21

When you gamble on love, you always go bust

21

 

Today I must be quiet

I must not think of pain

I must think of what I know

In the divine presence

Of my  memories

 

I love you the way certain

Dark things are loved

In the shadows or

By a mystery

 

The way a cat loves

The danger of climbing

Or the way two strangers

Meet when each alone

Making sparks that

Burn back the dark

 

I love you like a dynasty

Ancient and doomed to fail

The way an old woman sees

The future in the mirror

Of the past

 

Today I must be quiet

I must not take from you

I will offer nothing more than

These restless tears

I will rest you in my arms

 

Like a cloud descending

You will know when I am around you

An angel of the air and perfect sky

The guardian  of the broken

And the blessed

 

 Today I must reflect

The glory of you

Sliding fast but never belonging to the night

Holding fast but never begging

My pockets full of the emptiness

I lay outside your door

 

 Today I must be quiet

I must be still

I must be faithful to

The chance you are listening

 

Today I must do nothing

But give you the love

You do not want

And all you have to do

Is leave

 

-Zoe Richardson 

Author's Note

Place your bets, and thank you for playing!

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

The emotion from each stanza outweighs the one written before it. My heart breaks for what it puts you through.

[Zoe Richardson]

Aww! I'm sorry. I hope it is the kind of heartbreak that makes a good poem, and not the kind that leaves you traumatized!

[LostSage]

this is beautiful and scary...the love game...I've noticed.....when two people fall in love....one of them is the winner....the other one loses somehow.....oh well 100 years from now it won't matter....great day at you Zoe ✨

[Zoe Richardson]

Love is always a gamble. Unfortunately, it's a gamble no one wins.

[LostSage]

I hate to disagree with you, cause you know how you are.....but....my last girlfriend..... I didn't even have to have a job....she paid for everything.....and she did everything for me....and she was hot looking too, all the guys would chase after her....all I had to do was say thank you a lot.....I am so spoiled rotten.....in real life you would hate me even more than you do now....if it's any consolation to you....she got rid of me and I am a train wreck now....have a sweet day bunny baby darling🌺🌷🌹

[Zoe Richardson]

Oh my! I do not hate you. I have a great deal of sympathy for your plight. I know what it is to be a train wreck. But...ask yourself. If love is a gamble you can win, why did she treat you as she did? As for being spoiled rotten, I may have written the book on that...

[LostSage]

each word from you is precious
keep writing at me
you know I like you
i have the simple answer to everything
this whole world does not make any sense

[Zoe Richardson]

Precious little does

[barleygirl]

Thank you for describing love in uncommon terms that buzz & snap. I get so tired of the same-old-same-old in love poems. This is very fresh inventive writing (((HUGS)))

[Zoe Richardson]

Somtimes, you have to be turned upside down to get perspective. So glad you enjoyed this!

[Fran Marie]

Taking a chance on love is just
like blackjack a gambling game
all too hurtful when your lose
and become broken hearted
and busted ;pockets full of emptiness
of shattered dreams for sure..

nice work

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! I appreciate your insight and am so glad you get the meaning.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"And all you have to do is leave"

Here I am...take me or leave me...but I am going to put myself out there. I like the sparks that burn back the dark.
Been there done that...and put myself out there too many times...with too many who took me up on the leaving part.
Life is definitely taking that chance of having 15 and then drawing an unlucky 7 of hearts.
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

Or refusing to play a game you know you will likely lose. Whoever said, "It's better to have loved and lost..." did not know the people I have lived with. I am glad you liked the poem, and that you identified with it. It wasn't the leaving that was the hard part. It was getting to that point.