Sign Your Name on My Skin

Sometimes I cannot keep part of me
from asking the stars
where comfort can be found
without weaving the desperation
I feel under my skin
into a rope
that wraps around my tears of sadness.
I am left watching hours
take in the days
and never quite understanding how laughter
can tell someone to call out to the sky
then break and run
on the legs
of sheer madness.

My skies shouldn't tell me to get lost
inside of all I know
when I long to create an ocean of language
we both can plainly speak
without ever feeling any pressure.  
When tomorrow rings in the beginning
of what lies under all that I know to be
held in a distant place,
draped in shimmering hope ,
shall I watch you
write your name on my skin
while I cry out in pleasure?

I never asked for you to bring me a garden full of lies
where one has to work
in the shadows of forgetfulness
inside of a life with a smile that fades
as I regain my sanity.
The truth can be grown in silence
then burn brightly
as part of nothing and still lie beyond
that which soothes our hands
when they tremble
because we can smell the crow
we have to eat so humbly.

Listen to the lines you missed
when you stepped
into the shoes of a man
who no longer relied
on all of his senses
when you began your journey of echoes
where stars once danced.
Do you remember empty promises
as they run through the days
silent..........
even though you sing?  
Take a chance and lose your mind
when you find there is no way out,
as you rush to remind your tears,
of how they sting.

Reviews

[Poetic Beauty]

We don't pick the ones we love and sometimes those we love are "mad". We have to learn to accept what is given to us and not change what can not be changed. Everyone has flaws and if we truly love someone we won't see them as flaw but as their own uniqueness.

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you Poetic Beauty :)

[N]

I'm in love with your poems.

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you N.

[BIIKAY]

WOW! I LOVE IT!!! very heart felt hun. great job

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you BIIKay

[Kes]

This is fantastic, but in a slightly scary way... I'm not sure why. :) I really liked the bit about running "on the legs of sheer madness". It just conjured up a really interesting image. :)
Keep up the hard work!
K

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you Kes, glad this one made a little more sense to you :) XX

[Tate Morgan]

I cant explain the multitude of thoughts i went through reading this My mind thinks many things But cant produce a storyline of it ,.I try to make a story in my mind like a map perhaps that is my misgiving I cant make it what i want to see, But I'm stretching to connect with thee

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

I understand Tate and just appreciate you reading my work. You and I write very differently but we both know from other conversations that we completely understand one another in daily life. Take care and thank you again. XX

[Tate Morgan]

Oh yeah i get you real well I try my damnedest to get your way of writing But not everything sings like a melody

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

I just appreciate you trying my sweet friend :)

[Tate Morgan]

Well I dont think I'm dumb But i kinda wish I had a map authors notes to guide my thoughts

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

I think the main thing we have to remember is that poetry is personal. It can mean one thing to the writer and something completely different to the reader. The kind of poetry that I write is open to interpretation by each individual who reads it. I intentionally do not write in the author's notes what my poem is about because then I would steal away the personal interpretations to be discovered by each reader. XX

[Tate Morgan]

I agree i am always afraid if i dont get it you might take offence

[Antonio Valentino]

My skies shouldn't tell me to get lost
inside of all I know
when I long to create an ocean of language
we both can plainly speak
without ever feeling any pressure.

love that Neva

When tomorrow rings in the beginning
of what lies under all that I know to be
held in a distant place,
draped in shimmering hope ,
shall I watch you
write your name on my skin
while I cry out in pleasure?

hmm.. woww

The truth can be grown in silence
then burn brightly
as part of nothing and still lie beyond
that which soothes our hands
when they tremble
because we can smell the crow
we have to eat so humbly.

cheez n rice!

Listen to the lines you missed
when you stepped
into the shoes of a man
who no longer relied
on all of his senses
when you began your journey of echoes
where stars once danced.

waww.. one can only wonder what lines he missed?

Do you remember empty promises
as they run through the days
silent..........
even though you sing?

wow Neva, ive come to a point in my life where i just dont like to make promises anymore.. is that bad? i mean its not like i havent kept them or still would, but i just dont like letting anyone down anymore so i try and keep things open ended.. i dont know it seems to work better that way, for me..

Take a chance and lose your mind
when you find there is no way out,
as you rush to remind your tears,
of how they sting.

hhhhmm.. that is good ending.. for me, it came across as real scary.. it reminds me of, not really appreciating something, until its too late, until its gone..

sometimes the names of those special few that touch/hurt us so deeply is, written across our face with wrinkles.. some maybe etching deep into our brow, and others still marking the corners of our smile.. loved your poem.. i need to hang out here more often.. its really nice in here.. .. congratulations on your twin grandsons, how lucky they are to have such a sensitive and caring granny ma.. this was great... :)

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you so much for you excellent breakdown and review of my poem. It is refreshing to read this and not just wow, Neva, this is beautiful, but sometimes I know that is all one can say. Feel free to stop by anytime. xoxoxo

[Antonio Valentino]

you're so very welcome Neva, i'm looking forward to reading more, there was a sensible and knowing feel to this piece which i yearn for and hope to find more in your corner of the cafe.. bless you and have a brilliant summer evening.. :))

[light and ashes]

Beautiful, love it. My favorite part: "I am left watching hours take in the days
and never quite understanding how laughter
can tell someone to call out to the sky
then break and run
on the legs
of sheer madness. "

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you Sweet Angelink :)

[light and ashes]

Your welcome :)

[Melobldnfr]

Wow! "shall I watch you
write your name on my skin
while I cry out in pleasure?"

Just amazing, Neva! (All of it, as usual, but I just really like this!)

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you Mel, love you girl, good to hear from you. :) xoxoxo

[FJ Davis]

If you've never been without it, it's almost impossible to fully understand and appreciate sanity.
And, while I won't disclose if I speak from experience, I am able to discern that you infuse your poetry with such wonders; certain verses very nearly approach perfection.
Who would not, Neva, want to sign their name on your skin?

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you Sweet Frank :) X

[R J Askew]

There are beautiful little dabs in every couple of lines here. it is intelligent and insightful with meaning everywhere.

In the first line: not all the time, just sometime, and not all of you, but just a part of you. This says, noting is definite, all is shifting.

And, ach, the metaphors! The weaving of the rope of desperation, and not just any old rope anywhere, but under the skin. Deep, deep.

Again, 'never quite understanding' hits at that tiny vital bit missing that compromises the whole.

Time/laughter/running/madness .. all kinds of notions are packed in.

And this just the first verse!

In the second verse I love : 'I long to create an ocean of language' and 'draped in shimmering hope'.

In verse three: the garden full of lies and the growing of truth in silence are strong, strong.

The third verse feels stronger than the fourth, in terms of language at least.

Bitter, bitter, ironic and scathing stuff .. all beautifully woven. I will definitely listen to this one if you have recorded it.

[Neva Flores Smith - Changefulstorm]

Thank you R.j. :)