Tennessee West Poems

I loved you before I knew you
Foolishly so

Before the broken glasses and the time spent alone
...

Give me something to say and I will
Say it without reservation
Give me something to hate and I will
Hate it
...

Suddenly and then all at once
Life became too exciting for her

Violent decrescendos clash
...

It wasn't my lie to tell
So I left you and it alone

Grasping for what little hope
...

When you decide to leave me
Leave me good
Learning to mend again
I will teach this heart
...

At 7, I wasn't meant to grow too old too fast
At 16, I wasn't meant to smoke and drink and watch my future pass
At 20, I am not meant to love and live too cavalier
Instead, I argue with oblivion and wrestle with my fears
...

How many fathers, sons, nephews,
daughters, sisters, aunts,
mothers, cousins,
friends, colleagues
...