James Kelley | + Follow Poet |
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Lovers, Strangers

I was the steely clang of morning’s haste

that thrashed its way into your lucidity.

You were the hungover smile that I 

flashed by, grabbing still muddy work boots 

for another 2 week rotation on a 

lonely patch of blood and sweat. 

I was the long phone call,

and the expensive day dream.

You were the haggard photograph,

kept on every bedside hotel room table. 

Lovers,

Strangers,

Lovers,

…Strangers

The phone calls grew shorter.

The rotations home,

felt less like

                   …home

I was the steely clang in your

search for normalcy

and your smile

                    …hungover

began to rust in the sweat 

I brought home,

even in my oil stained hands.

We grew apart,

ripped the tether

that bound suburbia 

to the rig floor where

I worked to keep that smile

hungover until I could 

bring home a coffee grin.

But you were tired of waiting. 

I can’t blame you, for that. 

But even here, 

now…

I miss the smell of vodka

and cherry lip balm. 

I miss your tired eyes,

winking goodbye at 4 a.m;

and the way they 

shined when I flew

back home.

The steely clang of morning is 

here, once again. 

But this time, I’m in no rush.

I grab my boots, now clean and shined,

and wonder if you’re just as hungover…

as I am. 

-James Kelley 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © James Kelley | Year Posted 2014

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Monterey Sirak Date: 5/5/2014 8:47:00 AM Your are a master at penning gritty reality. You embrace the hard words to say. You are one of my favorite poets. You never disappoint with your words. Login to Reply James Kelley Date: 4/29/2018 3:00:00 AM You're so kind. Thank you!