Love’s Last Battlefield

Free Verse— It’s Complicated: Lit Up & The Writing Cooperative Contest

Love of brother dies cruel death And flies on wings of hopelessness I see him down a block straight on Pulls wagon blue with shuffling step Prepared my lips to utter, “No” For surely asking, will he heed? My eyes avert when still far off. Preparing to pass quickly by Apology on readied lips “No, not today,” but sorry said An act no more a moment fills

And still he comes straight on and true But doesn’t target there as some With focused eye a readied stare Intent on wringing from my waist or pocket, purse, computer bag Wherever coins or bills be found Yes, bills, so often asked or begged Insistence shown in measured steps Behind, besides, to follow near Intimidation’s clear demand To wait until I wilt and give that Which I never did intend

A hardened heart once ripe with praise And generosity to live A beast held back, not recognized Such things unknown when life and love Support a girl to woman grown But now alone to hurt and nurse Old injuries and love lost, gone Not family, or friend or spouse To hold a hand or wipe a tear A complicated history When barrenness has planted deep Within a bracing wind sheared day.

And still he comes mouth opened, slack Though yet not near I hear the want To spare a coin or two or more An opened door to more demands I steel myself to pass him by Today my eyes will stay ahead To toss hello, good morning, no I’m sorry but I can’t today Then go away and soon forget A man, a person, human need How soon before we share a street? Would others treat me thus and how Would then I think of charity

Close enough so now I see His street worn shoes toes given free To feel the chill and now he smiles I cannot help but look to him The beauty beams from love’s bright soul But strike a bargain still I form to smile yet hold that which is mine Smile reasonably and nicely yet and closely keep my purse sealed tight and pockets, bagged computer zipped to keep my spoils from greedy hands

But why I fight so that which comes Communicates acceptance, care Compassion rendered, offered to A self-content to utter “no” From wearied lips to issue thus Instead of smiling forth to send A love in kind and not pretend But honestly connect to him who comes to teach humility

Mere steps to separate us now He reaches down and makes me jump And startle fearing what he seeks For streets are mean with desperate men Who do what needs their motive calls Moving faster giving breadth to space us out till safety felt And trembling fades from limb and chill Seeps finally fear letting go Tensed arms and legs and muscles all To strain and stress a body so

And now he starts to raise his head As if slow motion guides his hand To pluck from there and lo behold No knife or gun or weapon shows Instead, a flower held to me Though filled with miser’s misery But seem he sees not my true self Perhaps not true but hope withheld

Not rose but just a wild one shorn More beautiful than any seen before or now or future sure For pure of heart his love does sing Embracing other’s circumstance His love of strangers everyone Encompassing our given call To love each other true and full with helping hand so never fall Or fail to offer justly this A smile a flower, coin or bread and not ignore what’s needed, shared

It’s complicated there within Emotion mixed with shame-filled flaws Dismissal’s weight bears heavy loss Humanity dies in the breast The battlefield of mind does swell With heartlessness war’s last demise

The flower, wilted somewhat though Paints hope upon my mantelpiece More beautiful no rose did grow For love was in the one who gave And not the form of gift bestowed