From the Shadows 1

by Twan - Aries

So here I sit, drink in hand, in the darkened room
peering silently through the purposeful gloom
glances will be shot furtively, words will be spoken softly
people will fall in and out of love in seconds
I sit regally, perched above it all, or at least pretend to be
What do you know, cookie, what about me?
Through this life we go, treading lightly, watching each other be
Regarding each other and other people warily
Of course it's home alone after this to lament what might have been but for...
but for what? Nothing was done, we all watched from the shadows

And somewhere in the background the sun leaves the other side of the world, heading this way,
but there's a lot that can be done before night becomes day
Outside this world there are obligations to others and to those
who we never voted on, never really chose
This world where men act as provocateurs and coquettes
eyes glisten with a hard sheen behind cigarettes

From these shadows relationships, friendships, hammered out
We have no last names, and first ones are stammered out
Attempting to impress where it comes off as a act
Where my entire speech comes off showing me as a man with little tact.

It could be secret hot-pink smiles and a flash of leg
I'll offer to take a night flight with you...but I won't beg
It could be a flat-out "You wanna go home with me?"
That gives us pause.

So small everyone knows everyone else
So tiny people know that I'm a slob
And it's our own tiny Bikini Bottom
He's Krabs, you're Squidward, she's Sandy and I'm SpongeBob
But that matters not. For it's all we know
Social interaction between them and I is slow.
I find myself going slowly off the rail
biting nervously at my right thumbnail.

Tick, clock, tick. I look at my watch.
Much can happen before the sun gets here
And disrupts my Night World, the escape for a few
Where in the shadows it remains murky, not at all clear

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name
But they point across the room and mouth "stay away from the flame." 
I miss Jimmy, and Angel, and when things weren't so hard
When I could indulge my jealousies, and play each card.
Outside, later on, I stand leaning on the wall
watching the sky turn purple, than blue
Saying "I'm going home alone tonight" 
So away I flew.
Or so I thought. The smile means so much
A pledge I take that in this agreed upon contract of casual sex
That you'll get through it better than you thought you would

From the shadows I observe my shadow world
But I know how it'll end
And I drop off to sleep, telling myself
This'll be it tonight. 

And still I hope.
Birth sign: Aries
Date created: 2010-11-09 08:37:16
Last updated: 2021-04-14 17:18:17
Poem ID: 72198

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