Love Poem: Two Times Twice and Once Removed
Kelly Mckernan Avatar
Written by: Kelly Mckernan

Two Times Twice and Once Removed

flares of demise burn once, twice, thrice
she seals her eyes, hiding behind
those ideals and the lies that sensationalize 
a life less known,
so delicately disguised.

careening unarmed though such masquerades
whirl. whirl. whirl.
twirl-wind
third time's a charm
underpaid and so afraid
inertia strikes, and then
they surmise with their rhetorical advice
silly, weak, flustered girl...

dance like there's no tomorrow, for
life is indeed a game of chance

romance the sun and the stars
and leave no room for sorrow

her eyelids flutter, her lashes lucent
she mutters, on the contrary,
lamenting augmenting slander,
those words forbid life

meandering, still wary with her mask and
carrying her cadaverous limbs with care
pale and bruised from use 
now solitaire

dispair declares victory 
demised upon her fragile cards
a rhapsody now barred 
far beyond her willed guise

trapped two times twice
and once removed
suffice for lost dice
and spin, spin, spin
closed eyes forever aflame