I shoulda seen it coming, but blind I was with love Had I been cautious, I could have given it a shove * * * * * Once there was vernal sunshine all around With plants and blooms in color and scent abound Butterflies from here and there and all corners unseen Flitted back and forth before my eyes in colorful sheen Birds sang tuneful songs of contentment Squirrels and bunnies hopped in spirits buoyant But all along now I see trees, leafless and bare Nakedly shivering in winter’s chilly air Even when the Earth adorns in full glory Here I bide alone, so dull and dreary Oh! Dear! Why did you so callously leave me? After making me slosh in the sea of delight in rising glee? Once, we walked the meadows, gathering spring flowers There was a time we roamed aimless through ocean strands Mischievously watching life’s ceaseless ebb and flow And waiting eager to grab life’s evanescent glow Once we danced to the rising and lilting measure Each synchronized step, we took with such pleasure Oh! I hear from far, your anklets rhyme and chime They ring in my ears creating waves of pain all through time I had dreamt that our love would one day reach fruition And never will our rock of friendship suffer any erosion But as you slowly started growing more and more silent I should have seen it as your indifference made blatant Instead, I thought you were annoyed for some other reason And for long continued to pour on you my boundless passion Had I seen earlier the cold creeping into our romantic friendship I wouldn’t been so hurt and all at once could cut our relationship Feb.1.2023 I Shoulda Seen it Comin’ Poetry Contest Sponsor- John Lawless