*POEM POST* - "Lines for Melissa"

" Lines for Melissa"

Perched on the edge of her tatter-torn seat,
The girl with the curls, like Autumn's soft heat,
Asked if it would be ok to assess
Some verses of mine on depression's duress.

She handled my phone with her customary care,

The girl with the shimmer of suns in her hair. 

My heart started pounding, and not out of lust;

I just struggle to open, confide in or trust.

With self-conscious squirming I cast my eyes down,

Messed with my rucksack, and aware of the sound

Of her mouthing my lines, nearly under her breath,

The girl with a frown and a poem on death.

"That's really good Jay, but wow, is it sad -

I had no idea that you suffered this bad"

I shrug and feel bashful, self-conscious, unearthed:

"I usually go with much happier verse"

"I know that I wrote it, a note to myself,

But it feels like the author was somebody else,

Composed in a moment of darkest despair

At the end of their tether, alone, sad and scared."

"You should write about now" she implored with a grin

"To show how contrasting a head-space you're in."

"I'll expect it on Monday" she laughed as she rose

And gathered her boots with the steel-plated toes.

She departed the train, with a wave and a wink

 Whilst I journeyed on home, but I'd started to think,

And changing the meter, the pattern and rhyme

These words issued forth from the depths of my mind.

"It's strange and surreal, when we're stuck on repeat,

The negative thoughts, silent tears on our cheeks.

You've just got to ride it out, saddle and spurs,

Stay porous change and let go of the hurt."

So this is to thank her, a few simple lines.

I know I lack depth and my style's unrefined

But I gave it a shot and so what do I care?

Cus with friends you can trust 

You need never despair.

Wednesday Sept 17th, 2014

© J.J. Bardsley, The Dharma-Farmer™

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