Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

I'Ve Got Your Back

Twenty-three ...

The freckles on your nape,
          Tiny islands of wonder on your silky dermis ...
               I have traveled every one, many times.
     Day-after-day I sit here at the desk behind yours,

Oblivious to whatever algebraic nonsense is being purveyed on the board,
          Utterly fascinated by every little detail about you and yours -
               How you squeak at the end of every sentence,
     The way you tuck your chocolate brown tresses behind your ear,

How your neck curves so perfectly into your shoulders,
          The way you reach back to play with the clasp of your pendant,
               And how every-so-often on a good day, a really, really good day,
     You rest your right hand on your left shoulder,

And wiggle your fingers like a fan, in a private wave ... to ME!
          (Well, I like to pretend it's a wave to me, though we rarely speak).
               Oh, the romantic fantasies I have concocted here,
     Sitting behind you every day ... adoring you ...

The dragons I've slayed, the battlements I've scaled, the wars I've won!
          I have memorized your wardrobe and counted the buttons on each,
               I can name the perfumes you wear - seven in all ...
     Every tidbit you speak is like sacred manna from heaven,

And I a starving angel, enraptured.
          You sit here, within arm's reach,
               Yet you are worlds away.
     Someday, perhaps ...

Someday.





~ 2nd Place ~  in the "I'm Crushing On You" Poetry Contest, Julie Leigh Rodeheaver, Judge & Sponsor.

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Christuraj Alex March 27, 2022 at 9:31 PM " Every tidbit you speak is like sacred manna from heaven" - What a comparison! Beautifully written work. Congratulations!

Wendy Watson May 8, 2019 at 2:31 AM Your powerful description really draws the reader into your pensive world, Greg. So many lovely touches and the comment about the fan-fingered wave was adorable. It reminded me of one of the first poems I read of yours, in which you talked about a girl's fingers perfectly matching the spaces of your hand. Wonderful! Gregory Richard Barden June 29, 2019 at 12:44 AM Oh, thank you so much for this comment, Wendy, it's very sweet and thoughtful ... and thank you very much for remembering that phrase and imagery. I think the poem was "One Kiss", but not sure. I'm so pleased you liked this one, as it is special to me as well. Blessings, my friend! :o) <3