relationship poems

Continuing Separately

Everything is going along
Much as it always has,
Until something changes.
Whether due to an accumulation
Of slights over time,
A single major event,
Or increase of self-esteem,
The relationship shifts,
Moving in a new, less intimate
Direction, trust depleted,
Superficiality followed by
Disengagement, one party
Expanding, the other static,
Continuing separately.

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Sharing Stories

Instead of viewing
Each other with
Hatred and suspicion,
They consciously decide
To sit down and
Share their stories,
Each side learning about the other,
Walls coming down
Through mutual understanding,
Shared humanity,
Empathy superseding blame,
Treating fellow human beings
With kindness and love,
Healing the hurt.

Bird Friend

Mr. Robin
Comes by to visit.
He looks at me,
I wonder what
He’s thinking.
It doesn’t matter,
I’m just glad
He’s here,
My little bird friend.

Smiling

At the end of his life,
He realizes that
His crowning achievement
Was to live in
All-consuming fear of
Everything and everyone,
Choice gifts bestowed
Upon him by a fist,
Dismissive look.
Sometimes, if he
Closes his eyes tightly,
He can just barely
Picture a place
He never dared visit,
Where he’s smiling.

Gleefully

They clap gleefully
As the child dances —
A forced smile pasted
On his face,
Flailing wildly to
Keep their attention,
The only time they
Notice him.

Just the Other Day

It seems like just
The other day
You and I
Talked about things
Vast and light,
Playing off each other
As only those
Who are close do.

He Always Knows Better

I tried to explain
Over and over but
He wouldn’t listen.
No matter how little
He really knew about
The situation,
He still heard
Only his own voice,
He always knows better.

It Might Rain

One step after another,
They walk together,
At least they used to.

Things are rather
Different now, but
Neither knows what to say.

Words without import,
One looks at the sky and
Says it might rain.

I Try to Make It Better

He becomes upset,
I try to make it better
But realize there’s
Nothing I can do,
And never was.