James Moore Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

The Challenge of Loving

(“Cheek to Cheek”, 2024, original encaustic)

My first memory of my mother 
Is of being unloved.
Since then I’ve had three wives
But I don’t think any of them really loved me either
I say that because they all left me,
Or at least tried to once with my current one.
It makes me think I’m unloved 
Simply because I don’t know how to,
But somehow that doesn’t sit quite right
Or ring true.
For I know what it is to love;
My mother, my father
Those three wives, and my three daughters,
Not to mention all the dogs 
And a few of the cats along the way.

It makes me think maybe we are all challenged
When it comes to loving.
Maybe not the dogs, but certainly the humans.
And maybe this is because we think we have a choice
When love is really something
That simply happens to us and for us
Like a blessing, like grace
Like Sun melting into our upturned face
The touch of something warm and soft
In gentle cheek to cheek embrace.

Sometimes I think I am unloved, unloving,
Maybe unlovable
But then I remember the feeling…

(5/17/26)

♡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