poetic definition

this is a poem about
definition--
about answers
and facts
and the cold hearted truth.

this is a poem about mem-uh-ree
about a noun,
about a mental impression retained; a recollection

this is a poem about another
-noun
about a bitersweet longing for something past
[nuh-stal-juh]

this is poem about fact,
about your name
and my name
and all those days in between.

it is not about the way
you smelled of
baseball
-and-
childhood
or the way i loved you then,
like the summer,
like little girls in white dresses eating watermelon

and it is not about the way you smelled yesterday
of grief
and cold air
and china white collarbones

it is not about
the carnation crushed between
my elbow and your chest
or about how my voice cracked when i promised you
"anything"

it is about yet another
-noun
about a 'euphemistic expression for death'
about a four lettered word
that has nothing to do with love
about [laws, los]

it is not
and can never be about
me counting raindrops
or the harshness of the scars
that highlight my legs and arms
or about the pain in your eyes
or the way you shook in my arms

it cannot be about the drugs i took
or the way you smell like them,
the powders and pills and empty bottles
it cannot be about the way you saw me then

porcelin stained with blood,
tainted with all sorts of four letter words
(that have nothing to do with love)

it cannot be about the sky that day
or the baby blue jay
the landed on the roof as you played

it has nothing to do with a relationship
like barbituates
that hurts as it soothes and numbs

it has nothing to do with my dreams
of winter days
and track marks on too-thin arms
or about mascara tears
or the blonde hair i plan to paint
oh so bright

it is nothing but poetic definition

me and you;
-nouns
--a memory
--a habit
--a crystal cold day
--a crushed carnation

just poetic definition