I feel you near even when you're not here,
even when your face no longer lingers in my head,
when the wind no longer carries your scent,
and my body starts forgetting the feel
of your featherlight touch.
I feel your presence every single minute,
even your soft voice whispering in my ear.
I remember your smile,
the one that used to melt my heart,
and even your words that cut deep
and left a scar.
Yet I also remember the way
you used to gaze into my eyes,
as if I meant the world to you.
I remember how those glances
always made me fall in love with you,
and how, every single day,
I kept losing a little piece of you.
your brunette hair swaying in the autumn breeze.
your eyes stare into the souls of leaves.
your fingers lace through mine.
the sun bouncing off your dark eyes.
you’ll always be perfect in my mind.
the way your lips smile at me.
the way your hips lean into me.
i’ll never forget the way you talk, the way you walk.
why must you leave.
please come back.
please.
Unfaded, though yellowed
Paper wrote on
Love's clear mention.
As fragrant, though musty
The box found in
Love's sweet meaning.
They are
The pages of an old love story
Earmarked, faded yellow,
Moments underlined
Highlighted in life’s colors
The words are still clear
Feelings vibrant
Hint of mystery
A “chance” meeting
A sly whisper
A stolen kiss
Never returned
The story
A non-fiction homage
To love’s tenacity
A roller coaster ride
Shrieks of laughter
Silent tears
A soft wind riffles the pages
As they walk, slowly
Hand in hand
Quoting their favorite lines
From the pages
Of an old love story
Old love, old wine
The more you taste
The more you drink.
Those silly old love songs from decades past
Still meander through in my mind
Those love songs that speak softly of the thrill
Of a blossoming new romance
That promise “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney
The definition of what true love is
“Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”
And Perry's “Can't Help Falling In Love”
Am I dating myself... perhaps
But these oldies tell of love in much simpler terms
Even though the world was still in turmoil
These songs promised hope
Of finding that very special person
To spend eternity with! To love and to cherish!
To grow old and grey with!
Those were very special times back then!
Ah! Memories!!!
Today I’m thankful for old love
and for me….
what makes old love so wonderful
is….
how sometimes it’s as young as it used to be.
Those silly old love songs from decades past
Still meander through in my mind
Those love songs that speak softly of the thrill
Of a blossoming new romance
That promise “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney
The definition of what true love is
“Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”
And Perry's, “Can't Help Falling In Love”
Am I dating myself... perhaps
But these oldies tell of love in much simpler terms
Even though the world was still in turmoil
These songs promised hope
Of finding that very special person
To spend eternity with! To love and to cherish!
To grow old and grey with!
Those were very special times back then!
Ah! Memories!!!
I am happy with your say bad and I am happy with your sadness
If we ask for an answer, I will give everything
The staring eye is your eyes and It is your eyebrow and the bend of your hair
All from is the government of your love that I am in pain
I'm sorry that my love made a mistake
He said, beware of love, it is the source of trouble
It is not necessary for him to love me
Without your beloved, it is a blade and a vein in my hand
The time has arrived so soon,
When I am eighty-year-old,
When I am bald with shining head,
When I have nice smile with new dentures,
When I have new hearing aide and new pair of glasses,
Will you still love this new bionic man?
Will you wait for me at the door when I go out?
Will you stick around even I give all my time to work?
Will you hate me if I forgot your birthdays, and our anniversaries?
I think you would still love me, if you were still alive.
You have missed all the giggles and laughter of grand kids,
You have missed their first walk, first talk, and sweet words,
Although they may be complaining about my slow pace of walk,
They still miss your close embrace and kind of feel sorry about me.
My life is an empty nest now, the kids and grand kids have their own home,
I am lost in ocean hoping to see some beacon of hope,
The shattered stardust reflects our fragmented love in silvery shine,
The love outlives forever in stardust in the mystical dark skies.
As long as the ashes of our old dying romance burn,
I keep inhaling what is left of what it is I yearn.
As long as he is still around, there is still more from him to learn.
Light through window-
my friend waits
on another table
but affections stirred.
Seasons ago
our lives got in the way
of what could have been.
Still after a few minutes
she comes to me
and for a moment
we’re together.
Old conversations shared
find new life
and now she’s part-time
caring for her daughter
at home
(I saw her daughter once
at the restaurant once)
and yes I’m still writing.
She wants to buy
my next book
just like the others books
She pats me
on the shoulder
remnants of love
shared as if
it never died
and a tree outside
regains its bloom.
May 31, 2022
Unity Consciousness Contest
Velvet paper tinctured pink,
A red rose at its crest;
The whittled feather, bathed in ink,
Set to bare its best.
A lambent candle close at hand
With dancing, flitting flare;
Where evening translates its command
And nothing stirs the air.
Words are authored, truly writ,
Where, from the soul they flow;
As on the page they snugly sit,
Affection to bestow.
Filling out each careful line,
Each one a work of art,
Hand and mind, with pen, entwine
Concerted to the heart.
And when the tender prose she'll read
And tastes the chaste romance.
She feels a shivered chill, indeed,
Deep in her breast ~ per chance?
And as the fondest words engage,
Seen through her moistened eyes:
A teardrop falls to blot the page
And stays and never dries.
Above all comes sorrow,
burning old love letters
in ashes of time's arrow.
Above all comes sorrow,
how I was strait and narrow
and listened to my elders.
Above all comes sorrow,
burning old love letters.
Our night, our walk, our song,
Our words, our voices talking all night long.
Into the next day we stayed - then sweet rain came.
Until the end of time we lovingly remain.
September 17, 2021
Your Best Four-Line Light Verse
L. Milton Hankins
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