Dilemma

My attempt at being Billy Collins--not so good. Just a funny poem that I put together for our workshop with Valediction poems. That isn't what my teacher meant when he said to write a poem to a person I never knew, but he enjoyed the twist I put on it--I

 

 

 

 

Dilemma

Can you say farewell to a person you never knew?

I could say that I’ll miss you, but it wouldn’t be true.

I could say you’re like the breeze,

But that isn’t quite right,

For even a breeze can be felt, if not seen.

 

I could tell you my life would have no meaning

Without you in it,

But you aren’t, and it does—

Have meaning, that is.

 

I could also wallow in despair without you,

Playing heart-wrenching ballads on vinyl

While crying over sickly-sweet love poems—

If I knew who you were, but I don’t

And I have better things to do.

 

I could recount the way your eyes sparkle,

How your face lights up when you smile.

I could say how soft your movie-star lips feel

When I kiss you—if I could put a face on you.

 

Yes, it would be nice to [insert cliché] for you.

As it is, I can’t, but I would if I could.

So—for now—I’ll just say farewell to you,

The person I never knew.

 

-Aaron Stewart