Amber Bowen: Favorites

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

El Gray

I stand and count the lines on your lips
one for every day that I've known you
in my pocket I fold the tissue
that you gave me once to mop up my tears
one, twice
three times no more
I bite my lip; no lines
and hand you the tissue
"It was supposed to be a swan" I say
you laugh
I laugh
and I kiss the top of your head
"It looks more like a flower" so you put it in
your hair
It begins to rain and the tissue-swan-tissue-flower
deteriorates
I begin to cry
so you hand me a clean tissue to mop up my tears

#love #sadness #meandyou

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Disconnected.

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Shivani Mankad

Disconnected.

I'm empty because you are almost gone,
You're satiated because its you who has withdrawn.
I'm torn because you are everything I have got,
You're stitched up because that is something I'm not.

The last cigarette has been lit and your eyes bid me goodbye,
I held out my arms and you turned away in reply.
I will cut them off today and tie them with a chain,
Solely because you are never going to call them home again.

#9 on 52weekpoetrychallenge

#52weekpoetrychallenge

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

You, Me, And The River Water

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

estelle deamor

You, Me, And The River Water

The river water
May each have their own separate passage
Will always find its way in a similar course
Going to that meeting
In the middle of the ocean

I am a river water
You are another river water
A hope, I will keep holding on

A hope, that you and I
Will be one ocean
Coming that moment of meeting
Of us-the river waters

I translated this for a request from the original Filipino-Waray poetry (Siday) entitled "Ikaw, Ako, Ug An Tubig Han Sapa" by my good friend FD

#friendship #reunion #filipinopoetry

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Bandages

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Amanda

Bandages

The scary, bold whisper of a truth is that pinning blame is careless.

You feel the slow *****; a smart of pain.

A sweet sting.

Just enough to draw blood to the surface, but not enough for a bandage.

Hey you, you & you!
How have you all been??
I have a blocked nose and a sore throat. :')
Swimming in 20 degree weather and no towel to dry off is not a good idea.
x

#life #bittersweet #blame

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Others Come First

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Jesica Dittemore

Others Come First

I don't show weakness,
Others come first.
I cannot falter,
Others come first.
When I am weak and weary,
I push on.
When I am sick and frail,
I carry on.
I refuse to acknowledge my humanity,
Because others come first.

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Past, Present, Future.

Feb 2015 Amber Bowen

Shivani Mankad

Past, Present, Future.

What I was
A lost soul in a crowd,
Scars covering my wrists.
What I am
A failure - never proud,
With pent up anger in my fists.
What I want to be
To be heard - clear and loud,
I'm made of stardust, meant to move mountains, not simply exist.

#1 for the 52 week poetry challenge!

#52weekpoetrychallenge