They Asked Me To Write Poetry

By Jess Doshi

They asked me to write poetry

but all I could write was

love's cruelty.

They asked me to write love

but I touched the topic

with hands in gloves.

They asked me to write flowers

but I could only write of

Rapunzel's caged towers.

They asked me to write hearts

but I wrote of empty shopping carts.

They asked me to write bold

but all I could write were

stories untold.

They asked me to write moons and stars

but I wrote of abandoned cars.

They asked me to write romantic dates

but I wrote of broken and

rejected mates.

They asked me to write oceans

but all I could write was

unnecessary human commotion.

They asked me to write you

but that was my leaving cue.

They asked me to write

but all it did was

take away my might.

By Jess Doshi