[poetry] Soy Milk and Fine Silk
by Brooke Williams
It’s Better Not Knowing
Am I hopeless romantic? Maybe
Would I change who I am? No
Do I pull most material from an emotion? Yes
Sure you wouldn’t Change? Maybe
Do I write about real people? Yes
Do they know I write about them? No
Will I ever tell them? No
It’s better not knowing.
They Do it Alone
I’ve always wanted to be an animal
of the land and sea.
Not like a mermaid.
Those are not real.
I learned that
in a younger age.
More like a turtle.
Gives birth on land,
letting their babies build up
strength to crawl to ocean edge.
And they do it alone.
Only the strong survive.
And they do it alone.
Imagine
A photo of something,
a post on Facebook,
anything on social media, that irks you.
And not being able to say anything
about it because you are afraid
of the guaranteed backlash.
So much for freedom of speech
when some of us are too scared to speak.
Be You
Soft thin lips
Pale face - freckles
Blue diamond eyes
That’s what he sees - and loves
What he longs to see
First thing in morning - last thing at end of day
No make up.
Just you - In your purist form.
Be There
The silence of the trees
Slight breeze
The bristle of the leaves
The cool fresh clean air.
Walk with your head down.
Stepping over roots
Branches.
Follow the path but miss the experience.
Walk with your head up.
Let’s the eyes and beauty of the naturally untouched guide.
Create the experience.
October and You
We met early
The summer breeze fading
The month of Fall.
That’s what happened.
I feel like a changing color leave from a tree.
Instead of hitting the ground you picked me up.
Your kiss warmed my cool lips
like the sun heats the sand at dawn.
I knew then and I know now.
All I want is October and you.
You’re not like spoiled soy milk
but something like fine silk.
All I need is October and you.
Eyes
The way you bit your lip
when you see me slip.
The way you hide your face
when you crack a smile.
The way you rub my hand with your thumb,
making sure I’m not numb.
The look you make before we kiss.
I see you.
The forced smile,
hiding what lies beneath.
The rubbed makeup stains
on the sleeve of your blouse.
The thoughts taking endless turns
on the roller coaster inside your beautiful mind.
I see you. Probably better than I see me.
I need you to see you.
Untitled
When people say they miss me,
I think how much I miss me too.
The real me - the happy me.
The go on random adventures,
swim to the buoy and back,
climb a mountain me.
When people say they miss me,
I think of the memories with that person, happy or sad.
Do they really miss me,
or do they miss what I offered them?
The booze and kisses.
When people say they miss me
I say, I miss myself and those
drunk nights surrounded by empty bottles, empty hearts.
When people say they miss me
I don’t have a response.
Ocean Waves
Impressions wave over us, day after day,
leaving and fleeting while aiming to stay.
And just like a cat will chase after a mouse,
we’re looking for homes when we live in a house.
I’m not sure about you, but I know about me,
your hand in mine alone by the sea
would be a great pleasure and even a dream.
It’s only you that I’ve wanted to see.
Because You Said So
Why did I think
you would be
different?
Because of the way
your dark eyes
stared into mine.
Because of the way
your smooth lips
brush against mine.
Because you told me so.
Because for a split second,
I saw something
that clearly wasn't real
because you told me so.
Because you told me so.
You are just like the rest.
And I'm getting so sick
of these overrated mental tests.
Why did I think
you would be
different?
Because you said so.