Nights in Your Doorway
I remember you on the precipice
I remember you on the precipice
of always
leaning in
of words
confessions
of pouring yourself another drink
of lying
Your first lie
told to me in the doorway
"We've met before"
Me, on the precipice
of laughing too hard
staring too long
sending a text
Instead, I settle for standing in your doorway
run my hands against the frame
drop, by my thigh
your eyes travel
and the first lie I told you
was pretending not to notice
your gaze suspended in the time loop
of innocence - gratuitousness
harmless - greed
You settled instead
for making me laugh
it rippled from my lips
like a spring brook
and carried the weight
of everything I'd lost
to someone else's well
and I realised
This is what my voice sounds like
I wanted to hear it again
so I beckoned you
through my doorway
dress
dropping
eyes
watching
Innocent
greedy
reaching
You settled for a sigh
Incomplete
but it carried with it the heat
of every fire I'd extinguish
under the weight of someone else's blanket
I nurtured that new ember
with whispers from wet lips
and
willingly crossed the precipice
from innocent
to guilty
from possession
to possessed
from wanted
to wanting
after which
you no longer settled for lies
you spilled truth from my eyes
and with every wheezing sob
was the force of a hurricane
brewed from words
never spoken
sticks and stones
never thrown
and I realised
that a voice
is made up of so many
broken and beautiful things
About the Creator
Rachel M.J
Magical realist
I like to write about things behaving how they shouldn't ~
Instagram: Rachel M.J
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (1)
I loved these lines ‘ from possession to possessed from wanted to wanting’ Very well written poem and congrats on runner up