Here I Stand

I was encompassed within the sullen lust
Of gentrified prepositions

Incomplete adjectives layer the magnitude of
My emptied valor

I became entrenched in the touch
The smile
The tears
Of wistful elegance

This onyx cry
Now turns into an everlasting echo

I sing to these gated heavens
Where visionary angels no longer
Give me a second glance

Expectations rot unto red herrings
As supple conundrums
Insist my smile
Will “be ok”

The most conformed lie,
The most performed cry,
I was ever beaten with

…

Salted whips bless this tenderness,
Her one-armed caress
Diluted into illicit “flawlessness”

And I would have digressed

But, I became stronger
When she yelled at my infantile stance

Hunchback of forbidden damns
Burying our luminescent memories
In fear’s corrupted sands

My vulnerable love
Now life sentenced

She turned my open arms
Into vindicated assault rifles
As she cocked the clip
Of my abused remnants

Oh, how your abandoned grace
Blessed my broken rosaries
With silent goodbyes

Yet, here on bent knee
I still cry
I still cry
…
For the return
Of your identity

All of your eloquent mistakes

As your altered ego
Strokes the girth
Of fear’s liability

And I dare you to push back against
My scarred & humbled smile

I do not fear you today
I do not fear you tonight
I will not fear you tomorrow
No matter the weight of my sorrow

For my poignant love
Will always shine brighter
Than your poisoned fear

Of my tattered innocence

©D.J.E.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Hinshaw Avatar
October 14, 2020 at 3:48 PM
A brilliant write, Poet Tacito! My kind of poetry! Many thanks for your kind comment re Autumn 'Leaves' Me Perplexed. The very best to you as you continue your poetical journey - Bob H
Tacito Avatar
October 14, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Hey, Robert! That's very awesome of you to say. Thank you so much! :)
Goff Avatar
October 5, 2020 at 8:20 AM
The push and pull...vulnerability....trust...heartbreak...hard truths...have survived 2 relationships this yr Drake...your words shine bright...
Tacito Avatar
October 5, 2020 at 11:48 AM
Thank you so much, James!!!! Super grateful!
Onyancha Avatar
January 27, 2020 at 6:54 AM
Beautiful beautiful to the brim...I love your pen
Lamoureux Avatar
August 30, 2019 at 4:55 PM
This is why you are amongst my favourite poets. You are a master of words.
Tacito Avatar
September 2, 2019 at 9:28 AM
My dear, Richard. Thank you so much kind sir. I really hope you're doing good!
Onclaud Avatar
January 5, 2019 at 11:48 AM
ohh, potent riveting work done with such depth...when do we start your radio show again, drakey?... fond toast to 2019!..huggs
Tacito Avatar
September 2, 2019 at 9:28 AM
Hi & thank you, Nette. Plans for the radio show are still pending, but life continues to pull me in a bunch of directions. Either way, I'll update again on this when I can. I hope you're doing good.
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