Category Archives: Poetry

Lip Service

I have deep velvety, fragile tenderness to offer, to give to the one I love with all my heart. 
I'm stripped on a porcelain platter, exposed to your vision, wrapped with a special touch of loving that I've saved for only one man.
How was I supposed to know you read me upside down when you turned me inside out
Shook me softly all night long, whispered sweet somethings in my ear with your honeyed breath
So if you cannot speak when I frost you hot, if you cannot moan with your eyes on fire, or if you just want to feel your way without my road map...
Then teach me how to do sign, speak to me with the accent, stir me, don't shake
And forget the straw, I like lip service...given slow and easy

Nightmares

Haunting whispers echo
from the recess' of my mind
infantile thoughts which
sabotage the conscious
as they seek justification
desperate attempts
to inserts them
into the acknowledged
to give them root
and spring forth life
from nightmares left long ago

Copyright September 2024, Renee Seymour, The Shades Between

Wounds

If I bleed for you will you notice
the scarlet tears running
against my porcelain flesh
can I somehow make
this wound more noticeable

If my words have not
been enough to convey
my pain, how then
shall I communicate

Copyright September 2024, Renee Seymour, The Shades Between

Fragmented

It is difficult to judge
a situation
from a house of glass
shingled in conscience
and heated by sensitivity
where the horizon is clear
and a mind blooms
with brilliant spring colors

It is difficult to see
inequality
through a pane of glass
separated by chance
and fractured by compassion
where the agony shifts through and
a mind cries
with the world's jagged suffering

It is difficult to free
encumbrances
sheathed within glass
strong yet madly cracked
and coated with fearful tears
where opposite throughs must combine
in a mind
already infinitesimally fragmented

Copyright September 2024, Renee Seymour, The Shades Between

Circumstances

Circumstances
change like
the speed of light
as we forget
ourselves
in the tune
and rhythm
of the world,
losing all hope
and direction
as the pain
forces us
to misplace
our voices
until a moment
of redirection
when the agony
overthrows us
and we stand
naked
begging for
our gifts
to be returned
while realizing
the pains of change
will desist
once we allow
ourselves to grow
in our newly discovered
strengths

Copyright 2024, Renee Seymour, The Shades Between
Photo Credit Renee Seymour

Listen

Listen to my heartbeat
it proves that I exist
feel its rhythmic drumming
strumming beneath my wrist

Listen to my pain cry
it proves that I endure
feel its anguished screaming
streaming, unchecked and pure

Listen to my anger
it proves that I can feel
feel its hatred raging
waging battles surreal

Listen to my joy sing
it proves that I can mend
feel the warmth and healing
revealing hatreds end

Listen to my heartbeat
it proves that I survive
feel its power surging
urging my soul to thrive

Copyright 2024, Renee Seymour, The Shades Between
When the Clouds Come Down to Join Us – Great Smokey Mountains; Photo Credit, Renee Seymour

If I Asked You Now

If I asked you now
to hold me
would you hesitate
at the thought
touch of my skin
a long left memory
on the dust filled shelf
of us

Would you deny me
the one place I feel safe
and secure
would your chin instinctively drop
resting upon my head
as your finger slowly
twisted my hair

Would you still smell of
warm earthy tones
a scent I see reflected
in your eyes
would your hand still
abandon my hair
as your thumb traced my jawbone
before cupping my face

What would you say
if I asked you now

Copyright September 16, 2024 Renee Seymour, The Shades Between
Photo Credit: Renee Seymour

Confetti

The moments fall around us like rain, or snow, or confetti
When we die, we know everything
Forgiveness is warm, like a tear on a cheek
I loved you completely and you loved me the same, the rest is confetti

Copyright 2024, Renee Seymour; The Shades Between
Drummond Island, MI; Photo Credit, Renee Seymour

The Magic Trick

I stared out the window in a daze
there is no love left; I said
'only the putting up with another,
and the fear of leaving one in the cold.
That's no love. That's pity.'

I heard him chuckle behind me
he never did believe a word I said
'Don't tell me how I feel,' he hissed
and his words were lovelessly bitter,
'you have no idea what I feel'

I turned to look at him and still saw the window
'you've mistaken fear for love' I said.
'you don't want to hurt me, so you call it love.
you don't want to lose me and you call that love.'
I shivered, 'I call it fear. Everything is fear.'

I turned again to the window and stared
he was pouring coffee behind me,
and I could hear it gurgle like a drowning child
I wanted to leave - to walk out and never come back
I was tired of the façade and sick of the game

He read my mind as he always had
but eve that is not love - that's familiarity
'Go!' he boomed, and sipped his coffee
I knew would not go - I would stay as always
fear of hurting, and fear of leaving is what kept me here

Romantic love is the distraction in a magic trick
it is the tapping of the cards
while the dealer sneaks the ace
not all illusions can be maintained
for fear the viewer will spot the con

I told him this and he laughed
'I hate it when you're so dramatic.' he mumbled
which was a stupid thing for him to say
since that was what he'd said he loved about me
the completion of the illusion is its end

'What a real neat trick that was' I said to him
and walked out the door

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024

Blessings

Another day has drawn to a close
and I thank the powers for the gifts bestowed
with each breath I inhaled anew
my strength, my love, my passion true
as I exhale the struggles and strain
letting go of anger, weakness, and pain

Blessed with vision to see the light
I gazed on beauty, earthly delights
in the face of a stranger I realized
the depth of a souls glory idealized

I smelled the fragrance of roses in bloom
and the sweetness of my child's perfume
I caught the scent of absolution
as I measured my own evolution

I toiled at the labors that came my way
and walked the path that opened today
I sought to be true to life's command
showing kindness and respect to my fellow man

With abundance my day has been blessed
with gratitude and love I now as for rest

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024
Photo credit Renee Seymour

Eye to Eye

Out of the depths I come
like a thick dense blanket to cover
all the fields that beneath me arise
and my name flurries within the wind
and stirs the fears of men's hearts
for I have been before any were
and my time shall be when all is brushed away

I am the depth of all you see
the store house of the heavens great rumblings
watch as I trash the seas great waters
and whimper in the silence of all you recall
for I am that ancient being
born upon the tempest cries
I carry the seeds of time
to plant upon the mind and season my ways

I drift between the dream and nightmare
I am rooted within the dungeons of your hearts
your eyes have seen and known
because of me you tremble and cry
hear the words that blast forever
upon the doors of heaven and hell and know
here in the silence of your heart you hear
the haunting voice of your very dwelling

I saw your breath when first taken
and watched as you grew and filled this form
I shall be there to watch it sucked away
when lips tremble, lungs gasp for air
I have been her always, tomorrow holds no time
I am the writer of promises, and fates bestower
I am the liberator of your story

When by ticking second hand
the shadow passes you by
count the blessings upon your heart
and mind well my silent ride
for I come in the night and fly by day
between the fashions of thought and time
when grasping tight, I shall commence that dance
steal their dreams and waltz them past

For behold this old worn face
beloved with the decay of time
I, Death that form that dissolves you
taken all you hold as mine
I am that song of the ancients home
coming to but every one of you
so mark it well so mote it be
one day, eye to eye we shall see

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024

Wonder

If I could see right through you
reach the center of your soul
I wonder what I'd find there
what truths would I be shown

and if I could get inside your head
to dream the things you dream
I wonder if I'd hear my name
or only hear your screams

and if I could somehow read your thoughts
before they had been shared
I wonder what I'd find inside
I wonder who lives there

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024
Image credit Luis Royo

Aware

Is he aware
how he occupies my thinking
how the sight of his silhouette
steals my eyes
the passion in his glance
sinks into my breast

Can I explain to him
how he moves me
how he makes me feel
how I marvel each time
I look at him in private moments
feeling so blessed
for having him in my life

He is a quiet man
of extra ordinary quality
his tenderness leaves me wordless
his erotic touch draws me deeply
into his intimacy
which I gladly fall
sharing with him all of myself

He is the movement in my hips
the intake of breath when he nears me
the most expensive words will fail
in describing what he means to me
if I could paint, the most delicate strokes would not suffice
in portraying him properly
the richest colors mixed
into stunning hues
would fail to express the impression he's made

He has imbedded himself in me
a permanent occupant
who's shining soul binds me
from her into beyond
and further still

For every sweetness I offer
he repays me
with touches luminous
he is the quiet of the moon
the glory of the sunrise
I bath in the reflection of his eyes

How will he know
how much I care
I will offer him
a raised eyebrow with smiling lips
and in quiet times alone
my heart resting upon my tongue

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024
Ink work by Milio Aguilar at Higher Vibez Tattoo Studio

Shadows and Light

There you stand
all shadows and light
dark and bright
always so right
never out of your element
regardless of setting
dreamtime manipulates facts
till you resemble a reality - a challenged parody
of what you had once been and have become
on the plane of sugar coated stars
you seek me out
our allow my protracted approach;
attentive, responsive, and always, always funny
How could you possibly be any other way?
In one night I could run to you
or drive to you in a fraction of that
rather I am here, in my own bed,
as close to you as I can get
my presence is not wanted,
you make it abundantly clear
So why the nightly beating myself bloody
in my sleep, supposedly unconscious
but it's the egos doing and the subconscious
that keeps this show running, encore after encore
if it were any different now,
if I got another chance, what would I say?
having already said to much
it'd take me several non-existent days
to just to open my expectant mouth
and give birth to the word "hello"
much less anything beyond ankle deep
at night when the flood lets loose
like an incontrollable river and comes
of seeking and finding
uninterrupted pleasure and joy till dawn
your will and eyes are no less sharp
your skin tastes like salty, sweet candy
you're laughably sweet, looking shyly sideways
even though we're psychically joined, and
all we're waiting for is to come down on each other
I awake in the afterglow
of relief and release to another disjointed day
of cursing my fool self
knowing you're gone
and doing everything and nothing
to head of the nightly replay
I love you, I desire you
want to hold you, want to break you
and most of all want it mirrored back
dreams intensity it tenfold
do yours? Have you also drowned in pathos?
longing and aching every non-waking hour
that's gone like smoke in the morning?
if only for more one day you would feel like I feel

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024

Projection

I walk to the window
to take a look outside
I see darkness and despair
deceit and conflict run rampant
Everywhere I look I see
cynicism and hidden suspicions tearing us apart
Life filled with fears and sadness
The blood and ashes mix
and fall like rain from the sky
Never ending
continuous oppression from all around
Why is all hope lost?
Can no one else see what I see?
As I step back from the window in fear
I want to break down and cry
At what the world has become
but as I retreat in my sorrow I realize
I have not been looking through the window
I've been looking in the mirror

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024
Photo Credit: Renee Seymour

Breathe

In the minutes before I fell asleep
I suddenly discovered perfect happiness
I found it in your breathing
the subdued rise and fall of your chest
As I lay circled in your arms
In the silence that surrounded us
I heard and felt only you
sleeping next to me
The grasp of your fingers,
entwined with mine
embodied my perfect joy
My nerves lay awake and aware
of an unforeseen warmth
a slow understanding crawled into me
I realized it was your skin against mine
softly breathing with me
I closed my eyes so I could see
this perfection in darkness
So I could feel this silent love
defining happiness for me
In those moments before dreams
began to cloud my quaint reality
I remembered how to fall in love again
listening to you breathe

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024

Small

I am making myself small today
hiding in voluminous
blue jeans
shrinking from your notice
A measure of privacy
is what I hope to gain
Time for this melancholy
to possess me, then fade
leaving only the remembered taste
of tears on my tongue
Tomorrow I will grow again,
be the woman you expect,
fill my clothing an
your obsession
But please give me this day
to gather myself in,
to be small
and unnoticed

Copyright: Renee Seymour, The Shades Between, 2024