Submissions by firemanatno3

She was liking him as they left the bar.
He insisted on walking her to her car.
"I have a request," he said.
She thought he'd kiss her, try to get her in bed.
Hopeful, happy, she waited for his request.
It was not what she would have guessed.
"Would you give me your panties, please?"
"I'm not wearing any." A clever response, a tease.
Disappointed, rejected, he walked away.
"Where are you going, what did I say?
Will you call me another day?  Hey!”

Liars they all be!
Said time would heal me.
Enough said?
Never!   Ben is dead.
Ben was my friend.
My friendship won’t end.
I’m here to bereave.
You’re the one on leave.
Who’ll talk to me now?
Heal this sadness.  How?

Ben knew what to say?
He’d chase pain away.
He’d knock on my door.
Make my laughter soar.
We’d go out for walks.
Have wonderful talks.

What force did this crime?
You were twenty-nine.
Ben, why have you died?
You cast me aside.
If only you knew
All I miss from you.



...

What be this change in me!
Who is this new man I see?
Inviolate personae I no longer don
for previous lovers that have come and gone.
I like the new me so much more.
With her I can close that door;
and cast down my old self
to a place on the discarded shelf.
He still comes up when she's away;
but I can keep that old me at bay.
With her I have this new start;
with her I can open my heart.
Rejoice in her!  And in me too!
. . . for a way I never knew.