Strangers

God took man’s rib to form the woman  
But he took my heart to form you
I’ve lost half my ability to function  
Heartless to every other woman in view  
 
Going through the motions, emotionless  
Not even bothering to pretend  
Ever since you removed your love from me
I can never be more than half of a man  
 
I’ve played the fool for you
I’ve been playing with women’s hearts ever since  
All these ladies wanna be my princess  
But I only wanna be your charming Prince
 
Other women wanna possess me
But I could never be their everything  
I can’t be wholehearted without you  
Without my Queen I’m only part of a King
 

 
We were walking down to Tommy’s  
The local burger joint, a couple of blocks from school
For fries and drinks
Most of us did that right before practice
 
But on this particular day
As four of us walked down the hill
An older man, afflicted with what looked like CP was approaching
 
I don’t remember the conversation we were having
But as the old man was near we got quiet
That’s when
Alex mocked him
Louis laughed out loud like it was the most hilarious thing  
While Frank and I, laughed awkwardly looking at each other
Like saying “that’s fucked up”
 
That memory had all but faded until recently
When looking at my nephew reaching milestones in his journey
I feel a sense of joy for him and his parents  
Knowing that he’s beaten the odds
 
Perhaps it’s the guilty conscience of a stupid young teenager
Remembering how insensitive or how thoughtless that was…but
My momma taught me better than that
 
Louis left to another school Sophomore year, never seen or heard from since
Alex, after graduation, has not been seen or heard from either
Frank, I heard he passed away a couple of years ago
And I, from time to time carry a guilty conscience for laughing  
Now praying, saying I’m sorry to a stranger

I illuminate my mind with devoted logic
Never again will I passively ascribe  
to temporal promised salvation
I cleanse my eyes with holy water
ridding myself of pining reverie
 
Fake cult with fakest prophet
phony zealot, trickster- leader
Your immaculate love for all
utterly rank, tainted sanctimony
cherished creed an evil chimera
 
Multitudes adore, worship you
Impoverished individuals fall
face down to the ground
still giving beyond their means
hoping for a sliver of affection
 
You preach acceptance, love
Be kind to all best as you can.
Everyone is so equal, so special.
That’s the rancid snake oil you sell!
Those able to purchase your favors?  
evidently are just a bit more beloved.
 
You weep bloody crocodile’s tears
as dejected devotees, many deprived,
of any way to reach your affections
depart, feeling worse than before.
Disillusioned, distraught, denied of
pure friendship gospel, benevolence.
Salvation for love-starved lonely souls
Your liturgy, your anthems, your smile
sickened so many sorrowful spirits.
 
Answer me this, big-tent showman
how do you meet your gaze in the mirror?
When your eyes reflect the lies told
to get your filthy tickets and trinkets sold?
 
Your mouth spills out lies and cries  
of being oh-so misunderstood
I heard you mighty fine, sinnerman
you just can’t deceive anymore.
 
I am onto your wicked design.  
Don't think I won't call for curtain
showing all the one behind the scam
 
Innocent people, looking for scraps
of love, kindness, acceptance fall
for your good looks and pretty words
We all want to feel special somehow.
To prey on the young and innocent
is a heinous crime you can never undo.
 
But I, once inside, who chose to leave
can rescue poor unfortunate souls
Show them the mirror of purest truth
That their self-worth, respect, esteem
priceless to them, is worth pennies to you.

Our story should not be tossed and crushed,
one to be told, booming in great halls
with dripping goblets and roaring fires,
boar's legs, pig's heads and laughter.
Not lost to papers, shuffled on table tops
picked at by who, has what, and not.

Our village smashed, hammer and axe,
babies wrapped and passed crying,
my chest opened with a signature,
anger stayed but at what cost?
I bathe with melting candles,
pennies swapped for pound coins
on eyes that wont open; without you.

We open our eyes
To another fading day
Will today be the day
Our last bit of love fades
 
We move through the house
Like spectres from another time
Haunting the spaces we shared
Not wanting to see the signs
 
I can't see you
And you can't feel me
We've lost each other
Inside our own dreams
 
We each had a vision
Of how this would play out
But our perceptions
Have become crippled with doubt
 
We no longer live
Every breath for each other
Our feelings have died
But we're still together
 
We can't go on
We've got to let it go
Or we'll be forever haunted
By each other's ghost

I realized I didn't know the stranger looking back at me
That mirror is a liar, that's plain to see.
I hadn't been out in a year, since the divorce
There was a period of mourning that had to run its course
A friend trying to get me out there wanted to play pool
I knew what he was doing, but I played the fool
She waited on me, waif with red hair bringing me a rum and coke
She kept coming back, a twinkle in her eye when she spoke
I didn't know her, and she didn't know me  
Strangers in a bar, probably all we'd ever be
She kept messing with me, and I messed back.
"Didn't your mom teach you not to talk to strangers," I asked?
"You're no stranger than the rest of these  guys"
My buddy left, after beating me mercilessly despite a number of tries
I hung around, as I really had no where else to go
And there was this redhead I wanted to know
She told me her eyes were blue but they were gray to me
Reminded me of storm clouds over an angry sea
We sparred all night with humor and wit
She was smart and funny, and had a ton of grit
When she got off work, we went next door  
For some breakfast and coffee and to talk some more.
I could have talked to her all night, and that's what we did.
We talked about our past, our exes, and kids
We talked until the sun started to show
And the more we talked, my feelings would grow
Falling in love with a stranger, I'd never done it before
But then I realized, she was a stranger no more.

 


walked past
you on the
street

barely noticed
you were
there

shadows
passing
under
the sun

moments
fade

photos
fade

memories
fade

the light in
a strangers
eyes fade

fingers of
cruelty brushing
across the face of
a life never known,
never remembered