January

Starting in July 2009, I began work on a series called “12 months.” I wanted to write a poem every month, and everyday I would write one line. This worked well for six months, but as some endeavors go, it fell by the wayside.

So, with the start of the new year, I figure I’d pickup where I left off–with January.  It’s a little different this time, I’m not writing one line everyday for a month, but rather trying to get a rough draft finished quickly, then refine and edit it throughout the month.  This is January:

It’s a shame really,
that you never tried more than you did.
Never closed your eyes and jumped
committed wholeheartedly to the present.

I can’t blame you,
in fact not a person can.
Who is able to stand without fear?
You just didn’t want to be hurt.

And the possibilities!
So many possibilities!
Like a child staring at the candy rack,
you were crippled with indecision.

Should it be the pop rocks?
The tantalizing tapping on your tongue?
Or what about the bubble tape?
An endless supple supply begging to be chewed.

Now, don’t forget the M&M’s.
Who could forget the M&M’s?
The colorful candy shell cracking away,
giving in to the melting milk chocolate!

But isn’t it true?
Isn’t there none better than the peanut butter cup?
The seemingly perfect balance of chocolate sugar and nut!
Ah! To be able to choose them all at once without doubt!

This process has exhausted me.
On a whole the appeal of any sweet at all is lost.
Time to be moving past the candy rack to other things.
It’s a shame really, you never tried more than you did.