all alone<br>
once you keep me on the phone<br>
twenty-two minutes longer than the quarter deserved—<br>
just to drop the receiver down, <br>
just to help me drown<br>
deeper in my forever-shallow tears<br>
as answers come free-flowing<br>
from your virgin breath: <br>
She will never be me. <br>
061000<p><b>Figure 8</b><br>
You ever tried to love someone who deserved it? <br>
You ever tried to leave without feeling you deserted it? <br>
I’m in between, <br>
and I’ve never been the same. <br>
The steps to the sacred<br>
are never so hard. <br>
So now ____ needs to know who to ask—<br>
it’s my mistaste<br>
but my destiny. <br>
I know I’ll be forever shamed, <br>
but now I don’t care<br>
where my soul goes; anywhere<br>
from here will at least make the tears<br>
less salty than our oceans. <br>
I’ll figure it out<br>
once I can tear the pictures down. <br>
I’ll figure the eight<br>
of infinity to show you<br>
every possibility. <br>
I’ll kill chances for originality, <br>
but it will be all too new<br>
because SHE WILL BE ME, <br>
glittering above the knees. <br>
She will be all you want, <br>
all you need, <br>
and you won’t worry about <br>
deserving or deserting her. <br>
I’ll be yours to die. <br>
I’ll be you curse, your lie<br>
to yourself. <br>
I’ll be your prayer. <br>
I’ll be your tamer, <br>
but I’ll be yours—<br>
and you’ll know who to ask. <br>
061000<p><b>#630</b><br>
He brought me good gyrations. <br>
He brought me to my knees. <br>
I gave him words of wisdom. <br>
I would never have asked "please." <br>We fed off each other now<br>
because we were no longer one. <br>
We remembered our past <br>
and gladly never took the chance<br>
of living it again. <br>
We were to remain as friends, <br>
and he said this was best—<br>
my thoughts of the future never rested, <br>
so I was to agree, to make this me<br>
and what I wanted. <br>
(And that was never clear.) <br>
He’ll now try to be sweet<br>
because that’s the way he was meant to be, <br>
and tell me about the next girl he screwed—<br>
and for some reason, it never began to sound lewd. <br>
I’ll take the next punch, <br>
for this is my only way inside<br>
the boy who was to take me as his bride—<br>
or take something else away, <br>
that will bleed away. <br>
You knew it better than I did all the way<br>
down the corridors of your chained up heart. <br>
You said you didn’t know what love was. <br>
I think it’s about time you start. <br>
061100<p>

<B>Spinning
</b> <br>
Can't stop the sensation<br>
from just looking at you, <br>
spinning in circles <br>
joyful jubilee<br>
So no one reminds me<br>
of how they want me to be--<br>
this is as pure as I'll ever be<br>
The colors blend like a pinwheel<br>
over your head<br>
I don't understand it--<br>
and for once<br>
I don't care<br>
I'm waiting for the air<br>
to leave my head<br>
so I can live on only your breath<br>
This moment<br>
will keep turning within memories<br>
because I knew you best when<br>
the outside world<br>
was fading away<br>
Words melted into the next day<br>
but this was burned into my heart<br>
You'd done your part<br>
and there was nothing more to say<br>
when the dance stopped<br>
and you went away. <br>	
060900, #622<p>
<B>Twenty-two and Counting</b><br>
Come in. <br>
Bolt out. <br>
Do not enter. <br>
Please don't shout. <br>
I'll always be here--<br>
you know no doubts. <br>
It keeps your secure<br>
on your solo flights. <br>
And I'll be here<br>
each night. <br>
Come in fat. <br>
Leave before I wake. <br>
You don't have much more<br>
to take from me. <br>
One to twenty-two, <br>
and I'll never forget<br>
our beginning ending<br>
when I saw good intentions fading. <br>
I'm relating to you secrets. <br>
Play one for the fool on the radio, <br>
"one for the love who came and went." <br>
I was thinking of charging rent<br>
on my time, on my heart; on my bed<br>
I'm lying, waiting<br>
for something to get started<br>
before you leave again.	<br>
061000, #623<p>

<b>Cannot Be</b><br>
Cry your artificial tears. <br>
Cheat and start in the line above <br>
'cause you think you <br>
could give yourself something more tonight.<p>

and don't forget:<br>
an apple a day is<br>
always one bite closer to the poison.<p>

Not as beautiful as you remembered, but that's<br>
nothing new.<p>

Number three was supposed to be lucky.<p>

Open minds were bound to break it, <br>
ogle over nothing new.<p>

Told you so<br>
too many times.<br>Take me to a place where the<br>
toys won't come alive.<p>

Blinded by the boy<p>

entirely by the Experiment.<br>
060400<p>
<b>Diffusion</b><br>
You looked so gorgeous today, <br>
and I wondered why I had let you inside<br>
once more, through my door<br>
and up the rivers of my veins<br>
with one touch on the collar. <br>
I was back. <p>

And maybe it was the turquoise hue, <br>
but you smelled different too. <br>
A new addiction--just like glue<br>
I was bound to you. <p>

You once asked me about direction, <br>
and all I could think of was the compass, <br>
spinning you North to East to South to West, <br>
back down South, swinging back to East... <br>
Three deaths between us. <br>
Two lives behind us. <br>
One love below this. <br>
I might be sinking. <p>

One handshake for the road. <br>
I'll never know<br>
if seeing you was right. <br>
But at least I'll sleep tonight<br>
with your soul in my blue blood. <br>
052100<p>

<b>Retreat</b><br>
Don't wish to plague you<br>
with my best expression ever. <br>
Feel free to kiss me--<br>
wish me away. <br>
But know it was you<br>
who made me real. <br>
Feel free to stay with me--<br>
play to me that one song<br>
that somehow, <br>
some way put you back together, <br>
taught you how to deal. <br>
Feel free to love me--<br>
shove me away<br>
when I'd rather be hiding, anyway. <br>
Wasting away<br>
until the day of less delay, <br>
next time we cross paths again. <br>
Maybe I will feel differently as friends, <br>
but I must hide away for now. <br>
To push away--I don't know how. <br>
Feel free to tell me--<br>
repel me<br>
downward. <br>
<blockquote>	To flame the fall is <br>
	to further the flight. <br>
	052100</blockquote><p>

<b>Pumpkin Shell</b><br>
Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater<br>
had a wife and couldn't keep her, <br>
placed her in a hazy hell. <br>
He never knew her truly well. <br>
And there she sits<br>
warm by synthetic fire, <br>
keeps her safe; <br>
she thought desire<br>
was her way to always be. <br>
Now she tries to learn to breathe<br>
without the weight that drove her down. <br>
The kings and queens will dye her Crowne<br>
and rape her of all she thought she'd see. <br>
The mark was dated, <br>
sealed with a kiss; <br>
a marriage of words. <br>
She thought she'd miss<br>
the sunset of his eyes, <br>
the ways of an outlasting girl. <br>
As she left her pumpkin garden, <br>
angels' wings unfurled<br>
and showed her<br>
what had always been.	<br>
052100<p>

<b>Static Cling</b><br>
I have no form. <br>
I lack the grace<br>
as I fall back into place<br>
with the puzzle pieces<br>
I've collected over time. <br>
One more to tie, <br>
one more day to lie<br>
and wait to die. <br>
Reach over me. <br>
Teach me to believe<br>
I can trust you again--<br>
not necessarily that we'll just be friends<br>
but that I don't have to check in crazy ways<br>
to see what you meant today. <br>
Is love the blurring greys of my blacks? <br>
I never thought I'd want them back. <br>
My whites I don't even remember having<br>
my way. <br>
Come over<br>
because the static<br>
I hear on the receiver<br>
clings to the reasons <br>
why I won't let go. <br>
What more can I show? <br>
Why won't you be the believer? <br>
052100<p>

<b>Different</b><br>
It was different when I had to get to<br>
know you again. <br>
I had to reread your pages cautiously<br>
to find interjections <br>
I could provide<br>
to sharpen your plot. <p>

It was different when I was alone with you<br>
because you eventually gave me rights<br>
to your glowing soul<br>
late at night. <br>
Maybe I was just clumsy. <p>

It was different when you first kissed me, <br>
for I was scared. <br>
I was missing<br>
something from my senses. <p>

It was different when I told you "I love you"<br>
because I finally knew what it meant, <br>
and I was ready to share. <p>

It was different when you mentioned her name again. <br>
I felt myself slipping. <p>

But the fall was just the same. <p>

It was different when you said good-bye<br>
because bad intentions were missing. <p>

It was different when I missed you: <br>
a similar pain<br>
but an older mind. <p>

It was different when I hid away<br>
because this time I had faith<br>
you would come around--<br>
or at least check-in. <p>

It was different when you left <br>
because we were looking for ourselves<br>
but found each other. <br>
Now you've stolen away with direction; <br>
my feelings now I cannot mention. <p>

It was different when my tears stung<br>
because they were bittersweet<br>
but thankful I had gotten the chance<br>
to breath you in again, <br>
hold you close again, <br>
and watch my love shatter and bend. <p>

Maybe I felt different because I thought we were the same. <br>
051900<p>

<b>No, I don't think you understand.</b><br>
The way you set me down<br>
to essentially say you were wrong, <br>
that you did not know what you were feeling, <br>
that you only felt what you were seeing, <br>
that nothing meant much more than healing, <br>
that we would have to take turns grieving. <p>

Before, I used to wander<br>
because I was wary of the time it would take for me to falter<br>
once more into someone's trap. <br>
And then I saw you wrapped in someone else's net, <br>
so I had to free you. <p>

You were free<br>
when you were with me. <br>
And I found myself in you. <br>
I thought you had too. <br>
Instead I was jaded by the stars in your eyes; <br>
I was glazed by your ivory hands. <br>
I wanted to feel through them. <br>I wanted to see you<br>how no one else had--and I was considering<br>giving you what no one else had seen<br>in the same light. <p>
It came tumbling down tonight. <p>

When I touched you, did you feel it? <br>
When you read this, did you see this, <br>did you relive this, did you believe it--<br>you did it again. <br>
And maybe I let you. <br>I'd be your martyr to have you--<br>but now I'm left to die by your hand, <br>right between the eyes. <br>To think I believed the lies--<br>that I reconsidered my stand. <br>I don't want no replies. <br>No, I don't think you understand. <br>052000<p>


<b>As You Lay Beside Him</b><br>
The day after is always strangest. <br>
You gave your heart and soul<br>in one fit of passion, <br>but now you're linked forever; <br>whether it's through memory<br>or a tunnel into the future, <br>you've come too far <br>to not know where you are. <p>
You might remember yesterday<br>
but never in the same way<br>
will you be pining to feel him<br>from the inside. <br>You are here. <br>Something died. <br>There he sleeps. <br>And you are waiting<br>to know why he keeps shaking<br>there on your bed. <br>All you see is red<br>and his ivory hands on his head.<p>Why aren't they smothering you now? <br>050600<p>

<b>what am i supposed to think?</b><br>
More prolific than I. <br>Do your words lie <br>as you lie there...? <br>I'm swallowing your smell again<br>as if your presence were Penicillin. <br>Nothing man, always coming and going<br>to leave another part<br>of our sorry memory... <br>lying away; wasting today--<br>never. <br>To make up for too many yesterdays. <br>I play bittersweet songs<br>that are suddenly back in tune. <br>I've got inspirations<br>
but still no moon to help me rest my head. <br>You once wished me dead, <br>but I never regret. <br>Forget you now--<br>
I don't know how.	<br>	
050400<p>

<b>i've been lying to myself too long</b><br>
He has me cornered<br>in the worst way possible--<br>where I can no longer explain myself<br>in the poetry exchanges<br>that have been more true<br>than I have been to my heart in a while. <br>I'll counter his prying questions<br>with pounding questions of my own... <br>which I would love to begin answering<br>
without hearing the pounding in my heart<br>when he merely breathes. <br>It's harder now to leave.	<br>050400<p><center><!--EndFreetext-->
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