meep, new stuff! anyone who has the time to give me some criticism, it'd be well appreciated... im a bit rusty, or something. thanks! xxxx

 

This Rope

 

We are this double twined

and boy scout knotted rope

which runs from my bellybutton,

via my boy scout knotted heart,

to you.

 

Both our hands are thickly callused

and chunky with the scars

of salt seared sores from

climging grimly onto it,

in storms.

 

I have battled,

with it wrapped around my knuckles

while clouds groaned like full bellies overhead.

The weight of our years in water

soaking through my childhood parka,

and my teenage tracksuit tops

to you.

 

It soaks through the present

of my wool-blend vintage cardi

to my skin,

which is knitted and purled

from the molecules and follicles

of you.

 

So we are damply tangled

with byzantine intricacy

by the last of our past

and this rope.

 

So that when we struggle,

or just heavily sigh,

it tightens and snags and digs and chafes,

into memories and breast bones

and elbows and thighs.

 

We are too big now

for this labyrinth of debenture

this mess of flesh

and my heavy guilty sorry chest

and you.

 

We are this fractious, boisterous

awkward love,

who’s embers have glowed grimly

in the rain-sloppy mud.

But who knows whether

we can weather

sunny days?

 

This rope is welting my wrists

but this hope is melting my heart.

Softly, softly, my willpower lingers,

but with chilly damp fingers

I am gently untangling

this rope.