Poem From Frances R. (1) Poem by RIC BASTASA

i sang a sad song last night and they all liked it.

i rested for a while on that soft chair on that table by the corner
like a very lonely stranger.

i listened for the singer after me with his guitar singing another
love song.

not for me but for all of you.

i smoked my marlboro cigarette and breathed out some smoke like what
the rest were doing in that crowded karaoke garden,

a tissue was passed, i looked at it on a pinlight
i would be singing again another sad love song as requested by all of you


that time it was the song that i had written myself four years ago
i had given birth to two lovely daughters then when their father left them

i took my guitar went on stage and started to strum and sing
a song i had written years ago, some memories rushing back to me


all of you were silent then with your glasses of wine and smoke
holding hands to your girl or man on your side pressing some
soft flesh and felt the sad song of love creeping like a vine in the air

you waited for the moment when i will cry again
lights and eyes focusing in my eyes

i didn't cry anymore on the stage as you saw me once crying.
my tissue was wet with tears just a moment ago when i sat like any
stranger on that table beside an empty chair.

it was dark on that nook.