Scribbled Thoughts

A promise dangles

from the tree,

with no ground

to support it,

exposed so

everyone can see it,

judge it.

View the outcome

and decide

its worth,

as though you’re

worthy enough

to try.

Years of distance

paint my memory

of you different,

innocent,

full of potential.

Now you have grown

and regard me cooly,

eyes refusing

to acknowledge warmth

or thaw

with remembered moments.

Reaching out was too hard,

now stretching across

is impossible.

Decorate a date day

with dark movies

and festive shopping.

Hold hands and

fend off cold

with body warmth

and feelings.

Breathe in peace

in the presence

of another

while remembering

the best version of you

the world can ever know.

Convenience is broken

so commit your attention

to hand moulding

what you want,

caressing out imperfections

and pouring effort

for the end product.

See what difference

pride and devotion make

to the elements

around you,

perhaps they’ll

love you back.

Fall into compliance

so you don’t have to

think anymore,

won’t be hurt

second guessed

and ridiculed.

Switch off all emotions

and exist

as a functioning corpse,

see how many people

prefer you that way.

A split second choice

that defines you

forever,

the wrong path taken

can never be

back-tracked.

Regret and live on

with the accusing whispers

following your back,

chasing you

and waiting to drag you

down

into oblivion.

Pull at unfamiliar skin,

stretch to disengage

and feel despair

as it snaps back,

refusing to leave,

refusing to reveal

who you really are

beneath.

Harmony in the hours

before the world wakes,

expel your energy

to complete tasks

while others are

charging theirs,

still yet to face

the start of day.

You will be done

while they struggle on,

and you will laugh.

Cut the time

but not the work

and expect a miracle,

less reward

for more effort,

what motivation

would that produce?

Desperation

and misery.