Category: Start/End Relationships

ChoosingAlone

~ Harlan Didrickson

On a prairie

As vast as

An ocean we

Sprout and struggle

Reaching up higher

Lavender and peony

Daisy and daffodil

Sunning like cats

On a windowsill

Each of us

Magnificently alone here

Until invisible vines

Tickle tender torsos

These invasive lovers

These relationships that

Slowly wind their

Way upward eventually

Becoming so entwined

That to pluck

One you pluck

The other too

But not me

I continue higher

Above the rest

Preferring to be

The best the

Tallest robust me

Chosen for beauty

And not simply

Because I’m here

As has happened

To my friends

ThereYouAre (to Nick)

~ Harlan Didrickson

And now I

Know why I

Dream of you

Beneath the years

Of hating you

Are the hours

Of missing you

But while awake

All I think

About is why

Did we end

But while asleep

All I dream

About is how

We ever ended

Yes you are

My waking nightmare

As you are

My nighttime love

Poppycock

~ Harlan Didrickson

You were excellent

At placing commas

Like as you

Said they were

Pauses from you

To me kisses

And winks and

Deliberate deliberating sighs

Teasing rather I

Think knowing that

Soon and for

Certain will come

That damned period

Ending all this

Taunting rambling poppycock

BumpityBumpBump

~ Harlan Didrickson

It’s being thrown

From the horse

That makes horseback

Riding so thrilling

It’s not trotting

Cantering even galloping

That enchants me

But that sudden

Stark stop when

You’re abruptly airborne

Flailing and uncertain

Where you’ll land

But certain that

You will and

After the bouncity

Bounce bounce you

Then reflect saying

Now that was

One helluva ride

Same with lovers

And with breakups

Oh how I

Do enjoy lovers

But I love

Even more that

Woozy breakup and

Bumpity bump bump

NoApplause

~ Harlan Didrickson

I love you

Just enough enough

To know that

I don’t want

To disappoint you

Like a gift

Unrequested yet received

One that requires

Unfelt thank yous

I don’t want

To be received

Like flat sodas

Tasty but hardly

Exciting so I

Will exit myself

Here bowing and

Walking backwards off

Stage like an

Actor ignored by

A playwright listless

And useless lacking

A curtain call

Just simply forgotten

With no applause