Do I know you? I think I do.
Yes, I remember you.
You’ve change alot, you’re
not the same, but I still
know your name.

That doesnt’ matter anyway,
I’d like for you to stay.
Your welcome for a day or
two or maybe just a while.
Unless of course you still
think I’d cramp your style.

Make yourself at home and
please excuse the mess.
Just come on in and have a
seat, consider yourself a guest.

I remember, although it’s been
some time, I think you were
a good friend of mine.
So prop your feet, sit back, relax
and tell me how you’ve been.
I’m always more than happy to
listen to a friend.

But I must apologize, how thoughtless
could I be? I didn’t think to ask
you if you remember me.
But how could you forget?
I’m sure you must remember.
I’m the girl you married on that
cold day in November.

Otto, I liked your poem a lot..I totally got it…I think anyway….good work in my opinion

I was actually working on a 365 day poetry blog project when I stumbled across your site. It’s a nice change of pace to have some additional structure imposed for a month of days. Thanks for putting this project together.

Saul Nadatas last blog post..Cone

Underneathe the weather vain
Oblivious to the pain
Marking time inn aeons
Gathering no more gain
Holding on to EWE love
Waiting for the Lord HIS day

For a while afterwards
you couldn’t find a superhero
who didn’t wear that black armband
with the S on it,
to show that he loved you,
that no matter how little clothing
he needed for his costume,
without you
he needed one more piece.

One time Debbie and I subwayed
to Times Square in our pajamas
on a Saturday night, to buy popcorn:
she chose caramel and chocolate.
I chose the size. Bag-and-a-half.

Is it any wonder you split in four?
When greatness retreats
the memory keeps
fragmenting, it just has to,
until at last the remains
(The Man of Steel,
The Man of Tomorrow,
The Metropolis Kid,
and The Last Son of Krypton)
are no longer so terribly
beautiful; that’s what
the dirt we pile
on our dead is for.

For years, Debbie and I talked
about learning to do those aerial
dance moves, the ones that,
at least in Gap ads, send a girl
into the air so rightly that there exists
a moment when you have to believe
that’s where she came from.
We never did it, though.

When you rose again,
like Jesus or Amy Weinhouse
or even Hillary Clinton,
your hair was long and unruly.
You wore it that way
for ten years.

A month before chemo,
unwilling to wait and see,
Debbie cut eight inches
off of hers.

Going to the beach to get some clay
Excited to be free
In my own world though you were all there
My own place was all there was to me
Not knowing that you were afraid
That I was not like all the rest
You did not understand me well
I embarrassed you with some of my ways
I was blissfully unaware that I was not as I thought others saw me
Yet after years of steady denial the truth comes to me that I was worn away little by little
as I might watch you so gently patiently persistently sand away an annoying
blemish on a piece of wood
The sandpaper is fine,and like drops of water it is still effective.
My protective cloak persists like iron
Little do we know
After years of hidden fears that I cannot be what you want
I finally see that this is me
I really am ok
I strive to understand the disguises that are worn
never to be torn down

the hollow words
fragile, not lasting longer that a bubble blown in a childhood afternoon
but with me even still
Not intending to hurt
You felt it was best for me to learn the ways others can be
To survive
Beware
My childhood fears came out in the dark
When others were dreaming of my butterflies
I was being swallowed by the ocean that I loved
It frightenend me more than I understood
Unable to share my fears
Was the dream a trick to help me escape the hurt I never understood
To release what surely was anger
Because I was told this is the way it needs to be
You will do best if you listen to me
Don’t try that way because it may fail
What will others say?
My eyes did not open all at once
protection is a grand thing
Still here when I need it

So on the beach in the safety of the sun I could have things go my way
And now I see things through my own eyes
Where i know there is no disguise
I am safe

A bitter hole
Made of dark and gray
A swirling world wind engulfs me
But never making me whole;
Sour pain kills me
My heart aches
My eyes show of this;
For everyone to see;

Pain constricts my chest
Darkness drowns my eyes
Emotions flood my body
And none lay to rest
There’s darkness in the fear of sorrow
A clan of mutants;
Here for the terrible up bringing;
For my past will always follow

Traction skips
Doubts fill me
Questions fog my view
My mind flips
Your stair stings my eyes
I know you judge me
Will you be no more?
Or will you just walk by

My feelings show
On my skin;
Arms body
And soul;
I tremble
My skin gets clammy
Your eyes show me
Pure judgmental;

This is my action
My scars, self inflicted
And all my emotions;
But full intention;
A pit of resolutions;
I dig in deep
To find you crawling in my skin;
And swimming through my body’s solutions;

A face of interest;
But split at the knee;
I see you here
A coach of infest
Desolation I crawl;
For one way;
To reach a crutch;
With unnecessary relief, I fall

Bitter turmoil
Hardships clasp
Final destinies show in your eyes
They shine like foil
Unforgettable feelings;
Floating in a wave pool
But then, if not too soon;
Sink…

I sit alone now
But just hits like a brick wall
A fist lurches my stomach
The smell of fear is foul
Where will this go?
Will it come to an end?
To see you walk away;
Or will your care show

Panic arises
My heart pounds erratically
My chest screams in anguish
A handful of surprises;
Will you stay?
Or will you go?
I can promise you this
I will never again stray

My body bleeds
I fall into my puddle
Drinking my way out
The way I feed
The wreck below;
Under construction;
Waiting for me
For now, my body stays below zero

My body’s river;
Frozen under my skin
Frozen droplets
Which never stir
When will this end?
About the time I come out
Though hiding isn’t secret
My life will you defend

This is the world I live in
Destroyed and bloody;
A hole of oblivion;
And non-stops in;
This is my life of confusion
Take it or leave it
My emotional earthquake;
Not much fun.

But here I am
In front of your eyes
There you stand
I take your rough hands.
I’ve been so cold
A heart of ice
For we will both
Act just as bold.

You take me
Even with scars
The depths of my soul
I’m afraid you’ll see.
I’ve cut and bled
I’ve screamed in vain
You take me for who I am
You’ve shared my bed.

Yet I still feel lonely
I’m being held back
From chains on my limbs
My past is haunting me.
I’ve been beaten
I was sexually abused
My heart has been torn
Lonely I’ve been.

(I put this on page seven, I’m sorry. I hope that you enjoy it.)

Elegies are very challenging, and I think everyone contributed great work. I hope a little catharsis was good for everyone.