Sarah Flanigan - Poetry Simply Put

I want my quiet back
and the injustice of the
unvarnished truth
Where lies cannot
flourish
and schemes do not
survive
Where love is not
betrayal
and time is not
my master

I want my quiet back
and the starkness
of what is
of now
of tomorrow
Where regret does not
live
doubt is not
welcome
and life is
an open door

copyright 2009

Tags: freedom, home, joy, my heart, original poetry

I have no method of writer divine
No savvy technique that I define
Just simple thoughts from my heart
No secret sage to impart

I write the words that come to me
Without judging meaning or symmetry
simply state what I find true
And hope like hell it speaks to you

My book is open for all to see
no poet’s guise to shelter me
My pardigm is just my view
My eyes are yours for looking through

copyright 2008

Tags: open book, original poetry

Things change
and you don’t
know it
at first…

Until you try
to keep going
and then
you see there
is nowhere you
are going toward
Yep that ship
sailed
out of the slip
on the bay
waving like a
wilted hankie at noon
the party goes on
without you

A fact of life
that things
change
It’s good
it’s bad
its…different
it’s them but
not you
You’re it then
you’re not
and things
change…
so fast
so much
so little
so slowly
so everyday
in every way
Yep,
they do.

copyright 2007

If I had never
come along
would my absence
to you, seem wrong?
(would you feel it?)

If you had never
lived and breathed
would your footprint
disappear the need?
(of your soul to mine?)

If paths that crossed
had never been
would the world change
and stop its spin?
(would the dance end?)

Do we matter
in the greater scheme
to one another
or do I dream?
(who would wake me?)

In life’s fabric
are we each a thread
that if removed
make words unsaid?
(which words don’t matter?)

Can another come
and take our place
without interupting
a sacred space?
(reserved for only one?)

copyright 2007

it’s a sad funny
that gets my laughs
that makes me step back
to see how obtuse
is my life
and turns the corners
of my mouth
upward.

yet my spirit
hovers closer to the earth
neither rising nor descending
owning its position
over the fence
that prevents the decision
from making itself

for now
the sad funnies
will have to suffice
until the big bright
world comes back
into view and smacks me
around a little

copyright 2007

I don’t disguise
my depression

I wear it proudly
and with defiance

It is the only
thing in my closet
that always looks
good on me.

copyright 2007

Sharks lurk openly
Grin in false camraderie
Their teeth in your back.

copyright 2007

We are all the same
Individuality
Bad for the machine.

He had no face for me. Just a pleading voice and a dirty shirt.

My automatic head shake made him scurry away and I went into the store. But it bothered me, the faceless man. I was shivering and dressed in a sweater, jeans and a jacket. He had only old chinos and flannel shirt.

 I tried to shop but his ‘non-face’ kept jumping in front of me. I decided I would find him when I was done and buy him something to eat. I didn’t want to give him money because I thought he would just buy alcohol with it. I couldn’t in good conscience contribute to that - but I could feed him.

I tapped my foot as I waited for the cashier to ring up my few purchases, trying to spy a glimpse of him outside. I didn’t see him - but I was sure he was still hanging around the Starbuck’s, waiting. He knew I was coming back.

Finally, purchases rung up and paid. Out the door. I still didn’t  see  him. I walked to Starbuck’s looked inside and out. No one. No faceless man there. I walked through the entire mini-mall looking for the red flannel shirt and beat up chinos.

The whind whipped at my face and my hands stung from the cold. Did the wind gust him away? Flying him back into the abyss for whence he came? How could one, faceless man disappear so quickly. It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes.

He was gone. Leaving no trace of himself or his direction. Yet, I stood at the open door of my car and scanned a few more times, believing in some part of me that he would appear. He didn’t.

Reluctantly, I got into the car and turned the ignition. The heater blasting, the music soothing, the whine of the wind outside, rocking the car. I gave up hope of him and put the gear to drive the few blocks home. Mad at myself for not realizing that I should have looked at him. I should have gotten him a sandwich and a hot cup of coffee. Wondering how many faceless men were hungry that night because of head shakers like me.

copyright 2006

Was it true love
what we had?
Soul Mates true
or passing ships?
Meant to be
of meant for the moment

Do you wonder?
What if?
Am I there
hovering in the back
of your mind too?
Do I lurk
in your soul
as you do in mine?

After all this time
is the memory fresh
as today’s sunrise
or yesterday’s news?

Copyright 2006