Liverpool Shuffle

Love was such an easy game to play

Liverpool Shuffle

 

Just before the cold winds blew

I stopped along the edge of you

With word and strum I fell headlong

Into the honey of your song

 

A bold and brilliant world we made

Voices sweet with serenade

Blessed hours of chords half spent

With coins of charming argument

 

Imagination fancy fine

Drew me out along that line

I longed for you in summer heat

Danced to your fickle Mersey beat

 

Through the percussion of our days

All parts of me rose up to praise

I felt the freedom of the drive

How music made me come alive

 

From midnight whispers to words of love

A blessing from the stars above

I found in mischief my chosen place

Bathed in the glory of the chase

 

Then silence came on August’s heels

It soon forbade all I revealed

You left as quickly as you came

And I have never been the same

 

Can songs shed tears and notes lament

Do lyrics grieve and chords repent

I learned its true what wise men say

You can’t go back to Yesterday

 

-Zoe Richardson (2022)

Author's Note

It's not easy loving someone who pretends to be someone else...

Reviews

[Michael]

When all your troubles seemed so far away. Very nice piece, sharp and well rhymed. Hats off.

[Zoe Richardson]

Why, thank you kind sir! It is always a pleasure to see my writing enjoyed. Please stop by again!

[Ken e Bujold]

I stopped along the edge of you, a terrific image on which to plant the flag for this fine poem. As you say it is never loving someone who is never comfortable being who they are. If only we all had some kind of fail proof inner detection mechanism to spot love's bs. Sadly we don't and so hearts continue to be bruised and broken. Hope though springs eternal, and love is always the possibility. May it come your way soon Zoe.
really enjoyed my visit
Ken

[Zoe Richardson]

I have no need of love. I do not seek it and would not trust it if it came my way. That is my damage, and surprisingly... my freedom. A world of possibilities await when you let go of the idea you need to share your life with someone. I have found that 'alone' does not mean lonely. It means independence! So glad you enjoyed your visit. Please do not be a stranger!

[Coyote Poetry]

Yes Zoe, you are right.
"Can songs shed tears and notes lament
Do lyrics grieve and chords repent
I learned its true what wise men say
You can’t go back to Yesterday"
We can get lost and we things in the lost of found. And they are gone. Thank you my friend for sharing the amazing poetry. I enjoyed this one.
Coyote

[Zoe Richardson]

I'm so glad you did. It was a hard lesson to learn, but at least a nice poem came out of it! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Always good to see you here!

[Chris Shaw]

Fabulous pen Zoe, although the outcome of this tale was far from happy. I still have the music and a man from Liverpool. Yes, I married him 40 years ago. There was much that came out of that city worth the keeping. Great flow and rhyme by the way.

Chris

[Zoe Richardson]

Dearest Chris, you are so blessed! 40 years is a true testament to hard work and devotion. I am so glad you enjoyed the rhyme. I do try to make it flow.

[Chris Shaw]

You have a fine pen in your hand Zoe :)

[Zoe Richardson]

As do you!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think songs can shed tears...and I know I am not a song, but I shed tears over ones who pretended.
But one thing I have always had even when those people were gone...My love for music, especially the British Invasion...
good stuff as you have reminded me in your excellent poem with its rhythm and slant rhyme
and allusions to that day when "all my troubles seemed so far away"---
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

I always tell myself, when I start to miss him, "Oh well. At least I have the music!" Nothing can ruin that. I am so glad you enjoyed my efforts. Poetry seems to set things aright when the go askew!