Poem 29

Trivial

Later,

I curse myself for saying such

trivial, unclever things,

instead of ignoring him

as I should.

Apparently it's impossible for me to hold my tongue

when I see him.

Poem 28

Relative Spacing

I noticed how close you walked by me

on the sidewalk

today.

But later,

I couldn't help wondering

if it was only me,

automatically moving towards you.

Then I remembered

you stayed beside me the whole time.

Poem 27

Cloud No More

She was so bubbly,

full of laughter and open-eyed wisdoms,

long blonde hair over shaded lids.

Now her eyes are shaded on purpose.

Hair artfully blown back,

Wisdom tossed away in return for

Other Interests.

The young girl isn't even fighting to get out.

She's simply gone.

And all of us,

the ones who loved her,

mourn the tragedy

of a spirit taken away too soon.

Poem 26

Impossible Bond

Huddled in my pine,

I turn to glance across the grass

at the two boys in the other tree.

I didn't expect them to be laughing,

but there they were,

jabbering animatedly

in words too low to hear.

They don't notice that my arms

are held tight around my knees,

that I have to blink

more than normal

to keep away the tears.

They have some bond

that I can only view from afar --

but that I would give anything

to have with them.

An hour of silence

proves it's impossible.

Poem 25

Fantasy

I live in a fantasy.

It's a very simple one, really.

Only focused on you.

In the hall you walk up to me.

You smile,

You say my name.

Sometimes you even ask what I'm doing

later.

You never pass by without a glance.

Not the way you do when I actually see you.

Poem 24

Self-Inflicted

I tried to block you out.

I turned away,

barely saw you.

It hurt not to see you.

But it didn't work.

While I still craved your smile,

You didn't see me.

You didn't turn.

That hurt much more.

Poem 23

Look Deeper

You don't know me --

You don't understand me.

You look at me and think you don't want to.

But I'm sure if you tried

You'd find I'm not so different from yourself,

Only human --

And then maybe

You might care.

Poem 22

Alone

"My friends should be around here,"

he says.

He scans the crowded hall,

finally jumping down the stairs

to a group of people there.

You follow.

You strike a pose near him,

as though watching for

somebody else.

But he doesn't notice.

He's forgotten you in their jokes

and the rolling of eyes.

Dejected, rejected,

you sit alone across the way,

watching him through unmoving lids.

Once, he glances in your direction.