Once (Short Version)

For those who prefer me to get to the point, and favour the destination more than the climb.

Once

 

In the lap of a city street

 

In the arms of the sun’s mother

 

In the smile of a rockface

 

The palm leaves sprouting

 

From what I know like the back of my hand

 

Rhinestone bracelets, shackles of our bonds

 

Chainsmokers of the moonlight scythe

 

Run from the daylight like a shadow

 

As if in fear of God’s touch

 

Once I was a bright devil of a Morningstar

 

Once I was a cold beer in an empty fridge

 

The leather-bound pages that I wore like a second skin 

 

The children that laugh at the mention of my name

 

And the suffering, and the bullets, guns, war, and poison

 

Once, I was a regular soul drowning among so many pebbles

 

I was a good song after another long night of silence

 

I was laughter that we all shared

 

Laughed at

 

Once, I regain my voice

 

I will sing a beautifully sad love song

 

Of death’s destiny to tangle with life

 

And strangle himself blind as a double-helix in the twilight

 

Once, he was a lowly blemish of static on a television

 

Once he was a stain of mildew on the steps of a crooked church

 

He too, believed in a god who was not a saviour

 

Not a saviour, but a watchman, a storyteller

 

And he too, was once

 

Something human, ordinarily unique

 

And we wore the skull and crossbones

 

Of a shipwrecked flag across our faces, together

 

Like a mask

 

So that the tears, would never fall

 

And when I entered the dance of this masquerade

 

 I forgot the look of my own face

 

Crying in front of the bathroom mirror

 

Like a monster made for gentlemen to slay

 

Like a beast that was human on the inside

 

Among beasts that were human on the outside

 

Once before

 

And again, again, smile, smile like you’ve never smiled before in your sad life

 

Like the world cares enough to flinch

 

When it sees you bare your teeth as yet another burden

 

When it sees fear in your eyes like its own reflection

 

We all have our cross to carry

 

Till nothings left but ash to bury

 

A canoe across the moon to ferry

 

The remains of aimless picture frames

 

Echoed manifestos blessing tempos vesicular

 

With the resurrected tempestuous effigies on the breeze of Bethlehem’s sepulchre

 

As the world moves forward without looking back

 

And every star in the night sky, goes black

 

Once there was a secret chord

 

That David played and it pleased the lord

 

But my words are not a silly song

 

Carved in hearts turned apples, ebbing dawn

 

And once the apple falls from grasping trees

 

I will be the ashes on the breeze

 

For if the play were yet to end

 

You would forget my memory once again

 

Waxing and waning in complacent polymerization

 

Somewhere between the sun and moon

 

A wildflower, once, has bloomed

 

Pull the weed out by the roots

 

And if you have any bonds, then keep them loose

 

Lest your enemy be a towering spruce

 

For the crows will watch you

 

From their roost

 

A bed of nails, or just a tooth

 

Any branch

 

Could be your noose

Author's Note

I promise I read every single review, and I generally will reply to them. I look forward to my next review, because it helps me learn. Even if it's just one word, I promise, I will be happy to hear anything you feel needs sharing. Whenever you write on my shortcomings or breakthroughs, or the themes of my poems, or share ideas and friendly criticism, it decides my next poem to an extent. I will listen, learn and be thankful. And 99% of the time, you'll get a reply unless you're trolling me.