Linda M. Crate- Three Poems

the raven's flight 

 

she was a laugh

always a laugh

laughter

always cascading down 

her lips,

but you told her to be quiet

not to laugh so much

she then became serious and

withdrawn;

that wasn't right, either,

you told her to laugh

she remembered

well that you were the one that told

her to stop

so she merely raised her eyebrows—

in her gaiety she had not

been enough for you,

and now she was still too flawed

to impress a smile upon

your features;

so she flew away

left naught but one white feather

the color of the most

perfect cloud

to remind you of her imperfect

countenance

should you deign to miss her.

a free bird 

 

she's so gone

that girl that fell in love with 

you

demure and sweet

cascading

with golden rivers of laughter

deigning to listen to your

most haughty words

she's so gone

that girl

believing every word that flowed from

your lips was honey,

and that you were some kind-of god

on earth

that girl is gone;

i am here now with all my wisdom

and i have laughter

but it's not for you

she's so gone

that girl that waited for your every whisper to

disrobe her in the heat of the moment,

she's so gone

that girl that laughed a little too much

at words that weren't of any

relevance;

she's so gone,

but even now i care too much

wondering what happened of you but

she's so gone

that girl that trailed her tulips

'round your windows

hoping you'd

fall just as desperately in love with her

because i'm so glad you freed

her 

from your wicked

games, your unkind spell

the birdcage that was too thin to hold

anything but desire.

monster in the mirror 

 

maybe i danced too close to the

devil in your eyes,

but i didn't believe you'd hurt

me as badly as you did;

ravens have

claws

but i didn't have the heart to claw your eyes

out even if you devoured my heart—

don't ask me any questions

you told me too many lies,

destroyed

a piece of my innocence

with your insincerity so sincere it fooled me at the time;

but i am no longer your fool

my white feathers

will not bury the black of your disease—

you think i'm crazy?

well, that's not fair

considering

the thought process encompassed in your mind

if you have no intention of marrying someone,

wolf,

then you have no right to be with them;

you're a gorgeous nightmare,

but i'll go a step

further

with my insults

i want you to free every girl you've ever trapped in your dreams

like you did me;

we all deserve freedom from your fangs—

i didn't deserve destruction,

but neither did they

one day,

you'll see yourself when you look at your reflection

instead of a man

there'll be a monster looking back

at you.