I Met Her Again Today

A small amount of profanity; all apologies.

I met her again today
as I walked my usual way
with eyes downcast
not striding fast
unhappy but with just cause.
I was dwelling on my flaws:
I am ugly.
Look how smug the
people act as they're walking.
I almost hear them talking
about my face
the way I pace
my uncouth clothes all tattered.
What they think never mattered.
No, of course not.
So don't get caught
caring what they think of you.
Ugly you are, useless too,
but you can live
with it and give
a rat's a*s about them all.
That's when I heard her voice call
right beside me
a girl I'd see
just around my age who came
smiling and asking my name.
I heard her not,
suddenly caught
in gray eyes that burnt right through,
auburn hair caught wind and threw
a glint of sun
that was so fun
to see ripple to and fro.
She must be an angel! "No"
she giggled. Crap,
I just said that
out loud. "I see you a lot
when I'm at work and I thought
that I knew you.
I read lots too.
I always see you with one
or two books. Reading is fun.
I love to read.
Where did we meet?"
I shook my head and muttered
"Don't know" as my heart fluttered.
Why was she here
with beauty dear?
Could this be some kind of prank?
If not what god should I thank?
"So what's your name?"
And "Justin," came
"what's yours?" I asked quietly.
Our eyes were both locked tightly.
What had she done?
My breath is gone!
You're dying. She's killing you!
No. That wasn't right I knew.
Could this be right?
Love at first sight?
Grab hold of yourself damn it!
Tell her your thoughts but plan it.
She answered with
a name of myth.
My jaw dropped. I knew her well.
But how to respond? Pray tell!
The name she told
was one of old,
from texts I haven't read with
but lint as my wallet's pith.
My patience waned
so I explained
my feelings and my thoughts with
her name beginning. "Lilith
I know you well
and though you fell
apart from that grace above,
you need to know that I love
you through my soul.
What Eve has stole
I'd give to you if I could
but your rightful place is stood
on an altar
that won't falter
before the life that she gives.
That throne beside me still lives,
while her soul creeps
away and sleeps
with the demons she calls men.
It's not her I had but you when
I begged for sleep.
The opened keep
you let my soul through to stay
and now that I know the way
I want nothing
but the touching
of you against me each night.
That demon w***e causes fright.
She makes me sick
that she would pick
a gelding before a man.
I know that I am worse than
mangled in face
with not a trace
of any manliness or..."
I was interrupted for
"Enough!" she cried.
So then I tried
to be completely silent
and as she spoke her smile went
from inquiring
to desiring.
"My oh so dearest Justin,"
She began so venust in
both looks and voice
leaving no choice
but to clasp each loving word.
"the way you speak is absurd.
I'd give my life
to end the strife
you cause for yourself each day.
You self-lacerate the way
you insult so.
I truly know
you are handsome both inside
and out. The form you reside
within is fine.
Your eyes divine,
your frame muscular and built
your olive skin seems so gilt.
You are more than
the perfect man.
If success to you seems far,
just know that you truly are:
magnificent
intelligent
and have a gorgeous body.
So please stop thinking oddly.
And as for Eve,
she can deceive
but you must know she loves you
you'll find that she will accrue
within your heart
and become part
of you, the most important
part, and you'll find portent
within her heart.
Then you will start
to forget about me dear
but I'll always be right here."
With that she left
completely deft.
She vanished while touching my
chest just over my heart. Why
I feel these pains
which still remains
here as I write I'm not sure.
I do know I feel more pure,
and will prevail
under this sail
catching the winds of this life
with confidence as my wife.
With armor donned
I'll go beyond
the distant throws of my dreams,
wherever the river streams,
and if I find
a girl who's kind
I'll smile to myself and say
I met her again today.

 

3/29/2008 11:28:14 PM

Reviews

[Brianna Brie]

Really good write. I am just out of words at this late hour to justify the awesomeness of this piece. So real and genuine and as always a pleasure to read.

[Astrid Hamilton]

That was AWESOME!!!!!
And I cannot say it any better than she,
who said it to you:
(to the person who penned these thoughts)
the perfect man are you.
(as told by this magnificent poem with great flow and rhythm so fantastic!)

It reminds me of poetry of the days of yore and yesteryear.

And I have to agree, on a personal level, it is not what one looks like that makes them beautiful. There is no such thing as ugly but hate, or shallow selfishness, hindered, or wisdom left to waning beneath idle hands that move through time which only partakes in evil deeds.
This man, this character, seems beautiful in so many ways.

And so are your words.

[Lily1111]

This is the one. This is the poem I love so well. I am so glad you finally posted it. Now I have to try to articulate why I love it so much. Why do I love lilies of the valley? Because they are beautiful .. . . and so is this. There is something about this one that just captures me. The opening lines draw you right in, expressing feelings of well, unworthness. This negative self-perception is relayed so vividly. It is so raw and genuine. I feel like I am inside of the mind of the subject of the poem, listening to his thoughts as he relays his perceived imperfections. I guess I am trying to say it is so . . . human. Example, lines like:

She must be an angel! "No"
she giggled. Crap,
I just said that
out loud.

See lines like that are just genius. You express what we all feel at times like that but often don't want to admit. So again, it feels honest and genuine Then as the poem progresses you feel the trepidation during the encounter. It is almost palpable.

The incredible beauty of language that continues to be woven through this poem into a luscious tapestry, leaves me quite enchanted with this poem.

The rhymes are so flawless, that they are not even noticed until after you have finished reading it. They are so seamlessly incorporated in the flow.

Boy, when I start articulating there is no stopping me huh? Okay, if I had to come up with one word to state how I feel about this poem this is it: Beloved.

Clearly, this poem is going in my favorites.