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  Apr 26 Amanda Kay Burke
ophelia
you spoke of dreams,
moments not here,
but lingering just beyond reach.
i see you too—in flashes,
a laugh, a name i never fully said.

i close my eyes,
and there you are,
in the tremble of stars,
the flicker of streetlights,
the hum of midnight waves.

you linger like a soft melody,
always near,
but never enough.
a secret i kept in silence,
carried with every breath.
"I'll quit tomorrow"
Say once again
I spoke those words yesterday too
Would take the easy route out of this
No shortcuts in Hell-I must go through
An excuse not to surfaces
Legitimate or not
Before I know it repeating mistakes
Hit after hit
Shot after shot
Of the places I've visited
Don't think I have ever reached one quite so low
Seeking whatever fleeting remedy
Leaves the least room to grow
You've got to wonder why I make these decisions
Swearing that "this time" I'm done
Got my back pressed against a concrete slab
Simply isn't anywhere else to run
Maybe I have gotten used to the fire
Been so long since my universe went up in flames
May be difficult to see through the smoke
At least that way there's a scapegoat to blame
I cannot claim I don't know any better
After two or three times learned getting sick
Regardless how many nights spent fighting withdrawals
Sobriety never seems to stick
Maybe I should give up on this battle
Surrender war and wave a flag of white
Let demons have their way with my soul
Accept that I'll never be alright
I am exhausted sprinting in circles
Find myself in the exact same place
Watching world spin around me so fast
While own life I only waste
Just the same old ****
Aches and pains restricted because they're self-inflicted
Sorry for behaving ways that you predicted
Laziness not just sitting still
Don't believe it's wrong that most days I don't do much but chill
Demands left expectations only define explanation
Arm me with explosives then act surprised at detonation
Deodorize your selfishness
Only meet my toes
Keeping track of exact amount each past mistake owes
Cuts leave scars
Words change who we are
It seems like lately you're always too far
Differences make time
Paint ourselves
Keep storing trust on too high of shelves
Heard the message the little birdie didn't say
Glance at your face unravels silence in the way
Knocking at door but you refuse to let me in
Upon a thin line tug back and forth but neither of us can win
My patience at moments is shorter than my bitten fingernails
Over-correcting when trying to even out the scales
The gateway to happiness is one I am eager to explore
Without you next to me what would I even open it for?
Any pursuit seems to be a colossal waste
Facing dead ends
Hasty pointless chase
Day after day repeat the same routine
Bouncing up and down on this infinite trampoline
My emotions are always one extreme or another but it's always back and forth over and over how do I control my feels?
When everything in sight bursts with colors bright
You anticipate sensations that excite
How you shake my body like ripples through the ground
How you make my head spin as if on a merry-go-round
Shots of whiskey soaking through my skin
Was it a glimpse of heaven or one step away from sin?
You said I am worthy of celebrating what's underneath my clothes
Fantasy manifested
Hair down to my toes
Does ever it captivate your mind with memories?
How it mattered to trace my curves with ease?
It is not intoxication causing my cheeks to flush
Hard finding words to correctly describe this rush
And never got another chance to repeat our brief interaction
Well I hope I was able to reciprocate the same level of satisfaction
I did my best being a version of myself I believed you'd desire
Amidst laughter realized sparks in my center had grown into fire
And I will cherish warmth even if I never see your face again
In veins your name flowed as effortlessly as ink from my pen
Unlike you and simplicity and perfection
Scars are too deep
Too afraid of rejection
And you pointing out reasons I had to love myself
For the first time in a long while seemed to truly help
I wish you could have cradled me in that tent forever
Of course every tie must eventually sever
In your presence I no longer was haunted by ghosts from my past
Potential palpable
Hours ended too fast
When our lips met pretended it would never stop
Unable to control way my stomach flip-flopped
You had this personality that made me feel good
I showed you my favorite spots around my neighborhood
It was obvious you were handsome
To have your interior match?
Already knew better than to get too attached
That night I was happier than I'd been in quite awhile
Surprised how easily you coaxed out my smile
I loved your tattoos and intelligent brain
Plus the method you used your hands made me go insane
We took dab hits staying up most of the night
Until we fell asleep conversing still holding each other tight
For two friends who had so recently met
Admit I sure felt close
*** was like a drug and I couldn't help but crave another dose
I yearned to be better
For you tried to be enough
With so much distance between us
Quitting too tough
So continued living
Stumbling the dark
The hunger shifted to somewhere in the back of my heart
I should have realized from the beginning you were too good for me
Did
Couldn't help but long for what couldn't be
These emotions will stick with me wherever I may go
When I seem sad I look back and recall the gentle glow
I felt when you hugged me
Oh I miss your embrace
In return I hope you sometimes also miss my face
I used to have a Lite-Bright when I was a kid I ******* loved that thing
I've wondered how it is you truly feel
A little voice whispering
"This can't be real"
These obstacles close appear too large to see around
Viewing from a distance a detour is found
Questions fly back and forth thrown as darts
Aim but never hit the right body parts
Always quick riling
Slow repair
Running circles barefoot
Your shoes I cannot wear
Through deserts and oceans continue to trudge
Hold hand all the while
Gradually building a grudge
My attempts to please you all fall short
I fail to contribute or submit too vague a report
Head hurting from the flaws I have to fix
Given the choice I'd never pick words over sticks
Because sentences weigh more than stones could
What you speak seldom leaves me feeling good
So you paint my imperfections like a mural on the wall
Makes me want to do the opposite and not deal with them at all
How many mistakes until finally you snap and go
Realize the fact that I realized long ago
That I am not meriting the effort you put in
And components are irreversibly broken within
That more time and energy probably are a waste
The middle of your heart no longer for me holds a place
I can tell you don't feel how you used to :(
I listen to a voice inside head telling me to stop
Endorphins flying too high
Skull spinning like top
The lights overhead emit such heat I start to sweat
Hopes soaring like birds I increase my bet
Turning gears in my mind squeaking like hungry mice
Afraid looking at the results
Paying ultimate price
Inviting demons to come take a stroll with me and play
Curtains shut blocking outside
Avoiding light of day
When I glance at the clock I see that hours have gone by
Transported to realm somewhere in the sky
Other individuals do not exist
Just me and this shiny machine
Once I begin it's all or nothing
No such thing as in-between
Eyes glazed I stare at the shapes moving through glass
Hypnotized
Expressionless
Even hitting an impasse
People speak sentences to me but I don't even hear
Words don't bother to enter (much less exit) each ear
Where did stack of money disappear to so fast?
Things are shuffling so quickly
Building too vast
And it's true time flies but dollar bills have wings too
When you're in that moment logic just won't do
It's like being controlled by some invisible puppeteer
Unable to change actions despite how hard you steer
You reflect back and feel stupid for your lack of rationality
Mirror revealing your flawed personality
Only noticing problem after it's too late
When speeding too fast to decelerate
And witness the inescapable facts no amount of panic justifies
Obvious yet still somehow takes you by surprise
Now wishing you had not commenced gambling at all
Your wallet was once thick
How did it shrink so small?!
Because it makes zero difference how much cash you win
Always end up a loser when you do "just one more" spin
What are you getting with someone like me?
Not sure if we're meant to be
You call me idiot and I suppose you're right
If I died today would you still choose to fight?
Do you want me or just a hand to hold?
Sometimes you look at me with eyes so cold
The clock ticks loud it's all I can hear
Arms not wide open as they appear
The night chasing me
On my heels
Wrapped in silence company steals
Regret hangs heavy from battered hands
Dreams ripped
Thousands of strands
Reach for stars but only grab empty space
Lie awake motionless while my spinning thoughts race
Lost shadows swallowing me in one bite
Waiting for dawn's arrival with promise of light
To break memories free from behind bars where they bounce
Stillness remedy eagerly gulped by the ounce
A raging sea of intensity quakes back and forth inside
A storm I can't control though heaven knows I've tried
Floating a current unable to change direction
Singing audibly proof of affection
It's a fascination as to why you bother to stay
Trying to right my wrongs before you decide to walk away
What if there is too much to correct?
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