Posts Published by Cheney

you can’t leave me – 17/1000

Don’t leave me.
Please don’t leave me,
I’ve begged these words before,
not proud, but not shamed,
I need you here.

Please don’t leave me.
Please think of all the good times,
when we laughed and loved each other
so much we made people sick.

You can’t leave me.
I wouldn’t know how to go on
without you, I can’t even breathe
when you’re not here, I’m choked,
unable to speak or cry.

I won’t let you leave me.
I will beg and guilt and manipulate,
I will promise, I will swear, I will
do anything for you to stay.… Read the rest

construction

Remember being bright
and shiny and full of hope,
with a love just like new
even though it had been a year? 

Those are the days I miss,
that I paid close attention to
as they were flying by – did you?

We built a love on shaky beams
and have to trust the poor carpentry,
but I will trust it – as much as I trust you.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: just like new, flying, and carpentry.

Photo by Danny Lau on Unsplash

so high school – 16/1000

Instantly, without warning, nostalgia hit like a bus.

The doors of the atrium, into the commons, I remember the cacophony of shoes and shouts, the smell of culinary class’s pizza, the feeling of excitement for a new day.

This is where we kissed outside the office for the first time.

This is where I accidentally outed my crush to my crush.

This was where I struggled with Algebra.

But this is where I sang.

This is where my voice lifted and lifted me into the rafters, voices like bells and drums perfectly aligned with the world, as they should be.… Read the rest

tell me again

Tell me again how you love me. Tell me again how because you love me, I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. You could tell me anything and I’d follow you to hear more of your voice. I’d follow you down backroads, into busy city streets, off bridges just to find you if I lost you. So I cherish every look, every word, every touch, and most of all, that homemade cocoon we make each night wrapped in each others arms, holding on tight until sleep.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: tell me again, backroads, and homemade. 

Photo by Read the rest

he’ll never marry – 15/1000

They smiled at each other as they twirled on the dance floor, spinning around the other couples who had boring lives and would all go home and bicker.

“You know, we’re the happiest two people here,” he said.

“Probably happier than the bride and groom,” she agreed.

“And this is why I’ll never marry.”

“Because you’d rather dance with strangers?”

“Of course,” he scoffed. “I don’t ever want to tie myself down to a single woman. I can’t be monogamous.”

“Oh, really?.”

“Yeah, seriously,” he said.

“Well, I’m getting married someday,” she said, and danced the night away from him.… Read the rest

other lives

Not everything is meant to last.
In the unfair game of life, 
you win some, lose some, and 
completely miss the rest.

In my nearsighted way, I
can’t see the forest for the
trees, but must remember
that each branch and each leaf
is a whole other life
I could have.

But then I remember
the way you sounded
on that voicemail, begging,
please talk to me, please,
and I still can’t see
what you’re doing to me.

Today’s poetry prompts were: win some, lose some, nearsighted, and voicemail.

Photo by kazuend on Unsplash

a real haiku

Long-forgotten love,
growing like a bloom, your palms
belong in my hands

Today’s poetry prompt words were: long-forgotten, bloom, and palms.

I’m not gonna lie, I totally phoned this one in today because I didn’t do it in the morning like I usually do. I waited until the end of the day, after work, and I am burnt out.

Lesson learned.

But hey! A haiku that’s somehow related to nature, isn’t that… a real haiku?

Photo by Lareised Leneseur on Unsplash

the charge of love – 14/1000


“But I didn’t!” she begged.

“You did! We watch it all, we know you did.”

“But I didn’t mean to,” she said.

“There are rules for everything, and they are rules for a reason. There is a reason we assign you jobs, assign you housing, assign you recreation time. You don’t need to know those reasons, you just need to abide.”

“I do not abide!”

“Very well. That is admission of guilt for Rule #6, ‘Never Fall in Love’. You’re sentenced to a life alone, because you don’t know how to – “

“I know how to love. That’s all … Read the rest

got no swagger

I have never had the self-confidence
to swagger and sway down hallways
or to dance like no one is watching. 

I’ve never been limber, I’ve never
been quick, I’m never going to
fit anyone’s idea of charismatic. 

But this is just my packaging,
my flesh suit I carry around
trying to impress everyone
with what’s inside.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: self-confidence, limber, and packaging.

Photo by averie woodard on Unsplash