A Copper Kettle

A copper kettle sits upon the stove
Dented, scorched and scratched
Kept clean and free of tarnish
Seeming out of place, unimportant

It holds the echoes of yesterday
Hushed conversations of lovers
Whispers of worry and fear
Sweet laughter of children

The scorched base reminders
Of lives lived and loves lost
Every scratch a heartbeat
Each dent a teardrop

The copper kettle sits upon the stove
Holding forgotten dreams and
Conversations lost to time
Safely keeping the heartbeats of yesterday

by L.L. Shannon ©2008

Go

Go
The word a whisper, carried on the wind
Breaking my heart, scarring my soul
One word spoken within myself
Laying bare the truth I’d denied
Having done all I could
Given everything I had
Love’s last breath escapes
As the wind whispers again
Go

by L.L. Shannon ©2008

A Nonexistent Heart

Fine mists cover everything now
All I touch, all I see
Even my emotions seem dreamlike
Hovering on the brink of reality
Until I see you
Walking with quick steps
head down against the wind
In the doorway of our café
you stop, look ‘round
When your eyes light up
that smile breaks upon your face
I think you’ve seen me
as impossible as it could be
For a second, the fog lifts
Clarity returns to my world
With it I see the truth
The one I had denied
As she stops before you
you caress her cheek
touch your lips to hers
That emotion I’d felt missing
the one I’d yearned to see
reflected in your azure eyes
now shines brighter than the sun
Yet not for me, no never for me
No tears will fall nor heart break
for I am but a spirit now
Who gave up the next plane
choosing to remain with you
and now faces eternal oblivion
with the pain of a nonexistent heart

by L.L. Shannon ©2008