By Khaya Dlanga
We were friends
Maybe not
Maybe more
Maybe less
Maybe between friendship and what would never be
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
Feelings lingered
Dangled
Unsaid
Unspoken
Obvious secrets
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
We smiled
Some secret
Invisible kisses
Never shared
But wished for
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
On Saturdays we saw movies
But really saw each other
We held hands
That were never held
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
“I adore you” we would say
Three polite words
Burying three bolder words
That would never be said
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
You sat on my desk
You wore my shades
You sent me poetry
You wrote me a poem
“I wear you like an etching in my blood
For you will always be with me”
Polite friends
With Polite feelings
And Polite words
That is a remarkable poem, which can’t be said for most of the poems on this site. It is beautifully succinct in places, as any good poem should be, but it still has a feel of raw emotion to it. Parts of it could still be honed and improved, but what makes the poem particularly enjoyable is the way you’ve made thoughts and desires physical, for example the sixth stanza:
“We smiled
Some secret
Invisible kisses
Never shared
But wished for”
This has a very powerful effect.
Thank you for your comment. I’m not a poet. This was my first attempt and I must I am pleased and delighted by your comment. I never thought I’d ever be able to write a decent poem. Maybe now I might try another, but I’m afraid my next attempt will not live up to this one. I will take your advice to heart.