at 8 11 a.m. I met destiny by surprise
shadows of grey clouds took over my sky
the sun sizzled out in the rain
puddles of dirty water splattered on my legs
shower water heated up until steam blinded me
I found particles of gravel from asphalt in the tub
a whirlpool gurgled the filthy water down the drain
the towel warmer had made my robe nice and toasty
yesterdays tomorrow, ended today
my brain slushed around in my head
rapid pulse, chilling sweat, I shivered
dizziness made me plop into a chair
I sniffled into a kleenex, avoiding eye contact
tears of guilt and shame wrestled for dominance
locked away where secrets go, safe from peering eyes
the screaming horde shoved their signs in my face
a murderer...me? I died that day, do you know why?
who he was? he pinned me down silencing me with a kiss
you're screaming and breathing now, proof you're alive
I did nothing wrong, I'm just collateral damage
ever hear of precautions, abstinence, condoms
he used the rhythm method, it didn't work
by your logic those choices are premeditated murder
I was victimized, he's in jail, I'm no bodies victim anymore
191 words 24 line 6 stanzas © 9 months ago, Sharon
Mathematicians and family planning the algo-rhythm method.
I'd almost forgotten what we were like
so many thens, so many "do ya remembers" ago
the days fat with warm summer
dripping off golden smiles
melting like wax in the sun
it was all just a race against time
each tick a heartbeat lost
each sunset crash'd like foaming waves
but we had it down
a rhythm method to laugh in the face of the moon
tearing the days off cheap dime store calendars
using Tuesday and Saturday to roll our stale cigarettes
it seemed so simple then
in my complicated now
smiles + lingering touches + silica crusted toes
= the sight of you in my peripheral vision forever
but now an empty divot in the bed
your perfume on a stranger walking past
the formula unraveled for
we made kingdoms from sand and sargasso
terns our brave paladins
wheeling gull the court's fool
your hair my burnished pennant
snapping in the breeze
I never wanted the earth to turn
cooling air can't turn to black
as shadows fell upon your face
and the sea stole our castle back.
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