January 30, 2004

To wait by the telephone

To wait by the telephone,
wondering if they had as good a time as you,
if they feel the way you do.

Or is it all a fantasy in your head?
Were they merely tolerating your time together,
trying to make the best of it?

Humoring you when you talked on too long
about subjects you thought interested them
because they asked a question?

And it's not like you're not empathetic.
You'd think you'd be able to tell,
But now it's all a blur.

You thought you were reading the signals right,
but now you can't remember a thing,
so you can't prove it to yourself.

So now you want one more signal,
one further bit of evidence
that they're interested.

Interested in continuing,
interested in going further,
before you take another step.

But what if they think they've been perfectly clear?
Think the ball is in your court?
And read your reticence as disinterest.

Or what if they're shy
or awkward
and just can't force themselves to send the signal?

Or what if they're waiting by their telephone,
wondering if you had as good a time as they,
if you feel the way they do?

Or is it all a fantasy in their head?
Were you merely tolerating the time together,
trying to make the best of it?

© 2004 Philip F. Rose

Full entry: To wait by the telephone

January 06, 2004

I know you love me

I know you love me when you tell me so because the belief that someone would is so remote that I probably won't see the signals no matter how clear you think they are.

I know you love me when you tell me so because even if I see the signals, I will find a way to doubt them.

I know you love me when you tell me so because I'm too shy to ask and find out myself.

Full entry: I know you love me

To the LES Open Mikes

For ten years Faceboy's open stage
(Burlesque he proudly labeled it)
Has taught us to create and play
Take that you snobby poet shits.

Our Saint, the Reverend Jen has said
that art is just a romp. Play more!
Great artists are not more than kids.
So art stars grew where once were whores.

Ah yes, to Ludlow we have gone
And Allen too in times anon
To play and love: our sole canon.
Our mission is as clear as day
That we will never stop the play
Cause yuppies want mocha latte.

(c) 2004 Philip F. Rose

Full entry: To the LES Open Mikes