The Christmas tree was up by the first weekend in December and fully decorated by Sunday night, just before prime-time TV, but all feelings of accomplishment faded when Renfield the cat jumped headlong from the entertainment center onto the top of the tree and rode it down like Slim Pickens riding the A-bomb in Dr. Strangelove, a movie Bob loved enough to have viewed multiple times (Karen had never seen it). There was sur...

Somewhere, I lost itBut I’m glad it’s goneNo need to fretOver what I’ve done wrong There is a freedomWhen you don’t need to tryA certain freedomTo just say good-bye No effort neededNothing missedLight of heartContented to drift Fine if you’re hereBut not for too longFine if you’re goneI’ll just move on How did I get here?Not really sureWill this go on?Will my freedom endure? Are there othersWho feel this way?Nothing compe...

Act as though you love meI’ve been fooled beforeI’m sure with little effortYou will make me yours Pretend you are devotedThat I’m your only oneBreak down my defensesQuell my urge to run Assure me of your ardorTalk of future plansDrink in my affectionTell me you’re my man Let me know the comfortOf feeling so secureAnd before I know what hit meSlither out the door.

Shatter my illusionsTrample on my dreamsShow me that the you I seeIs not a real being Be a thoughtless dullardAn egotistic cadBe the one about whom IWas warned of by my dad Break my heart in piecesUtter only liesCheat and flirt behind my backWhile I sit home and cry Instead you are a wonderAn ongoing delightSupportive, entertainingAdoring, sexy, bright You’re there each time I need youYou bear my lashing outYour smile is...

You felt itSo did IWe both know what it wasA sound that isn’t heard  Signals the end of love A mating call reversedCoupling undoneA sound that isn’t heardThat says we’re not in love A note that speaks of emptinessLike an abandoned homeNot of an open spaciousnessBut something there, then gone With each two, it is differentNever twice the sameBut clearly recognizableWhen it strikes again A knell of such finalityA whole that...

Paint my lips by kissing meSculpt me in your armsThis room shall be our studioWhere we create our art Too fluid to be capturedAnd set within a frameToo sacred to be notedOr garner any fame Yet lasting and indelibleThroughout both our livesEach of us a masterpieceIn the other’s eyes.

When one is not enough You lie Fearing commitment Wanting less Lonely Wanting more Suffocated Excited by the new Afraid to lose the old Spread thin Juggling Never satisfied And finally Old.

Cancel meI've had my runI offer nothing newBetween my glossy coversLittle interests you You've been skimming over meFor months and months, it seemsOr leaving me abandonedWhile you do other things When you first discovered meYou grabbed me off the standAnd anxiously awaitedMy pages in your hands Each time that you saw meAnother true delightAnd so overwhelmed were youYou felt that it was right To go and put your order inDel...

"Take a walk with me," I sayHolding out my handYour fingers touch and mesh with mineWe head out on the sand Where the water meets the shoreIts grains so cooly packedLeaving pointed footprintsTrailing from our backs You look at me expectantlyAs if I need to talkI see the worry in your faceBelieving something’s wrong Now I start to wonderHow to calm your fearsErase the Ugly SpectreUninvited hereFollowing in our footstepsThi...

The whir of your approach is feltPreceding your arrivalElectric waves pulse through the airThe atmosphere alive With silver shivers of your touchBefore I feel your handsAnd visceral excitementEnvisioning our plans My mind flits like a crazy beeNo non-us thought breaks throughLittle is accomplishedWhile I wait for you Imagining the time we spendPlays over in my brainA well-loved racy movieThat never feels the same As one i...

I chose to say "I love you"Uncertain how you feltI chose to tell you, not so ICould keep you for myself I chose to say I love youCradled in your armsTogether, lying in your bedMy thoughts securely warm I knew then that I loved you  June breezes swirling throughYour shadeless windows openOn that morning in your room I felt the words so gentlySunlight streaming inThe fragrance of the fresh mown grassScent mixing with your s...

Closing doorLock clicksBody numbHeart sickNot againLeavingSorrowfulEndingSlumping downTremblingWonder why  ThinkingSomeone elseCould beDo I knowMaybe  Last timeLeft meCame backBeggingTry againSame thingPromise toLove youBe hereFor youNow it’sWe’re throughGetting upAngryClenching fistsPacingStupid jerkHate himDrinking ginRantingLeave meWill youI willShow youFind someOne newThen youWill seeThat youMiss meThen itWill beToo b...

You’re so good at what you doThey just fall in love with you  All your words are so sincereEverything they want to hearYou read them like you would a scriptYou melt hearts by kissing lips  Loving tender ardent phrasesWarm sweet deep meaningful gazesYou draw them inYou lead them onThey want to be your only oneIt’s just a gameA bedpost notchYou reel them inThey’re hooked; they’re caughtAnd if you get what you deserve?Will t...

A thread of truthFlits through your eyesBut how can I believe?You’ve told so many, many liesAnd managed to deceive -My worn-out heartAnd mindAnd soulBled my every drop -To see you stand before me nowTakes all the strength I’ve gotNot to lift my arms to youAnd gather your embraceI watch as you see how I slowDoubt now fills your face -I raise my hand, to halt your touchAll trace of weakness fadesI see you understand me  Now...

I needed you;  Where were you?You promised me, you know -I needed you;Where were you?And then you didn’t show - I needed you;Where were you?It happened once again -I needed you;Where were you?You lost track of time with friends - I needed you;Where were you?I’ve had it up to here -I needed you;  Where were you?Have I made that clear? I needed you;Where were you?I am done with this -I needed you;Where were you?Don’t give m...