A POEM BY R. STEPHEN
You told me once
that you can’t sleep
you see the faceless girl
whom you can’t keep
so you cut your white collar
and left our home
to rest your tired eyes
to be alone
iron bars
couldn’t keep you
in your cell
you scaled the wall
you ran from hell
they took up arms
loaded them with lead
to put a bullet
in your poor head
my mentor
my shepherd
since my birth
you showed me the path
and gave me my worth
on your knees
a pietist
white knuckles on
a shaking fist
when you return
to your birthplace
do you still see her
but not her face?
About This Poem
Cut Collar: being ‘you’ can sometimes come at a price.
This poem was inspired by my love for blues music. Many blues songs carry a theme of abandonment, escape and despair.
This poem follows the fictional tale of a preacher who leaves the life he knows behind, much to the anger of his peers. Our subject is not perfect, but he is a hero in the eyes of the narrator.
Let me know what you think of this one in the comment box below.
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