NaPoWriMo2024 Day Two

Andrea R Huelsenbeck

April 2

I've already missed one day of National Poetry Writing Month. Oh well.

Today's prompt is to write a platonic love poem.

Well, on my side, it was platonic.

Oliver
by ARHuelsenbeck

when you asked me out
I accepted immediately
I'd read your poems 
in the school literary journal
I knew you'd be interesting

but I didn't expect you 
to fall in love with me

I thought we were just
getting to know each other
but you were making plans
for our future

I admired your creativity
I wanted to talk about literature
you wanted a girlfriend

you professed your love
I didn't respond the way you hoped

you wanted a commitment
I wanted my freedom

I continued to see other people
I began turning you down
but I'm no good at letting people down
gently

you asked to see me
one last time
afterward you would never call me again

over dinner you handed me an epic poem
four pages of your meticulous tiny handwriting
the pressure of the evening made it difficult to breathe
much less to read
I tried, I really did
but I couldn't make sense
of the words

finally, I just said
it's beautiful

your mouth dropped open
you stared at me
incredulous

you drove me home
with tears running down your cheeks

weeks later
I found the poem in my purse
and read it without the pressure of your watchful eyes

the anguish of your broken heart
the despair of your lost dreams
the torment of your longing
it was all there

and I had told you it was beautiful