Heartache in my Arms
by Carol Armbrust 4/99

It starts in my arms
an ache that grows
for lack of being held by
and not holding you
sinks into the pit
of my abdomen
wells up into my ribs
spreads to my very skin
melts down across my shoulder blades
flushes through my heart
blasts back into my arms
where you are absent still
and then
the feeling recycles
again and again and again

*********************************************************************

As Lore Liveth
Carol Armbrust 4/99

Ah, my David,
you have changed very little
since Michaelangelo made you
but the "Giant" you attempt
to conquer now... is love.
Train your eye upon me,
for I have leveled the field of fray.
No harm shall befall your trammeled heart.
If you allow... I lead the way.

Ache, impassioned in the night,
setting out for a hilltop
waiting for a friend to light
a watch-fire for the soul.
Listen for a wistful sigh,
a hushed intake of breath.
Await... stay alert, for comes
the flash of heartache's fiery death.

Oh, my David,
look upon love, now,
rising from the ashes of your pain.
The emptiness will soon be nothing
but a memory for a song's refrain.
Sing to me again; I'll listen.
Sing naked to the wind.
With "Goliath" down, you will see
love come to thee again.

÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷

Love Waits
Carol Armbrust 5/99

What use is love boxed up
or stuffed into the corners of the heart
in wait for only those
deemed deserving?

Have you only thought yourself
worthy of the poorest version of love,
love doled out in proportions,
measured carefully,
conditional and dependent
upon amounts received in kind?

My love can't be saved,
held onto
or kept in chambers or bolted vaults
but must be given freely.
I give my love freely to you.

What happens to the love
that comes to you
that you refuse?
Does it take flight into the universe?

If you absorb my love,
live joyful for another day
in the knowledge that
true love waits,
is patient,
is yours.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Missing You Already
-Carol Armbrust 4/99

We talk for a while on the telephone
seeming close as we talk intimately
But demands on our time cuts us off
an' the connection we choose isn't free
The moment before you're about to hang up
With an intake of breath, I can see...
you slipping away, going on with your life
doing things that..... do not include me

As we sit in a restaurant or little cafe
I sip water and you order our pies
I listen with affectionate ear as you talk
and watch as you gaze in my eyes
You finish my pie and stack the plate
as the waitress clears things away
It seems natural just then for you and I
to stay together for the rest of the day

It seems that I don't want to leave you
and I miss you before you even go
Our time together is precious to me
But I know... I know... I know... even so-
When you're going about your daily routine
Think about me - just once in a while
and remember, my dear, that I am right here
Missing you.... your face and your smile

Thursday
Carol Armbrust 2/99

I told you that I wouldn't stay, then
I waited for you anyway
When you didn't come back to look for me
Pride held me close
Truth spoke in my ear
My foolish thoughts of you
died inside
Deep in a place where
intestines are supposed to be
was boiling water
melting
a bowl made of ice
and disappointment
broke upon me
like glass
shattering

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Waiting Hands
by Carol Armbrust 10/99

Yes, I came late to your table and
have found the place settings in disarray
with all provisions put away
in locked cabinets.
The set of keys are high
out of reach for now-
but the dining room is warm
and a fire burns in the hearth.
It is a matter of time
before the rusty nail
where the keys hang
let fall its burden
into my waiting hands.

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For inquires contact: CAROL'S MAIL Latest changes were made on- August 28 2005.