jealousy

Last Call’s Final, Parting Gut-punch

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , , , , , , ,

edvardmunch-jealousyi1896the mirror behind the bottles behind the bar
offer a view of your girl’s face as she endures your embrace
and keeps an eye on me, waiting for a time when he will die
of exhaustion, or shame, or by her hand
and we can be together

toss your hair, dance for me
care not for his suit, his hair
his car waiting in the parking lot

you prefer the chase
the danger
and strange, new pleasure

suit yourself for now, as you will
you will never know, nor will I
and together we shall be
unfamiliar, unaquainted, forever

–BSB

edvard-munch-jealousy-3

Sensations of Copulation

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , , , , , , ,

sex is happening beside me, inside my mind
a couple sit, myself beside her
like an impromptu menage

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she rubs her dress straight on the surface of her long legs
with pointed hands and painted nails

she laughs with her partner
carelessly tossing her hair behind her
which brushes my shoulder and she excuses herself

her smile is pleasant, but her fear is ugly
the timidness of a child does not become her mature eyes

her man is weak, and cannot handle a woman like her
she owns him, and he hopes she will keep him past tonight

while she hopes that he’ll stay a man until last call

–BSB

sleep alone

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , ,

pass me up, look me over, let me go
deny my love and send me away
continue this madness that slowly eats you
give up one who would love you
sleep alone

cry alone without wiping your tears
show me the lines on your face
live a life – half-living – dying every day
wash yourself of every trace of me
sleep alone

keep yourself in pride, hope, sadness
keep yourself locked apart
place me outside and never let me in
have a life, a love, a mind
have my life, my love, my mind

give it all up
let me go

somebody else

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , , ,

would have swam across the sea
would have crawled on hand and knee
you could be alone with me
but you loved somebody else

would have written you a book
in whatever life I took
never give a second look
to anybody else

over a million miles I’d run
under a thousand hours of sun
to have the kind of fun
I have when I’m with you

I had put my life on rest
for you, I’d want the best
what was it, some damn test
because you are not with me

worked so hard to try
even ripped my heart out dry
and never wondered why
you are with someone else

if I could open up that door
walk that purple shore
I never would want more
and die a happy soul

your every want and care
would float up in the air
why are you way over there
with somebody else

know this much as true
the pain that I’ve been through
I’d do it again – for you
though you loved somebody else

i hear you, my dear

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , , , ,

the loneliness, even in a crowd
is written long-hand on your cheeks
like a tearful love song

“Take me away” say your lips
“Lay with me in paradise” say your eyes
“Come with me – fast – let’s not look back” say your fingers
as they nervously are worn down
by the erosion of your restless mouth
“How long will you wait,” ask your arms, hips, and toes
“before you kidnap me?”

the music has turned sober
and all of our minds have a chance to think clearly
she is going home with him
we are both tired of silent conversation
and I need to start walking

the mirror behind the bottles

bernardsbarnes Poetry , , , , ,

the mirror behind
the bottles behind
the bar, offer a view
of your girl’s face
as she endures your embrace
and keeps an eye on me
waiting for a time when he will die
of exhaustion, or shame
or by her hand
and we can be together

toss your hair, dance for me
care not for his suit, his hair
his car waiting in the parking lot
you prefer the chance of chase
and random stranger danger
in a new place with me

suit yourself for now, as you will
you will never know, now will I
and together we shall be
unknowing forever