Carly Schmidt Poet Free verse

Bittersweet Keepsake

You are unlocking my doors,
Peeling the skin from my chest
	digging deep to discover
	my pulsing heart.
And it’s beating with a fervor. 

Lust in my eyes, glittering in the lowlight.
A mirror of past mistakes.
oh, it’s an ache in my fingers, a sigh in my belly.

We exchange hearts, oh:
I might say the feel of a brand new one
(thumping behind my left breast) is strangely bittersweet.
It’s yours, you know, hidden beneath
muscles and tendons and flesh,
	atoms and palpable, bitter melodies.

And when I set my hand
to feel my familiar rhythm,
It’s your skin beneath the plum of my fingers.
I pluck them away,
	like tiny birds chittering.

At night I’ll dissolve,
surrendering to hard alcohol, dreams, headaches, regret.
But you will faithfully stay,
a keeper of hearts,
guarding their thick pounding on the bed.

My shell has escaped.
It will fly up-up-up—like a cheap helium balloon
and burst on low-hanging clouds and sleet.

Baby, my sweet daughter, 
sweet small flesh in my arms,
I cannot keep you for much longer.
You’re a keepsake, you know.

I didn’t love you, you know,
Until I met you.
But we’ve stolen each other’s hearts
and we’ll never
get
	them
		back.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment