By Jeffery Battersby ‘24g (Creative Writing)
I put some poetry down today, for the first time since your mother’s call
Fifty-seven words of prose to set me straight
I copied two old poems into the notebook that you gave
Bright red with Steppenwolf emblazoned on its face
It holds a baker’s dozen now
Thirteen poems I’m proud enough to finally lay down
I put some poetry down today, for the first time since your sister’s text
One-hundred-twenty-nine words of prose to help me see
I’m delighted by how many words I’ve written down of you
Each one a thread pulled tight between two hearts
I thumb through each to see just where I stand
Each flash of truth scratched out upon the page
The same as I am scratching out today
I put some poetry down today, for the first time since your last reply
One-hundred-ninety-four words of prose to dry my tears
There’s more than what is written here
Far more than any bound book can contain
A grocery list
A once-dreamed kiss
A moonless sky
A limerence myth
A spider saved
A flan-shaped L
Kintsugi shards
My sadness quelled
I put some poetry down today, for the first time since last I heard your voice
Two-hundred-seventy-five words of prose to see your face
It has always been the case that this is more for me than you
I’ve shared far less with you than has been penned
Too naked
Too bare
Too much exposed
So much, sometimes, I feared the words would drive you far away
And yet I write
And write
And write
And write again
I put some poetry down today, for the first time since last I saw your face
Three-hundred-eleven words of prose to feel you here
Come back to me
So you can read them all
