He loves me, he loves me not.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


Front door slams
Quick exchange of greetings
Routine peck on the cheek
As he brushes past her warm welcome
Heavy hasty foot falls
Trudge through the hall
Home once more from bleak office
Working day in and day out
Clock never ceasing
Ticking away the seconds,
Beat by beat till the heart stops and adoration dies
Till the sands of time run out
And in death do they part
Always in a rush
A race to the end
His voice demanding
His tone commanding
His precious
Time
Is running out

Love is patient



Dark shadow of
Blue bruise sinks
Into her cheek
No matter!
Nothing she can’t cover
With little white lies and gentle dabs of blush and cream
Stupid girl, do you
Really
Think you mean anything to him?
He already has everything he needs
Shining glass of burning liquor
In his ice cold fist
Do you really think
Stupid girl
That he strikes out of love
Kissing your bleeding lips?
You hide the truth behind a smile
You sweep away your pain under the rug
And let him trample the tears away

Love is kind



Dirty dishes fill the sink
Hands dive back into the greasy water to fetch out a knife
Dirty looks jump from her eyes
Attacking the back of his old arm chair
His worn out feet propped up on the coffee table
She hates that chair
Asleep, again
“Lazy man,” she mutters
Engrossed in his sports
Glowing crackling screen of advertisement
and entertainment
Fat lazy dirty man
And look at this mess!
She hurls insults and accusations
At his weary face
She yells and yells till her voice is gone
Resorting to hatefully scrubbing the filth off of the dishes
Removing the scum from the chipped plates
Adding tonight to the long lists of tonights
That she tallies against him
A long list of grievances and complaints
Furrowed angry wrinkles and frowns

Love is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs.



Drunk and staggering
He bumbles into the home again
Supported by his “friends”
Who push past the young worried face in the door way
Undressing her even now with hungry eyes
Forcing entry
Into house and home and privacy
Unwanted guests
Fearsome wolves of men
She is helpless, trapped
Her guardian, her father
Drowning in heavy draft of purchased happiness
Blissful drunken abandon
Free of responsibility, possessed by the bottle
Leaving her alone
Exposed
Surrounded
By ravenous wolves of men

Love always protects



Visiting her sister
Just off to see an old friend
She wouldn’t lie… not to me
My baby, why? Come back
Just tell me the truth
Behind the crumpled paper in your pocket
Black sharpie number
“Call me” <3
Ink bleeds as tears fall
Staining white hands

Love always trusts



Downhill… sputtering out…
Not worth it any more
Maybe her friends were right
Maybe he never will get that new job
Maybe it will only get worse from here
It can only get worse from here
He doesn’t care anymore
We can’t make this work

Love always hopes



The rain streaks down the window pane
Casting shadows of tears on her dry cheeks
Twirling the small cold circle of gold
Around and around her finger
Dangling by a heartstring
From the tip of her long painted nails
Spin spin spin
falls
Empty thud of metal
Echoes in the lonely dark

Love perseveres.