7. I Give No Thing

From Parting Strengthens Poetry (1996)

No pretty words, flowers, roses,
candles drunk and reeling on their wax,
no saucy sentiment, formless lies —
None for my love I give.

No ever-sweet, sap-clod fake,
— over-sweet is poison to the core —
no helpless love, hopeless love,
None for my love I give.

No ocean-eyes, passion, mists,
— sandy shore is sandy shore is sandy shore — 
no perfumed thought, plastered smile —
None for my love I give.

For I have nothing good to give,
no treasure true upon the shelf,
no poet’s dream, romantic lie,
I give no thing; I give myself.

Composed January 6, 1996, 4:38 p.m. by Mark Feezell / DrFeezell.com
Included in Feezell’s poetry collection Parting Strengthens Poetry (1996)
Dedicated to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0) 2024

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Image: Rose with Raindrops (DSC07388)

poetry, Parting Strengthens Poetry (1996)