The Sleep

jerry harrenstein

You asked me to stay
with you on this night, 
too hold you,
too hold you tight
and make love to you
throughout the night.

I only asked of you to
sing me one of your
beautiful songs if,
if the night got to
be too long.

But,
what did you do,
you lied to me,
you lied to me
as the day is long
all night long.

And now,
now you would
kiss what love
we have for 
one another
away,
rather than hold
your damnable lies
at bay.

Well,
you have had
your night
and now,
now I will 
have mine 
in kind.

You and me,
we were never
meant to be.

You no longer
have the truths
I seek,
only words you 
hide behind
do you have 
for me.

The life you've led
and the deception 
that is you,
crumbles,
crumbles
as you lie there
pretending to sleep.

You shrug your shoulders
and say what the heck,
well,
staying with you
any longer
would be like,
like putting a noose
around my own neck.

What's that,
you want me to make
an exception.
Well,
I won't.
In the past,
I forgave you
for many things,
even the countless
number of men
you paraded before me
night
after 
night.

I accepted the fact
that you have an
uncontrollable lust
for men,
but that,
that must come 
to an end.
I've had enough
of your 
crazy,
crazy
stuff!

You say you want
to sleep,
well,
go ahead
and sleep.

Sleep will not bring
peace to your troubled
mind,
it will only bide
you the time
you most urgently 
seek 
to hide your truths
from me.

Truths I need.
Truths I want.
Unfortunately,
truths I will
never have.

Now you cry 
and tell me you
want to die
because I am
about to say
goodbye.

Well,
go ahead
and cry,
maybe,
just maybe,
your tears will
wash away some
of your
lies.

I loved you like no other.
I tried to fill your heart up
with immeasurable desire 
and set your ever darkening
soul on fire,
but my passion for you now,
is spent,
with no desire
to relent.

Goodbye my precious,
while you lie there,
you can watch my tears
hit the floor
as I walk out 
your door.

                          Poem written by Jerry Harrenstein and dedicated to the woman I could no longer love.