When They Existed

By atm.itm

they kissed

and her black shadow took form 

of a body held by one outside her mind 

for now she knew 

what it meant to be missed 

to bare sensation greater than to be starved 

to be plucked 

from a bunch of deformities 

worse than her own 

leaving the insatiable pleading 

she was a fool 

full of love 

enslaved to a tongue 

that now lives to lash out against 

her name 

he yelled 

she hollered 

they slept separately together 

mistakenly making their vows 

whine into doubts and burdens 

benefiting the other 

all that was left in her grip 

was a palm to be held on sunday mornings 

the cause behind folds, smile lines, or forehead wrinkles 

were no longer regarded by him

no longer causing him to wonder why

sunken cheeks that had elasticity for grins 

and chatter fell flat around him 

his/story was brittle, 

so became her ankles 

as their child nipped her heel with a shopping cart 

unnatural for her feet to fall out of step, 

but love had fallen upon her 

while the chipped tooth from oak street brawls 

did not stop her from opening her mouth wide 

to yell 

to claim her place in staying 

still 

in the midst of thanksgiving dinner

stuffing mouths with turkey and cranberry  

all that was left to fulfill this meal is a taste of tenderness 

through his words that cut deep 

discrediting all she's ever tried 

all she has ever done

he was dying 

he blamed everyone 

so she sat 

feasting around tender bits of air 

that held them apart 

while remaining tethered

forgone all logic 

begging for it to come back 

all that was left in her hands was her face 

meant to be kissed before sundown 

caressed by the moonlight 

weak knees buckled under his force 

succumbed to the whimpering that slipped her lips 

she liked how pathetic it felt 

to have no control 

to want more than need 

to lose more than have 

this is how it felt to be in love with a man 

to end up wanting to understand 

what would be enough 

to make it last 

By atm.itm