I dream of a man
shrouded by shadows;
am I not a victim of desire,
wanton for a man fashioned in nightmares?
I am only mortal
yet my choices tests
my red blood sweetened by apples
and poisoned by eyes led astray.
I try to lead a life brightened by sun rays
and happy, go-lucky days;
to fall in love with a man
with an easy smile
and soft, pliable arms,
seems almost too good,
too pure of a daydream for a broken
doll of a girl like me.
Like calls to like,
so I crave a man as jaded and cynical as me.
To watch as the darkness fades
and eventually dissipates with time,
the smiles he only shares with me,
we will relearn the joys of life
once again,
but until then–
until our paths connect,
I will remain aloof and uneasy,
smile tart with mistrust
as time abides
and I can patch the mistakes,
the fears that have hardened your heart
and weakened the bounds of family and friends
away with one, dizzyingly magnificent kiss.
Mecca-Amirah Jackson 