In Retrospect

Your lips bloom like forbidden gardens during an eclipse.

My pride shrieks but the heavens keep singing.

I stole my own power away from my fingertips,

But I cannot hear the truth when my ears are ringing.

You have heard my lies at least a hundred times.

The excuses never cut it, do not pretend they did.

We jumped to conclusions, thinking it would suffice,

But I loved you despite all the lust I once hid.

A part of me always hoped they would condemn me –

Therefore, I buried your name like a dirty secret.

The tip of the iceberg was peeking out already.

Once all was said and done, I could no longer keep it.

I could no longer keep us.

Maybe throwing our love away was better than sweeping it under the carpet.

Now I am watching people who want to be us,

Thinking back on how it all started.

-JW