Word Powerless

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Word Powerless
by Paul Raworth Bennett

Within our common heart
We once savored joy’s nectars
But then we tore apart
A gaping hole rent my bleeding soul
And my heart scarred over with
Blown chances, squandered gifts, and broken dreams

“She misses you!” cooed a veiled, coal-dusted canary
Leading me deep inside my anguished mind
Where she struck a match, cackling
And my tired heart exploded once again

“Dear God,” I prayed,
“Architect of the atom and conductor of the cosmos,
Grant me a quantum doorway, a wormhole,
For a moment! For an instant!
Give me the power to unite our orbits again!”

“Eureka!” I thought, “Words to the rescue!
I’ll just take a few breaths, tap a few taps,
Festoon a few word-bouquets with love that
Spans the million miles between us!
I’ll scour the heavens, grab the planets and stars, and
Stitch them into a cosmic quilt adorned with
A thousand beacons of hope!”

So through the dark night of my soul,
My keyboard a violin pelted by 
A briny mix of despair and hope
My red eyes sanded by the wee hours
I chased that evil canary! 
I’d strangle and drown her in
A river of ardor and eloquence!

But alas, fatigue chased and tackled me
My torrent of passion disintegrated into
An exhausted trickle of nouns and verbs
My blanket of stars faded into
A tattered rag of flickering candles

Then in through the window streamed Lady Dawn
She caressed my aching shoulders, whispering
“Release! You’re wasting your time!
But you will find love again.”

And silently and gently she
Reached inside my body, 
Cradling my barren soul while
In front of my weary eyes dissolved the canary

And I realized
The more I yearn for long-lost love
The more I must let it go

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