This Coming Valentine's Day Poem by RIC BASTASA

what can i tell you now?

you always had it in your mind
that i betrayed your love.
i have nothing to say to defend
my own self.
i have long been punished by
my own lingering
loneliness.
i punished myself like
Oedipus.
Blind i walk the lonely alleys
of my life
grappling but still
surviving as i do not wish
to drag this precious life
to my own
self-willed destruction

life has its place
i too have mine
we are living separately
but we are still one
in this
quest for resolution

i cannot offer you my heart
you know the reason why.

i cannot offer you my thoughts
they are owned by someone.

i have nothing to offer
but i have only one request

you may not forgive me
but please, try forgetting me

ask me if i have forgotten you
how can i?

this valentine's day
i kiss another lips hoping to forget yours.

time is too cruel for us.
let us blame it.

time deceived us
let us ask it about the truth

time is elusive
still we cannot catch

my heart does not bleed anymore
falling short of blood.