A Poem I Should Have Written But Didn't

I walked a quiet road at dusk,
Where frost lay silver on the grass,
And in the stillness, words I sought
Some startled birds would rise and pass.

They brushed my cheek, they touched my hair,
Then vanished into fading blue;
I thought of you, old friend of snow,
Who spoke to silence, stern and true.

Your lines were fences in the mist,
Your rhymes were lanterns in the pines,
You caught the whispers I let go,
And bound them fast in perfect lines.

I should have written of the stars
That tumbled in the river dark,
Or of the leaf that dared to fall
Though winter had not yet begun.

But I was weary, closed my eyes,
And in the dark they fled from me,
Those tender syllables of night
That begged for immortality.

So here I stand, with empty hands,
The poet who has come too late;
Your voice endures where mine grew still—
I watched my lost words, fall from her pen.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Rodrigues Avatar
August 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A beautiful poem. James!
Mclain Avatar
August 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Kim, thank you very much for the positive thoughts. After all, I write them all for you. James
Lane Avatar
July 31, 2025 at 5:39 PM
James, your words will be forever preserved in these eloquent lines, no matter who you choose to credit. They are quite lovely.
Lane Avatar
July 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I would’ve had no clue, James. I thank YOU for such a kind reply. Your comments will always be welcome. ;-)
Mclain Avatar
July 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Thank you very much Lin, if I ever run out of words I can always leave you a little comment. It's people like you that makes it all worthwhile. I'm autistic and I fall in the spectrum of testing and communication.
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