Armor

Forged to protect

Defend from threats

Moments of weakness

Shimmering support

Battled to destroy

Broken, beaten down

Can hardly get around

Plated liability

Struggled in silence

No amount of repairs

Halt internal despairs

Blinding visor

Studied in shadows

Foe seeking weakness?

Friend offering kindness?

Rusting trust

Tempted to retreat

Discard cracking pieces

Retire to silent hill

Shattered shield

Propped in display

Empty suit creaks

Author’s Note: This is kind of based on the idea that everyone has erected some means of protecting themselves based on past experience, but some people go too far and their protection from threats becomes a liability. But no one else knows what’s going on inside, so it becomes difficult for such a person to connect to others and to overcome their personal challenges. While mostly this is meant as metaphor, I was recently at a museum and had a thought about while suits of armor and other artifacts that draw attention, there was a real person who once used those items, and we’ll never know what that person was truly thinking about their life.

Message Unsent

I think of you everyday

But I don’t know what to say

You should know by now

How I feel

Even after all this time

Always a part of me

Hidden away where the world can’t see

Time passes but memories of you stay

Plans and promises held from yesterday

Wouldn’t it be nice…?

…

But that’s so much to say

So I just smile

As you turn away

Author’s Note: This was inspired mainly by my own feelings and a couple lines borrow from a certain moment in the Harry Potter series, that is when Snape proves his loyalty to Dumbledore. Imagination can build up some impressive plans of things to share with another, but unfortunately those plans don’t always become reality. Then all the things one may feel become buried under the surface, a taboo to speak of with the person for whom those feelings are directed. But you search for a way to keep them in your life, even if it means suppressing your hopes to fulfill the plans you made together.

Sad Songs

Each song, every word

Reminders of lost lovers

Don’t hide it away

Author’s Note: I heard a few songs today that reminded me of people who had been and others who continue to be important in my life. Although using the word “lovers” fit better than that phrase… The final line is inspired by or perhaps a reaction to The Beatles’ song “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” as perhaps better outcomes can be reached in life when one does not hide love.

Drifting

Fewer words exchanged

Made up conversations crash

In silence, fears abound

Author’s Note: This is a quick result of a few thoughts on the fears and insecurities that can emerge when you start to hear less from the people you care about. You might imagine the conversations you’d like to have with them, but as life goes on perhaps you drift apart somewhat and those conversations don’t happen. The quiet brings with it fear of losing connections forever, but there might be chances that remain.

Roadside Bubbly

Forgotten by the roadside,
How could they let it slide?
Sparkling potion, full of magic,
Evening becomes tragic.
Colorful dresses, suits and ties,
Odd looks, whispers, and lies,
Awkward questions they ask,
Taking you both to task.
Gone, but where could it be?
Disappearance, sad mystery.
Careful plans, thoughts, and dreams
All long lost in the slipstream
Rolling up over the roof
Surprising all with lost proof,
Story with semblance of truth.

Author’s Note: There’s a weird story behind this one… I was out driving around taking care of some errands, and I saw what looked to be a completely intact bottle of champagne sitting in the grass in the median. It was at the turn to get out of a strip mall that does have a liquor store in it, so I pictured someone who had their hands full, set the bottle down on their car to get their keys out, then got in and drove away without remembering to put the bottle in their car. And then, somehow, spectacularly, the bottle rolled off their car and made a gentle landing in the median vice landing on the pavement and shattering into a million pieces. I wish I’d had a passenger in the car to take a picture of it, it would have complemented this nicely.

I was inspired to imagine a couple who were supposed to bring champagne to some kind of fancy, formal party, the type of party people attend more to fulfill an obligation than to have fun. But! They arrive and the champagne is nowhere to be found! And then everyone at the party gets very judgmental, building up a lot of stress and sadness for the couple who were supposed to have the champagne.

Despite all that backstory, the thoughts came together fast so this didn’t take more than a few minutes to write up, and I think it even wound up with a bit of a rhythm?