Eloquence and profundity stubbornly refuse the poet’s advances

Rain batters gravel outside
living room blinds drawn shut
the gods have moved on
left this tryst off their calendar
I listen / wait / pray
laptop screen ____ / thoughts ____
have I nothing meaningful to say?
a lover once squalled their unhappiness
and my brain screamed although lips never parted
I ran as fast as I could although legs never moved
my track record of listening was never good
threatened, I make myself small
maybe I need to learn to savor whip’s sting
at least to quest rumored delicate, yellow flowers
shaped like shoes growing along path’s edge
I listen / wait / wonder what poetry really is
whether I possess courage to confront its fury

©2025 Kenneth W. Arthur