This was written about a week after my husband and I found ourselves in a major relationship transformation. We met while we both worked at a Famous Players movie theatre, became best friends and were very close for two years. All of a sudden things began to change between us. Once we figured out that our friendship couldn't contain our true feelings, it seemed very shocking. We started telling everyone, "You'll never guess who I'm going out with." But absolutely everyone guessed it was us.
For So Long
I saw you and
Recoiled in horror
I knew who you were
Even as we were introduced
You patrolled
On the outskirts
Sensing the danger
Sending yourself out on reconnaissance
Your affable grin
Generosity
Insight
All made it easy
Your barbed humor
Your penetrating stare
Gave rise to whispers
And I heard them
Each time we parted
What was it that told you
To step to the right
As I moved to pass you
One step
One kiss
I dropped my purse
Waved the white flag
How could I resist
When I knew who you were
One touch of your hand on my body
I feel the terror, the serenity
How I long for the sting of
Your palm against my skin
I could draw back, then
Keeping my sword
Already offered up
My fingers wary of the cutting blade
Your fingers outstretched
The pommel a perfect fit
My rage was easy
But when you kissed me
I cried
It was so hard
Your soft lips
Ripped the clothes from my body
I moved to deflect
What was merely the glass of champagne
You poured for me
Two scorpions facing off
Stingers arched above our backs
The poison dropped instead
Upon our shelled spines
Blinking away the sweat
To find it's only
You and me
Entering the lion's den
Martyring the known
For the unknown
It's hard to beat back the Destroyer
When he's your Lover
Copyright 1989 Julia Smith
Monday, July 16, 2007
Poetry Train Monday - 10 - For So Long
Posted by Julia Phillips Smith at 10:09 PM
Labels: For So Long, Poem
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20 comments:
wow - fantastic! I have absolutely NO talent for poetry writing - but think it must be a great thing to have!
What was it that told you
To step to the right
As I moved to pass you
One step
One kiss
I dropped my purse
Waved the white flag
How could I resist
When I knew who you were
*******
That was my very favorite part. It just so tenderly illustrated the fitting masculine and feminine "rhythm" of chemistry.
Loved it.
Blessings,
~Toni~
Holy cow, Julia that one gave me shivers. And to know that you are still together is wonderful. :)
What a powerful thing to have to remember that time.. and I love the accompanying story... you'll never guess who I'm going out with... and doh!
dang woman! that was gorgeous. Like Toni i especially revelled in:
What was it that told you
To step to the right
As I moved to pass you
One step
One kiss
I dropped my purse
Waved the white flag
How could I resist
When I knew who you were
WOW, amazing poem!!!!!!!!!!! This has to be among my faves;
One touch of your hand on my body
I feel the terror, the serenity
How I long for the sting of
Your palm against my skin
I could draw back, then
Keeping my sword
Already offered up
My fingers wary of the cutting blade
Your fingers outstretched
The pommel a perfect fit
MISSED YOU, JULIA!! So glad to be back! =)
Sounds like a pretty intense relationship. :)
"....Entering the lion's den
Martyring the known
For the unknown...."
Fantastic wordsmithy here girlfriend!
wow, life is really like the books I read sometimes
That's beautiful!
You are such a romantic! Your poetry is so lyrical. Mine's usually about awkward kisses where your teeth clack together and waking up on alien planets without your underwear.
Wow, that poem is so passionate and intense. Lucky you.
Great poem, Julia. :) Did an awesome job conveying your feelings.
Whoa. In so many ways, this could be the story of me and the Tour Manager, but ... ours isn't so romantic, intense, or beautifully stated.
I'm jealous, Julia.
Wishing you guys a million more years together. And nothing but happiness along the way.
That was an awesome poem. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Oh lucky u! hmmm its wonderful to be loved sooo soo much!
Nova Scotia!
Blue noser!
Herring choker!
I'm from the Centre of the Universe aka Toronto, can you tell?
Rhet, I'm a Maritimer through and through, and yet... I moved to Toronto and lived there for 13 years, absolutely love Life in the Big City and miss it every day. Sigh.
I'm with you girlfriend.
I live in Pembroke, Ontario now, for the summers anyway. I am in Cambodia/Lao PDR in the winters.
I see you link to Ryerson University!
They have a statue of my great-great-great grandfather on Gould Street. And I don't get any royalties out of it! They did give me an "Owner" stamped student card once. I share the same name as the bronze guy, only I'm alive, sort of.
lovely. has all the conflict and resolution of a story but as intense as a dream.
thanx for visiting my poem/lyrics and your encouraging words regarding my wip struggles.
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