Too many years wasted, life poor
because I spent them unwisely.
So quick to be a have-not,
squandering a wealth of days.
Befitting then, to stay
a silhouette, aside
your passing light.
My hat in my hands;
have mercy for me.
Be as generous as I hope you are.
May the moon that glows upon you,
be a white coin, enriching my night.
Someday, when I burn,
when what’s left of me
will be urn’d
into crack-rocks of bone,
chop me, linear and long
like I always was,
with a starter credit card.
Pretend I wasn’t
so close to worthless after all.
But, I can’t stop you,
if you want,
from laying me prone
in the ground.
Holding me down,
with a tombstone;
Come read, anytime
what I meant to you.
A love that went away,
spent with quarters
of the partial moon.
~
I will tell the other ghosts
that we were fantastical.
You, a unicorn
with your black mane, and
piercing eyes.
One of a kind, that
I, the dragon
left the hollow
of my mountain for.
I faked fire with my words.
Yet it still felt warm
when you were cold.
And with you when
I stretched in bed,
arms overhead,
it was the closest
I ever came to flying.
As your smile offered
silent applause.
Maybe that was my best-
effort at rising, eclipsing
that white coin.
And I can say
that I was a dragon once.
~
Tonight, still alive,
I crack the window;
a slot between glass and sill.
The one white coin slips through,
and I’ll spend my portion on you.
With all of your ample generosity;
It’s the least I can do.
~~~
I’m proud to say I’m a writer when I read poems like this. It has integrity and image. You’re a great writer, Styx.
Well I’m glad that you continue to write in here, Tim. To me, this is a group effort for all of us to enhance our abilities.
For years, decades even, I kept my material mostly to myself. A shy writer. LOL. Yet, no, open up and give and take.
Thanks for your encouragement Tim. I do try.
This is sweet and has many layers to it. I do like the way you say the moon is a coin.
Hello Fia!
I liked the idea and then I just wrote. But I had no idea where it would go or what the outcome would be. I surprise myself sometimes, with my results. I’m an audience to my own writing, if that makes sense!
Thank you for the nod, too.
This poem reads like a quiet confession beneath the moonlight. I love how the “white coin” becomes a symbol for time, memory, and love — spent, lost, and offered again. The dragon and unicorn imagery gives it a fable-like weight, while the emotions remain deeply human. It’s wistful, tender, and quietly generous in its final offering.
Thank you for that thoroughly kind comment. I wasn’t sure what I was after, when I decided to start writing “something’. So it is sort of a mosh perhaps. The contemplations of life and love making it through it all, I suppose?
Your comment is quite generous, thank you.
Your use of symbolism is a joy my friend.
Everything is something…
As I age, I’m trying not to be a hoarder! LOL. Yet I like lots of random things, trinkets, etc. But I do need to thin out my stuff. I may be moving sooner rather than later.
Oh how to comment on this! It’s stunning and heartfelt.
Truly an epic write. My eyes got a little teary and my smile kept smiling throughout the whole read.
Each section took me somewhere new but the emotion carried over smoothly.
What a talent you are and a blessing:)
Well, I am definitely blessed the past few years. Finding DUP, and the many talented and electic writers, seemed to have inspired me to write more.
And then, you. Incredible fortune to have you in my life, baby. I love you.
Beautifully penned, Mark. Into the book it belongs! Love the depth and layers of this one my friend, excellent storytelling per usual. Appreciate you.
Damian
Thank you Sir Damian. I’m surrounded by some wonderful writers in here, so I have to pull my weight yaknow! LOL
Kinda like a romantic Lord Of The Ring or Game of Thrones, like this along with your word play within the piece. Tight
What’s up!
I feel that too many times my endings suck. LOL. Yet I tend to ramble too long in a write as well. I’ve been working on shortening my writes lately. Hopefully it pays off.
I was definitely looking at this as a bit of a romanticism, yes. Not over done though. Sappy is softening us all. LOL