Half Smiles of the Composed.

Who am I   to- deny,
to reject.
To, discard
the boneless fruit that
is only inanimate clay.
I went to hold your hand
on the return ride
in the back of a NY taxi cab,
with the sense of imbricating
memories hanging heavy.
I touched the soft flesh 'twixt your
thumb and forefinger.
In that moment of time as we brushed skin
you shuddered
and I knew something had changed,
and I know now, what I hadn't the courage to say:
I am whomever I need to be
to survive.
That I am not the only one
left disfigured by the decisions we make.

Author's Note

This was written by Ben Lingemann.
Please do not plagiarize, All Rights Reserved.

Reviews

[Matthew Smith]

"I am whomever I need to be/to survive" - Favorite.

Very interesting. It had the common "lovey-dovey" feel (definitely not bad), but the last four lines really changed the tone and nature of the reading. It became grim. It changed between the lines much like the change you've described on the lines.

Great poem.

[Kiri Nells]

I like it! Great write!