Still burning (for you)

by Poet on the Piano   Mar 26, 2015


I
offered the only words I prayed over every day like a mantra that would give life purpose: "be careful, be safe" as you chased the siren down the stairs and drove to fight the fire.

I
burned for you as the flames on Yellow River Rd. multiplied.
And you returned, jacketless, your arms perfectly un-harmed while I stared and realized how different I was from you. While I didn't bother to stand up, to move, slumped against the organ bench reading your notes like a savage. I didn't bother to clean up my face, mascara smeared (I'm sure you didn't even notice).

I
had countless opportunities to relight the past, yet what good would that do? You finished speaking and silence rushed out of me. I wanted to change that. I wanted you to hear the depth, the breathless poetry, of my heart. But you cleared your throat and said it was time to go, you were hungry, you were sleepy (you weren't needing me).

I
don't love my silences, anymore,
when they hide me from

you.

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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by BlueJay

    Judging Comment

    This piece has a unique flow to it and a wonderful sense of style-infused voice. The tone is so heartbreaking and yet manages to be something completely beautiful. MaryAnne puts us in her shoes to enough of a degree for us to imagine the scene and yet keeping out the details that would make this too open and uninteresting. Each stanza is started off with the word I, narrating the piece in a way, then on a separate line explains whatever she is thinking in a manipulated paragraph so to speak, which is an unusual structure to some but it brings a personality to this piece that really makes it pop that much more. And finally, the conclusion of "you" twists it and shows that the piece was more like a vent or letter to whoever she cares about so deeply. It's a wonderful way of getting something off her chest, but it's also so completely captivating that it's worth the read.

  • 10 years ago

    by Meena Krish

    By leaving the word "I" on its own shows the point of view of the writer. How the writer feels, how she alone stands alone..."I". There is loneliness in that single I which stands apart from the stanza.

    I wanted you to hear the depth, the breathless poetry, of my heart.

    ^^Simply adore this line! As a reader I can feel those unsaid words, emotions all swelled up but love is not ready to receive or hear it.

    I
    don't love my silences, anymore,
    when they hide me from
    you.

    ^^My...my don't we all get killed by that silence and then feel the immense regret! This ending got me and its a message to the readers-never be silent for certain things have to be said when it needed to be said. Otherwise regret will only turn into self hatred.

    Liked the read...take care.

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