Until I Say So. Published in Word Fountain a few years ago.

This came out of a forced experiment of poetry forms. It is a pantoum, but the subject mater didn’t fit, it felt stifled and forced, until I let it explode and find it’s place on the page.

Listen :: All :: Until I Say So

Until I Say So

August –
we mill around the yard and in the streets
Sharon’s 17th birthday party
the whole crew together again
we mill around the yard and in the streets
I hug RJ carful to avoid Dave
the whole crew together again
along with new friends we each brought along

Dave flirts with Steph : Mandy : Jess careful that I notice
we leave old friends mid- sentence
for new friends we each brought along
the sun sets : street lights stutter

we leave old friends mid sentence
distracted –
the sun sets : street lights stutter
we flirt with crushes

distracted –
break up with boyfriends : girlfriends : best friends
we flirt
comfortable in our selfishness

we break up with boyfriends : girlfriends : best friends
I wander to the Swoyersville Little League Field
comfortable alone
shouts and laughter leak from the party

the Swoyersville Little League Field
stare at the spot where the paint doesn’t match
shouts and laughter leak from the party
I sit on the curb : legs rest against blacktop still warm from the sun

stare at the spot where the paint doesn’t match
sneak a glance of my past
the blacktop still warm from the sun
Justin laughs, they were never able cover it…

sneaking glances of our past
Sharon’s 17th birthday party
Mark looks at me, I guess not everything fades…
August –