Loveless Lover
Painted pictures of a prettier yesterday,
Reds and yellows hide the ugly grey.
Decorated costumes of a king:
Tempt me with your diamond ring,
Promise all the gifts you'll give.
Oh, what a perfect life we would live!
Strip the paint and your crown;
Take away your empty words.
It's still the same old song:
Love me like a crutch
Love me when I'm strong
Take my time
Take my mind
Give your words like a lie
Give your laughter when I cry
Strip the paint and your crown;
Take away your empty words.
It's still the same old song.
Wear me as your queen
Wear me when it suits your need
Ignore my fears
Ignore my tears
Paint your world
Paint your dreams
You only loved me for loving you,
you never loved me just for me.
Reds and yellows hide the ugly grey.
Decorated costumes of a king:
Tempt me with your diamond ring,
Promise all the gifts you'll give.
Oh, what a perfect life we would live!
Strip the paint and your crown;
Take away your empty words.
It's still the same old song:
Love me like a crutch
Love me when I'm strong
Take my time
Take my mind
Give your words like a lie
Give your laughter when I cry
Strip the paint and your crown;
Take away your empty words.
It's still the same old song.
Wear me as your queen
Wear me when it suits your need
Ignore my fears
Ignore my tears
Paint your world
Paint your dreams
You only loved me for loving you,
you never loved me just for me.
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Author's Note
When Joy Harjo was 19, she wrote "The Eagle Song." When I was 19, I wrote this. One of my first attempts at poetry. This poem which painfully resembles a jilted pop song ballad, was published in The Expressions Journal in 1996. If you've ever walked down Brady Street in Milwaukee, you know the one, the one the guys in dreadlocks try to sell you as you leave Walgreens, Subway or Mainstream Records or Starbucks if you're a modern hipster. Yes, that very one.
Other stories by Emily Bertholf
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Reminds me of Dylan's sensibility in those 19ish times. Go away from my window... Then again does that early narcissism ever wholly yield? Nicely styled. *
Powerful prose poem, Emily! Of course, I do know Brady Street and love it for all of its strange creatures and those we cross just walking down the street. I can feel this pulsing through your words. *
Enjoyed the time travel.
Thank you, Mathew, Robert and Gary.
Poignant ending couplet. *
Thank you, Beate.
I like it. Good piece.
From earlier comments I realize there are come cultural elements of which I lack some knowledge. However, I think this stands alone very nicely.