Consider Me The Tin-Man In Reverse

2017

Why would I give away my heart

   to anyone else, when it’s such a vital part?

When it’s second only to the brain?….

   And you would just give that sort of thing away;

when the act alone is notorious for causing so much pain?

Consider me the Tin-Man in reverse.

   Consider me some new kind of perverse,

as I take what heart I have left, hide it away

   from any who might find fortitude enough to claim

that this was a matter over which they had any say.

Don’t get me wrong;

   she has such a beautiful face.

And, like poetry and song,

   I'm sure her soul rings much of the same.

But if you must know the truth

   (and I’ve felt this way since my youth),

I should never make such a trade;

   and carry around that empty space,

which, in the grand scheme of things,

   weighs more than anything

I have felt in my three decades.

I gather you may not feel the same;

   and that too, my friend, is perfectly okay.

All I ask--all I pray--

   is that you yourself

find fulfillment in that trade.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful and thoughtful poem.
"Don’t get me wrong;
she has such a beautiful face.
And, like poetry and song,
I'm sure her soul rings much of the same.
But if you must know the truth
(and I’ve felt this way since my youth),
I should never make such a trade;
and carry around that empty space,"
The above lines. Easy to know. Being afraid to give the heart away. Leave you alone. I lost two brothers to suicide. Old heart was dead. Kind woman saved me. She made me see her. The poem is outstanding. made me think and ponder life. I was glad to had found your work today. You made my day. You are a talented writer and poet.
Coyote

[Delmar Cooper]

I've read the poems you have posted as of now and enjoyed them all. Some more that others, but not a lot more as they are a pretty even keeled bunch.

I like the sensible approach to poetry I see in them. The feeling I get is that you didn't write them for yourself or even for the reader, but wrote each for it's own sake, each to be an entity alone. I'm probably wrong about this. It would not be the first time. Anyway, thanks for sharing, and in your "about" you mentioned stories. Got any you care to share?
Cooper

[Louis McKraker]

Thank you so much for your input. As far as stories go, I do have a number of them, but in most cases, my short stories are not so short.I may publish a couple of them at cafe here just to see how they play out.
Thanks again, you've given me a great idea, my friend.