Extracted Memories (Freeverse)
Artificial pairings forced friendships
and barriers of language, but seemed
harmless, and without knowing me
painted letters in tidy rows
words on scented sheets signed with love
and read in secret.
Mother could be so distant
she must have known love once
waiting with a case of clothes
strange faces and writing books
no drawn out farewells or take cares
I went to school
Empty words and promises
long vacations surrounded by mountains
the song filled valleys I made home
with broken phone calls, no dreams
just pregnant pauses and nothing
but Nain would hold me.
I remember packing trunks and boxes,
skirts and blazers of dark blue
no handkerchiefs for crying tears
hidden behind the closet door
I had nothing to say.
The years have wandered past now
and love has found its own way
my heart once broken remains strong
beneath a distant smile
I have learned to keep my secrets
with phone calls that never come.
I still wonder if those old friends
hid their secrets beneath the pillow
before their voices judged me
with venom to strip my heart
as they turned and walked away.
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