The Absence of Wavelength

Keep Away (MV)

I tossed the red ball on the tide;
joy envisioned
         how excited it jittered
           on small white caps
   — smooth-riding shallow
gloss brown glass —
  flow departing with a warm
‘here you go’, and rejoined.

Except, loss felt
alone at our beach.
Love was a game
of keep away
every time I neared.
A tongue stuck out
while you sneered.

I had to make my own games,
own rules, stayed
on shores of time.
You hid amid sunbathers,
swimmers, trusted lifeguards —
only your lovely voice
played amid saintly clouds.

My skin warms by charm of a sun
now leaving. My game
clutched at a salt sea scene
heaving. This
isolated divergence leaves me
somber for you
  ~ and the only game ~
you ever knew.

Coda
I own the red ball —
not you.
And don’t be afraid
to lose

like I’ve lost — because
I had to.

10.14.23
12.9.23 edit for stronger sensory/imagry/clarity of message.
37 lines free erse

Formerly titled: The Only Game
Submitted to Shadows & Light 11-2023




Great source of musical inspiration with truth and grace.