November Rituals

By Rachel

I watch fat girls in the too-small diner booth
raise cigarettes to their lips like synchronized swimmers.
They wait to be loved by someone.anyone.

I wait for a heart attack.

Your face appears in a curl of smoke I pretend not to see
as Annual November Rituals drain my pen and empathy.

I will not think about you today.

No. I will leave a rose on your doorstep and forget.
Last year's promises enforce this and next year-

Next year I won't even write you.

You've been dead far too long to deserve my mourning
song and I forgot the words.
A lost cause for a lost boy.

Instead I will drink myself to apathy.
Toast the sky and new love reciprocated,
with a smile on my lips all the while.

I've more important things to think about than
years I can't count on one hand.

And next year-

Next year I won't even write you.

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.

Published on Friday, November 17, 2006. Filed under: "Poetry"

Awards

July 20th, 2014

Comments on "November Rituals"

On Sunday, July 20, 2014, Star (879) wrote:

I'm speechless. Congrats on POTD!
On Sunday, July 20, 2014, Lux (280) wrote:

I have no comment, no proper comment to give. Other than ouch, my feels.
A former member wrote: I'm not always good at trying to leave what sounds genuine, it all sounds the same as the last...but I really liked this, it was awesome.
On Thursday, January 11, 2007, Grim_Sorrow (74) wrote:

once more, a beautifull write.
A former member wrote: This was amazing, i'll be looking forward to going through each one of your poems.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, Jonas (715) wrote:

what can be said but this, i was left smiling and with a feeling of comraderie in the words left here
On Saturday, December 16, 2006, urbanhumility (1158) wrote:

the intelligent realization of moving to serve ones own happiness.............so very well spoken........urban
A former member wrote: i loved this. i was intwined with every word. wonderfully written.
A former member wrote: that last line was a a killer..this is beautifully sad. you're amazing.
On Friday, November 17, 2006, verablue (106) wrote:

stunning! i love the ending. "as Annual November Rituals drain my pen and empathy"-beautiful line!
On Friday, November 17, 2006, Brimstone (12) wrote:

Mmm. The Dead Moon moves you, the dead boy? He's just a boy, after all... Superbly captivating, I taste and toast this work.
On Friday, November 17, 2006, elisa (1595) wrote:

the culmination of an endless... climatic season........ finally laid to rest within the pressed pages......... bound in resolution.... very nice.