Lifetime Definition

Tell me about how your second toe is bigger than your first.

Tell me about how you dance

when no one is watching to keep the madness

from crawling up your feet. Tell me

about the night your grandma died. The first time

you bent your knees to God without kneeling

behind a cross. What about the dimples in your spine?

Or the time you imprinted orchards in your lifelines

from working too hard on your grandpa’s farm.  

When did you plant seeds inside your chinks,

'Cuz I've seen flowers bloom inside your chest.

Or the time you nursed a woodpecker back to life?

And she poked holes in your heart and that’s why

it’s always spilling.

Remember when you told me you believe the ringing

in your ears is the remains from the big bang?

What about your father’s crow’s feet, I

want to be there to see them on your face

fifty years from now. Tell me about every girl

who’s ever gotten lost in the tide of your eyes.

And how much time did it take to keep ‘em dry

when they got scared and sailed back to shore?

Tell about your body

in one life or less.

But leave room for me.

‘cuz I wanna navigate those waters.

I wanna wrap my fingers around the waves

in your hair like a hurricane, 'cuz babe,

this is a tropical storm you ain't ever seen before.

I wanna trace constellations on the roof of your mouth

‘cuz every time I look at you I see stars.  I wanna

steal glances the way we did across the barroom

the night we met.  On the nights when

you think you've hit rock bottom, and then

rock bottom falls through, I wanna be there to catch you.

I wanna print the bible on your skin

so I can be saved every time I hold you in my arms.

I wanna pick out a s****y excuse

for a house on the south side of town

and build a home in it.  I wanna be able

to point it out and let everyone know

that, “that is OUR place! that right there!

and yes of course you can

come in 'cuz we just got rid of the rats but

careful 'cuz the door still sticks and

we haven't had the time to fix it yet."

I wanna sew a tape recorder to your lips

so I don’t miss a single thing you say.  I wanna paint

my name with the path of your veins.  And I've heard people say

“Love is a dead end”.

Well, I've never seen a dead end

where you can’t go up. So when we get there,

fashion stairs from my spine so you may climb

just a little bit higher.  And when you cross that line,

don’t slow down, don’t get tired yet, babe,

that’s the home stretch.

So tell me about your body in one life or less,  

but leave room for me.

So I can watch you dance to the tune of your feet, and

I can plant my own seeds in your chest.  And I know this is a lot to digest, but

hey,

we've got all the time in the world.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

"I wanna sew a tape recorder to your lips
so I don’t miss a single thing you say. I wanna paint
my name with the path of your veins. And I've heard people say
“Love is a dead end”.
Well, I've never seen a dead end "
I like your logic in the poem. You write with old eyes and thoughts. I like the ending. Sort of a positive ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Katherine Vice]

Thank you for reviewing, I really appreciate it!

[Eleanor]

What's wrong with people? You should be having much more views!
I loved your explanation of even the smallest things in life. You are ready to hear everything about them and wish to be a part of his life. You wish to have a space in his heart.
I loved the last line. We all have time but just for the good things. But I think life's too short to try to make a space in someone's heart. It just happens or it doesn't.
I really like this. Great job! :)

[Katherine Vice]

Thank you! I put a lot of heart into my poetry and it means a lot to hear that someone likes it!

[P.S.]

Surprised people have yet to have commented on how beautiful this poem is. "Tell me about your body in one life or less, but leave room for me." The references you use (the s****y excuse for a house on the south side of town, the dimples in the spine, the 2nd toe being bigger than the first) are very impressive. I really enjoyed this and to think you are 16- bravo.

[Katherine Vice]

thank you so much! It really means a lot to hear that, as this is really the first time I've shared any of my work, and it's really inspiring to hear that someone else enjoyed my writing!