The Causeway Between Our Hearts

Tonight, I eye the wind
as it dances on the water
singing of the distance
that no longer can be closed

Well, I told you I was selfish
there were no children in me
Unwilling to stir for a moment
from this endless daydream
where I father my creativity

You told me that you knew me
our hearts beating to that same drum set
and no one must wake you either
That carving pretty worlds
behind closed eyes
is your calling and profession

With one eye knowingly
looking into mine
and the other doggedly at the door
you welcomed my request for kisses deep
while telling me you could feel
that farewell letter in my back pocket
itching to be delivered

You rip away on the mildest breeze
a kite cut free
Could not believe
the words a writer brought you
the words you said you loved to read
You wished it dead, before the birth
and all I did was acquiesce

I tell you now
that letter was no dis-missive
but a list of tide times
The wind thieves it from my fingers
and I watch it whipping out
across the water

Two selfish hearts can coexist
only for a passing moment
then the ocean rises
the road is lost
the causeway closes

All we were is washed away
or wind upon the surface
ripples or waves, decaying…

[2020]

Thanks for reading.

All my audio readings.

Published by

Tom Alexander

"Art is a lie that tells the truth"

16 thoughts on “The Causeway Between Our Hearts”

  1. Wow, this: “Two selfish hearts can coexist / only for a passing moment”. And this: “That carving pretty worlds / behind closed eyes / is your calling and profession”. And the opening. You are a true, true poet!

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    1. So kind of you Benjamin! You have picked out my favourite parts too – if I could keep only two sections, it would be those. Thank you again. Tom.

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    1. Oh thank you Kim, touching (let alone ripping) at heart is high a compliment indeed. I’m really pleased you enjoyed. I’ll have to add this to the long list for the next book… hope you’re well 🙏

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  4. Oh Tom…..your poems on heartbreak just grab hold of me. Perhaps because I went through my own breakup this summer. But also because you stir those feelings with stinging accuracy. Oddly therapeutic for me to relive those emotions briefly.
    ” while telling me you could feel/that farewell letter in my back pocket/itching to be delivered.” That bit resonated with me profoundly as I felt that precisely in my last relationship. Funny how your account of your relationship can so accurately describe mine as well. That’s a good indication of excellent writing Tom. Well done.

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    1. Thanks again for taking the time to go through my work, I appreciate it so much and it’s so rewarding to me to hear your experience is reflected in these words. The line you picked out is kind of the key to the whole poem really; an inability to give in to (or to have faith in) the love that was presented. Those tragic flaws in the foundations of relationships are heartbreaking… but can make for good poetry. 🙂 There’s a song called ‘Down To Go’ by Phosphorescent with the line ‘spin your heartache into gold’ and that’s what I long to do. 🙂

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