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Teardrops (Starting to Run Out)


by Darryl Price


Should I talk freely, or do you prefer
decorum? To kill a butterfly is
not honorable. Everything should stop
there, but it won't. It never does. I hope 

you're happy now doesn't mean I don't give 
a damn what happens to you. I talk freely 
because that's what poetry is when 
it's a promise they can't keep from the lie.  

I get sick of the excuses people 
cough up as soon as they wake. Talk freely,
there's nobody listening to us. They'll 
do anything to stay alive except 

confess: killing a butterfly is murder, 
but is it plain to see and simple 
as a movie seat? Who's not bought a ticket 
yet? Will it make you feel like another 

kind of sincere person when it's over?
Talk, it's going around, everywhere, 
you're all responsible for the lights going 
out at the dance. Any butterfly 

performs a necessary part of the 
perfect steps. I wanted to show you my 
own part, with my wings still somewhat intact. 
Why is that so hard for you to believe? 

Meanwhile, the poem travels on with or 
without us. Do you understand? Don't kill
anything unless you absolutely 
have to, turn around, look, those are your antennae!

Go ahead, talk freely, everybody's 
high on some televised fountain 
of youth pill. Talk to me. Just talk to me.
That's all I need. That's all I want. Bing, bang.

I should talk freely. I'll be going down. 
It's the way. I want to kiss you slowly,
but not be without you. Isn't that a 
fine meadow to be caught in? You don't have 

to worry about me. You'll be fine. It's 
only once upon a time, a goodbye. 
I didn't know how else to tell you. Talk
is how we live. Your presence shook me good.





So I Can Say, Wild, Free

by Darryl Price


You say love, but it isn't, 
is it? You say love, 
but it's just business. 
Transaction. You say love, 
but somehow it's not a 
very pretty view. You

say love, but it's a pendulum 
for sleep, sleep. You
say it's a trumpeter 
swan, sweetest, but it's your 
painted eyes as your face 
nears mine. You say love, but

when will this rain ever 
quit? You say love, but you 
just haven't uttered the 
snuffing punchline yet. You
say love, but what are you 
thinking of as magic 

shadows fall out of sight?
You say love, like a burning 
fire, well, okay, but 
that's still only one way 
to put it. You say love, 
the wide open door, the 

ride of your life, but please 
drop all pretense. Don't stone 
me. You say love, breathe in 
the wild air, but I am 
tongue-tied by the painfully 
obvious. You say

love, I shouldn't care, but
there are holes in the harsh 
world that need mending more 
than I need take anyone's 
name in vain. I'd rather 
hold you. You say love, and

I say you're always in 
my heart, nothing else matters, 
but I've just been waiting 
for a sign. You say
love, I already say 
yes, so why send me this 

heart blowing mine field? It's 
way over my head. Makes 
me feel lost and alone.
You say love, but I say, 
hard to tell, but for orphans,
the moment's notice.

 
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