Imagination

"I try to see

Try to understand

How you love me

Why you're my man

But, then again, you're not

You belong to no one

Though I still have a lot

I feel as if I own the sun

Well, I used to 

Now I own nothing

But I still belong to you

And I cherish your ring

The ring you threw at me

It put me down

Everything that was to be

Is dirt upon the ground"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Imagination"

Nothing Matters

"My family and friends

Have mostly given up

This can't be the end

But sometimes it feels that way

There are no more blind dates

No more attempts at happiness

I think it's too late

They seem to agree

Nothing matters anymore

Now that you're gone

My world has crashed down

Hopelessly I continue on"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Nothing Matters"

How Did It Turn Out Like This

"How did it turn out like this

How did we fall to pieces

How did it turn out like this

How did our hearts shatter

How did it turn out like this

How did we drift apart

How did it turn out like this

How did our love become heartache

How did it turn out like this

How did hate grow inside

How did it turn out like this

How did our love evaporate"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "How Did It Turn Out Like This"

Don't Waste

"Don't waste

Your life

On Me

If You

Don't Think

That we

Can be"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Don't Waste"

You Gave Me A Kiss

"You gave me a kiss

And then comforting arms

You gave me your love

And then happiness

You gave me a dance

And then your heart

You've me the moon

And then the stars"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "You Gave Me A Kiss"

Is You

"I won't lie

Sometimes I still cry

When I think

About you leaving

It pushes me to the brink

But I love you

No matter what you do

You say you love me

And I think it's true

What else could it be?

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Is You"

In You

"And I'll trust in You

The clouds may roll in

And cover the sky's blue

There may be temptation and sins

But I'll close my eyes

I'll grind my teeth

Won't look at the black skies

Or stony ground beneath"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "In You"

The Ring

"You think that giving me a gift

A token of your affection

Will infect my mind

And flood me with memories of you

But you don't know me that well

Not as well as you think you do

You don't understand my heart

Or the way that my mind works

You think that having something of yours

Something more than your heart

Something that is tangible

Will bring me back to your door

As if a token of affection

A tangible, textured gift

Will bring me back to your door

If I didn't have the desire to be there

In a way you have a good plan

In the fact that I have to return it

But you have failed to see the truth

You haven't seen the potholes

Which I'm surprised at

You usually over-analyze

Not under-analyze something so precious

Something that means so much to you

Just because I have your gift

Just because I have something tangible

Something that means something to you

Doesn't mean I have to see you again

I can drop it off on your doorstep

I can slip it into your mail slot

I could hand it to one of your coworkers

I could give it to one of our friends"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "The Ring"

Then You Were There

"The wind whipped my face

Tears rolled down it frantically

I wished your hands were there

Cradling it so gently

And somehow when I scream

I swear you're kissing me

And somehow when I smile

I swear you're holding me

My eyes broke out into tears

When I replayed sad images

Of me yelling at you

How could I be so mean

Yet, then you were there

I swear you were

And all I could do was cry

Because then you were there"

Grace Marshall

Poem, "Then You Were There"
(Please also see my alternate version, "Then You Are Here" posting on this blog in two days.)

Three Words More

"I'm trying not to let

My emotions run free

I'm trying not to let you see

All that's inside of me

My heart pounds with your touch

Your words tickle my ear

You're all I can think about

And you're voice is all I hear

At night you fill my dreams

By day you fill my heart

I'm scared of all these emotions

I'm scared to ever be apart

I'm scared you're overtaking me

With your smile and care

But I'm scared of those three words

I'm scared to take the dare

I know you already told me

Said how you love me

But it's still so hard to say

Can it even really be

When the words are out, they're out

You can use them how you will

You could break it all apart

Or my heart you could fill

So I just stare at you

My heart beating in my chest

I feel so many emotions

I feel you are the best"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Three Words More"

Vietnam Boy

"It wasn't that I knew him

I couldn't bear to know him

It wasn't that I thought him dangerous

I had to believe he was

It wasn't that I liked violence

I was used to blood

It wasn't that I wanted to fire

I didn't have a choice

It wasn't that I had courage

I was too afraid not to

It wasn't that I enjoyed war

I hated it as much as it hated me

It wasn't that I was used to rain

I continued to hump forward

It wasn't that I was used to mud

I  had to carry it"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Vietnam Boy"

Try Something New

"I miss you so
It's been too long
You have to know
How I feel

I haven't seen your face
In what feels like ages
In this heartbroken book
My tears fill the pages

Somehow you keep me going
Even while you're not here
You keep my heart beating
But it doesn't stop my tears

I live in hope and misery
Wishing to see you
Wishing we could be
You're always there for me

I've pushed you away countless times
Your heartbreaking look
Fills my mind
As I write these lines

You've never refused me
Warm arms and comfort
No matter how selfish I tend to be
You always say yes to me

I wish I could repay you
Give back a morsel of what I've received
But what could I do
I'm not as good as you"

~Grace Marshall
From my poem, "Try Something New"

Yes Then No

"You are in and out

Saying yes then no

I want to cry and shout

Sometimes you frustrate me so

You cannot decide

You want me then her

This is a roller coaster ride

How do you keep your composure

This is a ride I want to escape

Wanted to get off since it started

Patching my heart with stitches and tape

Now we're together, now we've parted

I want to believe you

But how do I believe it all

You tell me what to believe and do

Sometimes I stand tall and sometimes I fall

I try and believe you love me

Then you say you love her

When someone says love what do you see

For feelings, what is your measure"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Yes Then No"

Why Did You Leave

"What's the deepest pain

I'm not sure I know

I only know my own pain

And it's from loving you so

Why did you leave me

Why did you go

Okay, I guess I see

Okay, I guess I know

It was because of me

Because I did wrong

I knew this would be

We knew it all along

I just didn't want this

I just wasn't thinking

Now I miss your kiss

And my world is sinking"

~Grace Marshall

Poem, "Why Did You Leave"

You

"Your hair is a cascading waterfall

Your eyes a star of hope

Your lips a stream of love

Your shoulders a mountain of safety

Your chest a sunbeam of comfort

Your hands a wind of refreshment

Your feet a moon of guidance

Your body an element of fascination

You - love"

~Grace Marshall

Poem, "You"

You Held Me

"You held me

I pushed you

You loved me

I hated you

You helped me

I mocked you

You comforted me

I scorned you

You kissed me

I smacked you

You heard me

I shunned you

You needed me

I ignored you

You forgave me

I begrudged you

You saw me

I dreaded you

You held me

And I loved you"

~Grace Marshall

Poem, "You Held Me"

Your Ways

"Please help me know

That you are here

Never let me go

Always be near

You love me so

I try to trust Your ways

Whether You say yes or no

You hold the rest of my days"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Your Ways"

Then Jesus Came

"Through the darkest night

Through the pain and fright

Shone the savior's light

My life was consumed with sin

The darkness was out and within

I was lost and dyin'

Every day was a fight

My only hope was night

When I could crawl from sight

There was no way for me to win

It switched from honesty to me lyin'

There was nothing out or in

And then Jesus came

And I have never been the same

Since I've known His name

Light floods around me

He constantly forgives me

He's all I care to see"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Then Jesus Came"

Quiet

"Quiet

Don't tell me what to do

I'm not taking anymore

Of this listening to you

Quiet 

Don't tell me what to do

I'm not blind

I know I love you

Quiet

My heart is hurting

I'm not ready to be complete

In my forgiveness"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Quiet"

Sinful Seduction

"Siken satin sheets

     Spread out beneath you and me

     Shimmering with smells while we rest

In sensual, slinking seduction

     Softly soothing us to seclusion"

~Grace Marshall

From my poem, "Sinful Seduction"