The Trouble with Poetry by Nicole Barth [12/28/12]

My mind was nestled
somewhere in between the cocoon of two earbuds
when I finally noticed the nameless crowd surrounding me.

The years in the fingers twisting a silver wedding band,
the Ketchup stain on a lavender shirt.
Her smirk, his wave; an arched brow.

Pieces before a game of chess.

I tinkered with a frayed audio cord;
you abandoned a train ticket.


*inspired by Billy Collins' "You, Reader"

Love Song by Nicole Barth [12/26/12]

Your embrace sheltered my frozen skin.
The freckles in your bright blue eyes said it all.

Streaks of sunlight coursed through your hair
the day I left  for a bustling city of distant melodies.

Stoplights protested the blizzard.
Snowflakes covered my eyelashes in a white mascara.
Thousands of lovely faces, but I wished for yours in the crowd.