Not too long ago, someone opened my eyes to the world of spoken word, slam poetry - basically performing poems as opposed to reading them and it has influenced my writing a lot. A faster-paced emotive, evocative, and vivid style.

Search on Youtube for this:

1. Big Poppa E - Falling in Like
2. Neil Hilborn - OCD
3. Shane Koyczan - To this day

Tell me it was your roommate cutting onions!

I don’t think I am anywhere close to writing something as great but what I’ve learnt is that it has to have verisimilitude - a dose of realness to even have a chance of resonating with someone. Is it any wonder those with troubled lives often write the most heart-wrenching poetry?

As for me, I can only draw on experiences of the heart, gender flipped for F4M. As always, hope you enjoy. Reminder: This is written to be performed, as in, read out loud with feeling in front of a live audience hehe. But as long as you enjoy reading, that's all that matters.

Colors

[TONE: LIVELY]

I never knew why I said yes.

But after your 8th or 12th or 18th time asking me out.

In your clumsy, pathetic attempts to woo.

Maybe saying yes would get rid of you?

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But. c’mon man,

Your shy and gentle way is not as endearing as you think.

I mean, what's your plan?

You’re so drab and grey,

And, bourbon is not a real drink!

But, don’t you know how to talk to a girl?

You sit there quietly sipping your booze.

You didn’t even compliment my dress.

Or my crystal-butterfly-adorned Jimmy Choos.

And how could you not know Austen or Bach or Van Gogh?

Like, are Marvel and Star Wars the extent of your world?

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I don’t have a clue how we got together.

It was not like I had no other options.

And it sure as hell wasn’t your looks or sophistication.

Always in your scruffy jeans and worn out jacket.

And how your booming laugh makes an awful racket.

It was so embarrassing standing with you in line at the supermarket.

And making love to you was a bit

Like an experimental black a white film, with more misses than hits.

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This… cannot be my forever, could it?

​

So it is, with some relief, when I found another.

A dashing and classy rogue,

Who knew his Bohemian from his Baroque,

And dressed in nothing that wasn’t bespoke.

In my silly head I thought how you were nothing like him.

You’re like piped-in holiday music to his Gershwin.

And his voice, like a fine-tuned mandolin.

He was my love song!

How could I have know then…

[SOFTLY] I was so wrong…

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[TONE: GENTLE]

He is… nothing like you.

Not kind and gentle and thoughtful.

I am such a fool.

You don’t know music or literature or art.

But you took care of my heart.

I guessed you saw the world differently,

It never occurred to me.

Too full of myself to realize when

Beneath my makeup and designer outfits,

I was really only a six,

But in your eyes, I was always a ten.

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[TONE: WISTFUL]

So what if you can’t talk Mozart or Monet?

You somehow knew the right things to say.

Like when I told you I didn’t shave my legs,

All you did was laugh and said “neither did I”.

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[TONE: EARNESTLY]

Baby, you were my blue sky!

Now when I hear piped-in holiday music I would cry.

How I wish, so much, so hard, for another chance.

To hear your booming laugh, just once.

To have you hold my hand.

And patiently let me vent, even when you didn’t understand.

Just being in your arms was enough.

Your scent and scruffy jacket wrapping me in your love.

​

I wish I could go back to that first date.

In my expensive dress.

When you asked me to dance I would’ve said yes.

And listened to you more,

When you gushed about Iron Man and Thor.

From now until all of eternity

I missed so much how you couldn’t keep your eyes off me.

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[TONE: HEARTBREAKING]

But more than anything, I want to go back to that day,

And changed what I would say,

When you asked me to stay.

When I cut your heart so deep with my words like a knife.

The anguish on your face will haunt me for the rest of my life.

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[TONE: SOFTLY]

But now you’re gone forever.

And I know it’s too late for it to matter.

Though I still see you.

In every loving couple that passes by.

In the rustling of leaves as the wind sighs.

In the quiet of mornings and loneliness of nights.

​

Maybe you were drab and grey

But your love for me was a radiant burst of colors of all shades and hues!

I just didn’t see.

Now, all I see is black.

I wish I could go back.

And tell you, how much, how so very much, I love you.

:~(

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This is still a work in progress as long as this notice stays up >>

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image credit pixabay