from P. in Tangier to Sally B.

By Coolhermit

Fri, 11 Dec 2020
  • 594 reads
3 comments
 
from P. in Tangier to Sally B.
 
god, how I miss you,
your fragrance lingers everywhere
haunting darkest cobweb corners
 
there’s no escape
 
I open a wardrobe
your green velvet dress is there
 
I open a drawer
half-full perfume bottles lie there
and silky lingerie
 
I open a book, it’s signed,
“to P, from S, with love”
 
I lay awake
replaying those nights  
of loving, of kif, 
and gorging on majoun
 
I ought to throw out
the blanket
you bought in Chefchaouen
it’s peppered with pot scorch -
 
I should but I can’t -  
I can but I won’t
 
when I tried to write
you prevented me
 
how could I compose
sentimental songs 
with you standing naked
hurling beldi cups at me
and fishwife insults?
 
you clung to me yet hated me
wanted a life with me 
and wanted me dead
 
you stabbed me with words
and stabbed me with silence
 
I stood beside you watching
rain lashing our courtyard
thinking the flood
and our bittersweet love
would never end
 
I wrote a song about
dancing, spinning,
soaking, smiling,
tears and loathing
 
a poem about you
a poem about us
on our last full day together...
 
you got sick, remember? 
 
it is framed on the wall
above the bed
for you to read
when you come back to me
 
if you can…
                   come back to me.
Certificate 12
Poem
Love

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

Bittersweet but sweet words.

 

Submitted by Coolhermit on

the pome is loosely based on the life of a bohemian American poet, composer, songwriter in Tangiers between the wars and his tumultuous marrage.

Rick

 

Submitted by Coolhermit on

the pome is loosely based on the life of a bohemian American poet, composer, songwriter in Tangiers between the wars and his tumultuous marrage.

Rick