Love's Last Battlefield
Natalie Frank, Ph.D. enjoys creating free verse poems, along with other types of creative and non-fiction writing.
Love of brother dies cruel death
And flies on wings of hopelessness
I see him down a block straight on
Pulls wagon blue with shuffling step
Prepared my lips to utter, “No”
For surely asking, will he heed?
My eyes avert when still far off.
Preparing to pass quickly by
Apology on readied lips
“No, not today,” but sorry said
An act no more a moment fills
And still he comes straight on and true
But doesn’t target there as some
With focused eye a readied stare
Intent on wringing from my waist
or pocket, purse, computer bag
Wherever coins or bills be found
Yes, bills, so often asked or begged
Insistence shown in measured steps
Behind, besides, to follow near
Intimidation's clear demand
To wait until I wilt and give that
Which I never did intend
A hardened heart once ripe with praise
And generosity to live
A beast held back, not recognized
Such things unknown when life and love
Support a girl to woman grown
But now alone to hurt and nurse
Old injuries and love lost, gone
Not family, or friend or spouse
To hold a hand or wipe a tear
A complicated history
When barrenness has planted deep
Within a bracing wind sheared day.
And still he comes mouth opened, slack
Though yet not near I hear the want
To spare a coin or two or more
An opened door to more demands
I steel myself to pass him by
Today my eyes will stay ahead
To toss hello, good morning, no
I’m sorry but I can’t today
Then go away and soon forget
A man, a person, human need
How soon before we share a street?
Would others treat me thus and how
Would then I think of charity?
Close enough so now I see
His street worn shoes toes given free
To feel the chill and now he smiles
I cannot help but look to him
The beauty beams from love’s bright soul
But strike a bargain still I form
to smile yet hold that which is mine
Smile reasonably and nicely yet
and closely kept my purse sealed tight
and pockets, bagged computer zipped
to keep my spoils from greedy hands
But why I fight so that which comes
Communicates acceptance, care
Compassion rendered, offered to
A self content to utter “no”
From wearied lips to issue thus
Instead of smiling forth to send
A love in kind and not pretend
But honestly connect to him
who comes to teach humility
Mere steps to separate us now
He reaches down and makes me jump
And startle fearing what he seeks
For streets are mean with desperate men
Who do what needs their motive calls
Moving faster giving breadth
to space us out till safety felt
And trembling fades from limb and chill
Seeps finally fear letting go
Tensed arms and legs and muscles all
To strain and stress a body so
And now he starts to raise his head
As if slow motion guides his hand
To pluck from there and lo behold
No knife or gun or weapon shows
Instead a flower held to me
Though filled with miser’s misery
But seem he sees not my true self
Perhaps not true but hope withheld
Not rose but just a wild one shorn
More beautiful than any seen
before or now or future sure
For pure of heart his love does sing
Embracing other’s circumstance
His love of strangers everyone
Encompassing our given call
To love each other true and full
with helping hand so never fall
Or fail to offer justly this
A smile a flower, coin or bread
and not ignore what’s needed, shared
It’s complicated there within
Emotion mixed with shame filled flaws
Dismissals weight bears heavy loss
Humanity dies in the breast
The battlefield of mind does swell
With heartlessness war’s last demise
The flower, wilted somewhat though
Paints hope upon my mantelpiece
More beautiful no rose did grow
For love was in the one who gave
And not the form of gift bestowed
