Confessions of a Poet

by Robert D. Edmonson

Overview

" CONFESSIONS OF A POET " is a story of love. In this book you will find happiness, despair, humor, sadness and maybe just a little bit of yourself; what I have learned is: THERE REALLY IS LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS AND THE HUMAN HEART, WHILE SOMETIMES FRAGILE, BEATS STRONGEST WHEN YOU DARE TO DREAM! This collection is my legacy; a gift I choose to share...finally. I open my heart, once more, to let you in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468551143
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	05/15/2012
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.85(d)

Read an Excerpt

Confessions of a POET

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By Robert D. Edmonson

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Robert D. Edmonson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-5114-3

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Chapter One

"The Poets Of Tomorrow"

I AM A POET ...
I FIND BEAUTY IN THE BLUE SKY,
SUNRISES AND SUNSETS-
I AM ALSO A REALIST ...
I KNOW THE BEAUTY CAN BE STOLEN
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
I AM LIVING IN THE 1990's:
WHERE THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH
HUNGER, RACISM AND MURDER:
IT SEEMS EVERYONE TALKS,
BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING.

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED
RELIGIOUS FANATICS & DEVIL WORSHIPPERS, ALIKE:
AND CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE GOD
WHO GAVE ME LIFE
AND
THE ABILITY TO WRITE;
I MUST BELIEVE SOME DEVIL BROUGHT US
CANCER AND AIDS,
AND HOPE A CURE IS FOUND
LONG BEFORE YOUR BIRTH.

I MUST ALSO HOPE THAT THE TRACES OF RACISM
REMAIN, ONLY, IN YOUR HISTORY BOOKS.

I AM A POET ...

LIVING IN THE 1990's,
BUT THERE IS BEAUTY HERE-

I THINK OF YOU, NOT YET BORN
(AS I LOOK TO THE SKY),
AND HOPE ...


"Growing Older, Growing Colder"

I

ON PAGES, FREEDOM
ESCAPE.
I TAKE FLIGHT HERE,
FOR HERE IS WHERE I AM ALIVE.
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
I AM THE STUDENT, THE TEACHER,
BUT OUT THERE I AM ALSO LOST ...

II

SOME SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN YOUNG
BULLSHIT!
I WAS YOUNG BEFORE THE POETRY CAME:
SO YOUNG, IN FACT,
THAT THE VERY MEMORY OF THAT OTHER ME IS FADING.
I CANNOT BLAME ANYONE FOR STEALING MY YOUTH
I THREW MY YOUTH AWAY,
AND I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH 'THAT ...

III

ON PAGES, DREAMS
I NEED THIS WARMTH.
...TOO MUCH COLD CAN KILL A POET'S HEART!
HERE, I BREAKAWAY FROM THOSE WITH EXPECTATION & CRITICAL
OPINION
HERE, I GO ON BELIEVING DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE,

EVEN IF THEY NEVER LAST.
ON PAGES, FREEDOM-I
KNOW THAT I MUST FLY AGAIN ...


"... Black At That ..."

ILLITERATE TO THE PROBLEMS ...
STILL UNEDUCATED,
EASY MONEY SELLING DRUGS
(OFTEN CELEBRATED).
SATISFIED WITH THEIR LIVES
PRIORITIES INTACT,
GIVING UP EDUCATION FOR PAY
AND OFTEN, BLACK AT THAT.

A CHALLENGE TO BE AT THE
SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE SUCCEEDING,
ANOTHER SHOT IS FIRED ...
ANOTHER BLACK MAN BLEEDING.
YOUTHS OF THE FUTURE ARE DYING
THE REASON, SO EXACT,
OFTEN TIMES BORN IN POVERTY
AND OFTEN, BLACK AT THAT.

A SYMPATHETIC SOUL
I MUST BE TO WRITE,
SKIN COLOR IS NO EXCUSE
(WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT).
SUCCESS NOT MEASURED IN MONEY,
MY PRIORITIES, STILL INTACT,
SATISFIED WITH MY EDUCATION
AND, I AM BLACK AT THAT!


"Children Of Poets"

THE POEMS
WILL BE MY CHILDREN
GROWING, LEARNING
ALONG WITH ME.
EXPECTATION?
EASILY ERASED.
LOVE?
FORGET IT!
PAPER CHILDREN
HAVE NO EMOTION.
THE CHILDREN OF POETS
BREATHE LIFE INTO DEATH
AND
DEATH INTO LIFE.
THESE POEMS
WILL BE MY CHILDREN:
MY HONESTY,
MY LEGACY-
I GIVE BIRTH ON THIS PAPER.


"Life In The 'Burg'"

CONDEMNED HOUSES, HOMELESS FAMILIES
DRUG DEALERS, NOSE CANDY,
BLACKS AGAINST WHITES, WHITES AGAINST BLACKS
PROSTITUTES FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS.
BABIES HAVING BABIES, NO EDUCATION
PEOPLE ON WELFARE GIVING FALSE INFORMATION,
PREJUDICE, HATRED AND BIGOTRY
CHILD ABUSE FUELS INADEQUACIES.

PRISON POPULATION, UNBELIEVABLY HIGH
GOVERNING BODY BOLDLY IMPLIES ...
MAJOR LAYOFFS TO TIGHTEN THE BUDGET
AND A SELF-IMPOSED RAISE, BUT NO ONE CAN JUDGE IT.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, THE CAPITAL CITY
HAS FORGOTTEN ITS OWN, AND THAT'S SUCH A PITY,
THE POOR AND UNLUCKY SHOW A MURKY REFLECTION
WITH NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE (JUST CONSTANT REJECTION).

... SPENDING MILLIONS TO SHELTER UNWANTED GUESTS
IN HIGH RISE HOTELS (SURELY THEY JEST?)
I'M AWARE THAT SUCH PROBLEMS EXIST EVERYWHERE
BUT DO THEY REALIZE HOW MANY LIVES MILLIONS COULD SPARE?
TIMES, THEY ARE CHANGIN', BUT WE'RE NOT ANY STRONGER,
AND I DON'T THINK I CAN SURVIVE ...

... IN THE 'BURG ANY LONGER!

*WRITTEN IN 1991


"How Did I Get
From The Alphabet ... Here?"

FIRST.... THE ALPHABET-LEARN
IT, QUICKLY, AND MOVE ALONG.
SUDDENLY.... CALCULUS-WAIT!
SLOW DOWN.
BEFORE I KNOW IT.... PSYCHOLOGY MAYBE
WE'RE ALL A LITTLE TOUCHED!
OH, NO!.... PHILOSOPHY-
WHAT WAS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
FINALLY.... GRADUATION WELCOME
TO THE REAL WORLD.
YES! ... A PAYCHECK-
THIS IS COOL! WHY DOES EVERYONE COMPLAIN?
"HELLO, THIS IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX COLLECTOR...."
SCHOOL TAX? I DON'T EVEN HAVE KIDS!

"THAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, SIR."
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. BUT IF I EVER DO HAVE KIDS ...

"YES, SIR?"

TELL YOUR SCHOOLS TO SKIP THE ALPHABET!


"Conversations With Mama"

MAMA, I WANNA GO TO COLLEGE-
"I HAVE NO MONEY TO SEND YOU. STUDY, BOY. STUDY."
MAMA, I GOT A FULL SCHOLARSHIP-"THAT'S
GREAT! GET MAMA ANOTHER BEER."
MAMA, I'M SCARED!
"DON'T WORRY, BOY. COLLEGE AIN'T THAT HARD."
BUT MAMA ... HOW DO YOU KNOW? MAMA, I"M GONNA BE A TEACHER
"... NO MONEY IN THAT! GET MAMA ANOTHER BEER."
MAMA, WILL YOU BE PROUD?
"JOURNALISM, BOY ... THAT'S WHERE THE REAL MONEY IS."
BUT WILL YOU BE PROUD, MAMA?
"WHATEVER"

MAMA, I'M LEAVING SCHOOL TO CHASE MY DREAM.
I WANNA PLAY PROFESSIONAL TENNIS
"... YOU CRAZY, BOY?"
I GOTTA TRY, MAMA-
"ONCE YOU LEAVE COLLEGE, YOU'LL NEVER GO BACK"
I PROMISE YOU, MAMA ... IF I DON'T MAKE IT, I'LL GO BACK TO SCHOOL
FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA ...
HERE I COME!

MAMA, I WASN'T QUITE GOOD ENOUGH-
"GO BACK TO COLLEGE, BOY ..."
I TRIED, MAMA. I TRIED REAL HARD-
"GET MAMA A BEER, BOY."

MAMA, I'M BACK IN SCHOOL-
"A's, BOY ... NOTHIN BUT A's."
I BEEN THINKIN', MAMA ...
"BOUT WHAT?"

MAYBE TEACHING AIN'T MY CALLIN"-
"JOURNALISM, BOY. JOURNALISM"
WELL, ACTUALLY, I BEEN WRITIN', THESE POEMS FOR A WHILE NOW-
"POEMS? PIPE DREAMS, BOY."

MAMA, I FAILED THE TEACHING EXAM-
"JOURNALISM, BOY ... THAT'S WHERE THE REAL MONEY IS!"
BUT MAMA, I NEVER FAILED ANYTHING BEFORE ...
"GET MAMA A BEER, BOY."

MAMA, I JUST CALLED TO TELL YOU ...
ONE OF MY POEMS WAS CHOSEN FOR THE FINALS OF A CONTEST.
I HAVE TO FLYTO LOS ANGELES FOR THE AWARDS CEREMONY-
"HOW MUCH IF YOU WIN?"
$20,000!
"WIN, BOY. WIN!"
ARE YOU PROUD OF ME, MAMA?

MAMA, I GOTTA PAY FOR MY CLASSES THIS SEMESTER.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE TRIP-
"WILL YOU STILL GET THE MONEY IF YOUR POEM WINS FIRST PLACE?"
NO, MAMA.
ARE YOU PROUD OF ME ANYWAY?

OH, MAMA ... I FAILED THE TEACHING EXAM AGAIN-
"JOURNALISM, BOY. JOURNALISM"
WHAT AM I GONNA DO, MAMA?
"GET MAMA ANOTHER BEER, BOY."

GUESS WHAT, MAMA ... I SENT MY POETRY BOOK
TO A PUBLISHING COMPANY TODAY-
"OH, YEAH?"
... MAYBE WRITING IS MY FUTURE
ARE YOU PROUD OF ME NOW, MAMA?


"The Looking Glass"

CRYSTAL IMAGE
SOMEHOW ALTERED,
BROWN EYES, PIERCING,
DEEP IN THOUGHT,
3-WAY MIRROR
SHELTERED DAYDREAMS,
DARE TO SPEAK
OF THINGS UNTAUGHT.
CRYSTAL IMAGE
BEYOND TOMORROW,
FROM DEEP INSIDE
A LOOKING GLASS,
ALTER EGO
(FOOLISH WHISPER),
BROWN EYES HAVE SEEN
TOO MUCH, TOO FAST!


"Father figure"

1967-1983

FATHER/SON CAMPING TRIPS,
AFTERNOON WALKS,
TOSSING A FOOTBALL,
MAN-TO-MAN TALKS.
LEARNING TO SWIM,
ASK A GIRL ON A DATE,
NEVER TAKE DRUGS,
DON"T COME IN TOO LATE!

1983-1985

TEACH ME TO DRIVE,
SNEAK ME MY FIRST DRINK,
I THINK I'M FALLING IN LOVE, DAD,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
IN A FEW DAYS,
I PLAN ON GOING OFF TO COLLEGE,
BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY.

1985-1989

LAST NIGHT I MADE LOVE
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,
DAD, THIS ROAD TO MATURITY
SEEMS SUCH A STEEP CLIMB.
WELL, I'M A JUNIOR IN COLLEGE NOW,
I'VE MADE IT, WITHOUT YOU, THIS FAR,
AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU
WHEREVER YOU ARE ...

*Originally written on Father"s Day, 1989*


Mirror, Mirror

I LOOK IN THIS MIRROR EVERYDAY ...
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS,
AND WONDERING ABOUT YOU.
MY HEART BELIEVES YOU ALWAYS CARED,
THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND IN YEARS.
BUT MY THOUGHTS CONVINCE ME THAT IF YOU DID CARE,
YOU WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND TO TEACH ME
WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD.

ONCE AGAIN, I START TO CRY.

IN THIS MIRROR,
MY TEARS ARE REAL.
MERELY WATER, THEY STAIN LIKE BLOOD.

YOU ARE HALF THE REASON I AM HERE,
AM I THE REASON YOU ARE NOT?

YOU SAY YOU ARE A MAN,
BUT YOU RAN LIKE A COWARD!

EVERYTHING A BOY BECOMES HIS FATHER INSPIRES.
I AM YOUR SON BY LAW ONLY,
AND I WILL NOT WASTE MY TEARS ON YOU ANYMORE.

YOU ARE HALF THE REASON I AM HERE ...

NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.


"The Imposter"

I WAS BORN BY WAY

OF A BLACK MAN—

I AM THE FINAL HEIR TO HIS NAME,

AND THE FIRST TO TASTE THE BLOOD

FROM MAMA'S BROKEN, BLEEDING HEART.


"A Personal Eulogy"

ROBERT EDMONSON WAS A POET.
IN HIS HEART,
IT WAS ALL HE EVER WANTED TO BE.
HE STUDIED 4 YEARS TO BE A HISTORY TEACHER,
BECAUSE SOMEONE HE ONCE LOVED AND ADMIRED
SUGGESTED IT.

IN MANY WAYS, HE WAS A FOLLOWER-ALWAYS
DOING WHATEVER HE COULD TO PLEASE OTHERS.
HE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE'S SON OR BROTHER,
ALWAYS SOMEONE'S LOVER OR COUSIN OR FRIEND ...
BUT, NO ONE REALLY KNEW HIM AT ALL.

FOR ONLY IN HIS POETRY DID HE SHOW HIMSELF.

ROBERT EDMONSON HAS DIED.
HE IS FINALLY AT PEACE,
SO DON'T WASTE YOUR TEARS ON HIM.

THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR DOESN'T SCARE HIM ANYMORE;
MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN NO LONGER PIERCES HIS HEART.
HE IS IN A PLACE WHERE ALL NATIONALITIES LIVE IN HARMONY,
AND HATRED DOESN'T EXIST.

ON BLANK SHEETS OF PAPER,
HIS IMAGINATION CREATED COLOR;
WITH THE SUBTLE STROKE OF A PEN,
HE TRIED TO REACH MANKIND.
IN MANY WAYS, HE WAS A FOLLOWER.

BUT HE BELIEVED THERE WAS GOOD IN ALL PEOPLE.

IF YOU WISH TO REMEMBER HIM,
DO SO WITH A SMILE ...

... BECAUSE ROBERT EDMONSON WAS A POET.
AND HE WOULD HAVE WANTED IT THAT WAY!


"If This Be Life"

IF THIS BE LIFE ...
I DARE NOT LOOK,
FOR I'VE NEVER LEARNED
SUCH THINGS IN BOOKS.
WITH ECHOED SOUNDS
I HAVE BEEN SCARRED,
I OFFER THOUGHTS
THEY DISREGARD.
AN ENDLESS SPHERE
TRAVELED THROUGH,
OF ADULT HYPOCRISY
I NEVER KNEW.
A TINY BOY
WITH EYES OF WONDER,
FRIGHTENED BY THE LAWS
& CONSTRAINTS I'M. UNDER.
IF THIS BE LIFE ...
SO CRUEL AND WILD,
I'D RATHER STAY
A FOOLISH CHILD.

WRITTEN IN 1984


"Ode To A Grandmother"

I WROTE GRANDMA A POEM,

AND SHE CRIED TODAY-

HER TEARS BURNED MY MEMORY,

BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN HER CRY BEFORE.

I HAVE SHED TEARS,

AND WIPED MY SHARE AWAY,

WRITTEN WITH GRANDMA FAST ASLEEP,

OR WASHING DISHES,

OR READING THE MORNING NEWS;

BUT TODAY WAS DIFFERENT ...

TODAY, GRANDMA CRIED,

AND I HAD NEVER SEEN HER CRY BEFORE-EVER.

NOW I KNOW I AM A WRITER.


"Unborn To A Poet &
Someone Over 40"

I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE RAIN,
AND COULD NOT STOP
(THE BLEEDING, THE BURNING).
I'M SORRY,
BUT I HAD NO SAY ...

IT WAS HER CHOICE, HER BODY.

SHE THOUGHT I WAS TOO DAMN YOUNG AT 17!

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I CANNOT IMAGINE ANOTHER CHILD.
EVEN TODAY THERE'S A HINT OF SADNESS
WHEN I HEAR OTHER CHILDREN PLAYING, LAUGHING ...

FOR MY HEART REMEMBERS
THAT SOMEWHERE OUT THERE,
YOU, GHOST CHILD,
WILL BE 7 YEARS OLD
SOMETIME THIS YEAR.

AND, HONESTLY, IT'S BEEN RAINING FOR AVERY LONG TIME.

NO, I CANNOT IMAGINE ANOTHER CHILD.
EVER!

WHAT YOU MUST THINK OF ME ...

SHE SAID I WAS TOO DAMN YOUNG AT 17,
AND, DEEP DOWN,
I THINK SHE WAS RIGHT ...

BUT IF YOU REALLY ARE OUT THERE,
BEYOND THE SKY,
I HOPE YOU ARE IN HEAVEN,

... RECITING POETRY TO THE ANGELS!


"When Roses Are ..."

(1985-1992)

I THINK I'M AFRAID OF THE DARK.

YOU ONLY COME AT NIGHT,
WITH YOUR PROMISES,
AND WORDS THAT BRING ME TO LIFE.
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN YOUR EYES!

WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD
IS CALM AND STILL,
YOU COME ...
JUST LIKE A NIGHTMARE,
WAITING FOR JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT.
YOU COME IN THE NIGHT AND LEAVE
BEFORE MORNING.

AFTER MAKING LOVE,
YOUR SHADOW MOVES ACROSS THE ROOM
IN DESPERATION ...
PROMISING TO RETURN IN TIME.
YOUR WORDS SEEM SINCERE,
AND BURN DEEPLY.

DEEP ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES!

NEXT TIME,

I'D LIKE TO MAKE LOVE WITH THE LIGHTS ON.
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN YOUR EYES
AND ...

I'M DEFINITELY AFRAID OF THE DARK!


"Fear Not"

FEAR NOT THE PRESENT
IF YOU WILL HAVE ME,
I AM YOURS.
THIS IS A SYMBOL
OF UNDYING LOVE-I
WILL REMAIN YOURS
UNTIL ...
YOU NO LONGER WANT ME.

FEAR NOT THE FUTURE-
I WILL STAND BY YOUR SIDE
THROUGH JOY AND SORROW.
WHEN THE YEARS SLOW YOU DOWN
(AND THEY WILL),
I'LL HOLD YOUR HAND
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

IF YOU WORRY ABOUT ...
HOLDING ME BACK-
FEAR NOT;
CAN'T YOU SEE
I'D BE LOST WITHOUT YOU?

FEAR NOT THESE WORDS
THEY ARE ONLY A SYMBOL
OF MY UNDYING LOVE-
IF YOU WILL HAVE ME,
I AM YOURS.


"Don't Cry For Me"

THERE IS BLOOD IN MY POETRY-HERE
I AM!
HALF ASLEEP,
HALF AWAKE ...
LURKING IN THE SHADOWS
OF YOUR IMAGINATION;

IF THIS HEART ON MY SLEEVE
IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE INTRUSION
PERHAPS WE CAN MAKE LOVE
WITHOUT LOVE'S PRESENCE?

NO! SEX DOES NOT WANT THIS ME,
... NOT THIS WAY.
THERE IS TRUTH IN MY POETRY;

THERE IS ALWAYS (YOU) IN MY POETRY-
HALF AWAKE,
HALF ASLEEP ...
MOVING IN THE SHADOWS,
BUT PARALYZED WITH FEAR;

PERHAPS WE CAN TOUCH
WITHOUT LOVE'S PRESENCE?
NO! THERE IS TRUTH IN MY POETRY,
AND ALWAYS, THERE IS YOU.


"Thoughts Interrupted"

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONE, DEAD,
BURIED ALIVE:
... SO I PACKED UP MY HEART,
AND YEARS OF USELESS POETRY,
AND PUT THEM IN BOXES TO BURN.

& I DID NOT SHED A SINGLE TEAR
(NOT ONE)
WHEN YOU DIDN'T COME BACK ...
BECAUSE I THINK I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WOULD RUN AGAIN,
AND ONE DAY I'D BE TOO TIRED TO CHASE YOU ANYMORE.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I DID?
I CLOSED MY EYES AS TIGHT AS I COULD, AND GAVE MYSELF'
TO EVERY WOMAN I COULD FIND-
& THEIR BODIES WERE COMFORTING,
& THEIR KISSES LIKE FIRE,
& MY HEART NEVER FELT ANY PAIN;

HELL. MY HEART NEVER FELT ANYTHING!

I WAS SO SURE I WAS DEAD, GONE,
BURIED ALIVE:

... UNTIL THE DAY I SAW YOU PASSING BY.

SUDDENLY ... TEARS.
(NOT ONE),
BUT THOUSANDS,
AND WORDS FLOWING UNCONTROLLED,
RUSHING THROUGH MY HEAD ...

IT'S NOW OR NEVER,
GOODBYE OR FOREVER,
A CLOCK STRIKING
OUR LAST CHANCE ...
WHAT REGRETS MIGHT WE HAVE SOMEDAY
IF WE DON'T JUST CLOSE OUR EYES & DANCE?


"... Insecurities Of A Poet ..."

... IF

FATE

HAS

CHOSEN

YOU FOR ME, ME FOR YOU,

HOLD ME

(ONCE),

STAY FOREVER,

REALIZE

YOU ARE MY LIFE

OR

STAY AWAY ...


"Through The Mist"

SILENT TEARS
FALL AT YOUR FEET,
HAVE OTHERS LEFT YOU
INCOMPLETE?
NO MORE TEARS,
NO ALIBIS,
A SPIRIT ...
FIGHTING TO SURVIVE.
HERE WE ARE,
SOMEHOW REBORN,
HAND IN HAND,
SURVIVES THE STORM:
SLOWLY,
WE BEGIN TO KISS,
AND WALK TOGETHER
THROUGH THE MIST.


The Engagement

NAKED FINGER
TO THE LEFT,
LONELY HEART
KEEPS NO RHYTHM.
DIAMOND SETTING,
BAND OF GOLD,
BEAMING SMILE
BY CANDLELIGHT.
EXPRESSIVE EYES,
DISBELIEVING,
LONELY HEART
FILLED WITH LOVE.
FALLING TEARS
OF HAPPINESS-ALLOW
ME TO CATCH
A QUICK GLIMPSE
OF HEAVEN.


"Rose Dennis"

SOME SAY I'M THE FOOL
BY GIVING YOU ANOTHER CHANCE-BUT
THIS TIME,
SOMETHING'S DIFFERENT,
MORE SINCERE;
WE BOTH HAVE GONE TO OTHER BEDS,
FOUND HANDS & LIPS TO COMFORT US
IN THE SHADOWS OF THE DARKEST NIGHTS:
AND STILL ...
WE FIND OURSELVES BACK HERE,
HOLDING ON TO A LOVE
THAT HAS NEVER DIED.
SOME SAY I'M THE FOOL,
THE HOPELESS ROMANTIC-
SO BE IT:

I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING
YET UNFINISHED
WITH YOU & I
SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL
THAT ITS PROMISE HAS BROUGHT US
TOGETHER AGAIN ...


"Laughing Hearts"

YOU USED TO SAY ...
I MADE YOUR HEART SMILE
BUT, I ALWAYS BLAMED MYSELF
FOR NOT MAKING IT LAUGH;
YOU HAVE COME
WITH SOFT, SWEET WORDS
(USUALLY RESERVED FOR POETRY).
YOU ARE REACHING FOR LOVE
AND GIVING LOVE BACK,
PROMISING EVERYTHING AND MORE.

I AM LAUGHING IN MY HEART-
YOU HAVE COME AGAIN,
JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN BEFORE;
YOUR HEART IS LIGHT,
PROMISING ...
FOREVER AND MORE.
I BELIEVE IN THE NEW YOU!

YOU USED TO SAY ...
I MADE YOUR HEART SMILE
NOW, YOU'RE REACHING FOR LOVE
AND GIVING LOVE BACK;
IT'S NICE TO KNOW
I'VE FINALLY MADE YOUR HEART LAUGH.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Confessions of a POET by Robert D. Edmonson Copyright © 2012 by Robert D. Edmonson. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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