Christmas Break

Stop
playing with your
hair and just
breathe.

I think no worse of
you now than before I
sank into this
bucket seat.

Ashes waft past my
face as you exhale
pain through
Newport Lights.

Nails already chewed to
the cuticle,
you stutter through
each word.

Your eyes
perspire. As you
sing your story, I search
for an honest tone.

Don’t cry to-
night when you
think of that
“L” word.

Let muses
stay where they
lie and fall
asleep to another song.

It won’t be
long before your
breathing settles and you
dissipate.

Like the smoke,
you choke on
goodbye and leave me
with “Merry Christmas.”

Reviews

[Albert Freeman]

This is nicely done. Two people parting over Christmas break and the lingering in the air of the unspoken ''L'' word. It has a sad feel to it as if things left unsaid will always be so. A feel perhaps of two people growing apart and the break only putting paid to the feeling of it all.

[Kelley Pascoe]

I don't know if I should be happy or sad at what I just read???
Your stanzas as always were perfect and your words move me in a way.
Great write I think (smile)
Kelley Frost

[Kenji Light]

I like the depth to this piece. There is a motherly warmth to it and yet the harsh reality faced by the subject is almost too cold and unbearable to even think of trying to fix. It really was a piece of tragedy and I certainly wasn't expecting this when I read your title, which is great, and because you were knew, I was not expecting a piece of this quality, which is greater. I really enjoy your clues into the true depth of the message without ever truly revealing the entire meaning. You leave it open-ended and up for interpretation even though there appears to be a definite meaning. Good write. I must say that I am impressed. Oh, and welcome to writers cafe!

[Barry!]

A clever beat with clean and universal themes. Thanks for sharing this.