Love Poem: Just Legs
Victor Dixon Avatar
Written by: Victor Dixon

Just Legs

I’m the cigarette you smoked
till you kicked the habit;
the Friday night you washed away
to observe the Sabbath.
The structure’s burning slow,
but the light’s fading fast.
The shape is still intact, 
but it’s just a pile of ash.
Went out to face the world,
but my heart wasn’t there.
The breeze blew my soul to pieces,
but my legs were spared.
Got me feeling weightless
walkin’ ‘round this hell
directly down a lonely road
I’ve come to know too well.
All the hope that I want
sits in an ashtray;
I looked to the future,
only to see it look away.
Remembering the love makes it
impossible to bury the pain;
the last time you cry for me
the breeze will send my remains.
I am the tattoo
concealed beneath your flesh
with the sins committed
you’ll never have to confess.
You may find someone better,
but it’ll never be the same.
You cleaned up really nice,
but I’m a permanent stain.
My legs took me outta town
to the edge of the land;
No one else was around
so I wrote your name in the sand.
Couldn’t watch you go before –
this time I decided to stay.
I lied down next to it
till the tide washed it away.

Sunday morning alarm
invading my bed;
my legs are supposed to work,
but they might just sleep instead.
Opening my eyes 
is a risk I don’t wanna take
cuz you’re always right next to me
until I’m awake.
I am the addiction
you’ve gotta stay away from;
the cancer that inhabited you
while you bathed in the sun.
And you know I waste away 
without a host;
try to push it all down under,
but I guess love floats.

I just heard the news report
and it provoked an interesting thought;
could’ve turned it into a conversation,
but I already forgot.
Feel lonely as the pope
with lots of faces around;
a marathon or two away 
from settlin’ down.
Doused myself in bug repellent
and slept in clean sheets;
dreamt I won the competition
and that we’d played for keeps.
Saw you 20 years from now
and it made me cry;
I cried out, “I still love you,”
but there was no reply

Couldn’t you change your perception
of me just one more time?
Cuz your future gives me hope,
but I’m scared to death of mine.