Love poems
Cross my heart
With a flurry of kisses
he crossed stitched my heart
then pulled out the thread
and tore it apart.
Sally James
Puppet on a string.
He had your heart on a string
unravelled you
then wound you up again
you were his yo yo, bounced
like a puppet in his palms
then he left you
hanging in the air
trying to untangle the knots.
Sally James
Lilies of the field
If the lilies envy me, it is because
I am as pure as ancient ice
whiter than a dove’s satin breast
the camisole of my skin.
Your kisses the cross-stitches
that bind the petals of my gown
your voice the wings
that fly me to promised places.
I see your words glint
in the sun of a new day
double edged, they drip with roses
to the heather of your cloak
I touch your hem
feel the prick of thorns
gathered from high places
the splashed crimson on your feet
I will wipe away your dew
of tears with a locket of my hair
and like a single star
shine only for you.
Sally James
Sorrow
Catch the diamonds
The fragments of a two edged sword
Rainbow tears frozen
Each jewelled facet
Jagged as empty words
Sally James
Honesty
I am painting Irises
soft dew fantasies
in summer grass
Fairy wing petals
in a purple buzz
burn my fingers.
A blue rhapsody
rides a green sea storm
sprays washed canvas
The brush of raw words
splashes palettes
a sad sienna sunset.
Sally James
Your Letters
I touch with hope
Kiss beneath my pillow
Comforting love
Stifles sobs
Soothes pain
Your words
My morning prayer
Ointment for my soul
A bandage for my heart.
Sally James
Swan song
I am as close to you
as the Iris in the fen
Lighter than a swan’s feather
I swim in satin water
My question mark neck straightens
Like an arrow I fly to your nest
Hide beneath your wing
Wait for hopes to hatch.
Sally James
Without you
Each day longer than a year
a mile to a cripple
I chime for you
Wipe my time filled face
with a second hand finger
Tick each day
Bones crumble to dust
smiles drown in tears
Seas lap me
I ride my lame white horse
till time stops
And I am with you.
Sally James
Roses in my room
Suspended animation
Wait for your return.
Sally James
Beyond all usual things
I loved you beyond all usual things.
You hid in my secret places
and I curled with you
warm as a bud in spring.
I breathed the same breath
my heart a clock’s tick.
Time has no dominion
seasons come and go.
My hair slid through your fingers
like falling leaves.
I wrapped my arms around autumn
and found you.
I kissed your image in the leaf
your voice in the rain.
The mist curled from the moors
like a spiral of breath.
I kept you warm like a chick
in the nest of our love.
I learned patience trust and loyalty
till there was no separation
only joy, love and peace.
Which is beyond all usual things.
Sally James
Everlasting love
I am glad I knew all of you
like the curve of your spine
the way your little toe curled
and your thighs had that strength
that only comes from exercise.
I am not sorry I noticed
the bald patch you tried to hide
underneath the sprouting grey
or the way your lashes curled
and flickered when I touched a nerve.
I am glad I looked into your eyes
saw the intermingling of brown and blue,
the twinkle I provoked when I made you happy
and the tears that flowed when you were sad.
I am relieved I heard your voice, gentle in laughter
and strong in passion. I am happy
because I noticed your mouth,
the curve of your smile and the way
your lips felt soft to the touch of mine.
I am glad I knew all of you
like a woman should know a man.
So that now, long after you have gone
I can sense the perfume of you
feel your spirit locked into mine
your shadow by my side, and the rhythm
of you ebbing and flowing.
Because of this you will always be with me
your ashes never become ashes
your dust never back to dust.
Sally James
published in OUP anthology Openings 24
Cross my heart
With a flurry of kisses
he crossed stitched my heart
then pulled out the thread
and tore it apart.
Sally James
Puppet on a string.
He had your heart on a string
unravelled you
then wound you up again
you were his yo yo, bounced
like a puppet in his palms
then he left you
hanging in the air
trying to untangle the knots.
Sally James
Lilies of the field
If the lilies envy me, it is because
I am as pure as ancient ice
whiter than a dove’s satin breast
the camisole of my skin.
Your kisses the cross-stitches
that bind the petals of my gown
your voice the wings
that fly me to promised places.
I see your words glint
in the sun of a new day
double edged, they drip with roses
to the heather of your cloak
I touch your hem
feel the prick of thorns
gathered from high places
the splashed crimson on your feet
I will wipe away your dew
of tears with a locket of my hair
and like a single star
shine only for you.
Sally James
Sorrow
Catch the diamonds
The fragments of a two edged sword
Rainbow tears frozen
Each jewelled facet
Jagged as empty words
Sally James
Honesty
I am painting Irises
soft dew fantasies
in summer grass
Fairy wing petals
in a purple buzz
burn my fingers.
A blue rhapsody
rides a green sea storm
sprays washed canvas
The brush of raw words
splashes palettes
a sad sienna sunset.
Sally James
Your Letters
I touch with hope
Kiss beneath my pillow
Comforting love
Stifles sobs
Soothes pain
Your words
My morning prayer
Ointment for my soul
A bandage for my heart.
Sally James
Swan song
I am as close to you
as the Iris in the fen
Lighter than a swan’s feather
I swim in satin water
My question mark neck straightens
Like an arrow I fly to your nest
Hide beneath your wing
Wait for hopes to hatch.
Sally James
Without you
Each day longer than a year
a mile to a cripple
I chime for you
Wipe my time filled face
with a second hand finger
Tick each day
Bones crumble to dust
smiles drown in tears
Seas lap me
I ride my lame white horse
till time stops
And I am with you.
Sally James
Roses in my room
Suspended animation
Wait for your return.
Sally James
Beyond all usual things
I loved you beyond all usual things.
You hid in my secret places
and I curled with you
warm as a bud in spring.
I breathed the same breath
my heart a clock’s tick.
Time has no dominion
seasons come and go.
My hair slid through your fingers
like falling leaves.
I wrapped my arms around autumn
and found you.
I kissed your image in the leaf
your voice in the rain.
The mist curled from the moors
like a spiral of breath.
I kept you warm like a chick
in the nest of our love.
I learned patience trust and loyalty
till there was no separation
only joy, love and peace.
Which is beyond all usual things.
Sally James
Everlasting love
I am glad I knew all of you
like the curve of your spine
the way your little toe curled
and your thighs had that strength
that only comes from exercise.
I am not sorry I noticed
the bald patch you tried to hide
underneath the sprouting grey
or the way your lashes curled
and flickered when I touched a nerve.
I am glad I looked into your eyes
saw the intermingling of brown and blue,
the twinkle I provoked when I made you happy
and the tears that flowed when you were sad.
I am relieved I heard your voice, gentle in laughter
and strong in passion. I am happy
because I noticed your mouth,
the curve of your smile and the way
your lips felt soft to the touch of mine.
I am glad I knew all of you
like a woman should know a man.
So that now, long after you have gone
I can sense the perfume of you
feel your spirit locked into mine
your shadow by my side, and the rhythm
of you ebbing and flowing.
Because of this you will always be with me
your ashes never become ashes
your dust never back to dust.
Sally James
published in OUP anthology Openings 24