Love LITerally: Listen

I have to admit, I took out some cringy lines from the original submission. Also, back then, I presented it like a poem but now I see that it's merely an excuse to write in broken sentences XD

Look at him

Playing in the sandbox

He is talking, gesturing wildly

While his friends stared, wide-eyed

"Now!" He barked at them

They scrambled to their feet, running helter-skelter

One of them tried to suggest something

NO. Everything must be according to him

Take a whiff

Sweat-soaked

On your mark, get set, go!

And he ran with his baton like there was no tomorrow

This was his plan. His arrangement.

They had to win.

Seconds! Just seconds!

He slammed his fist on the ground in fury

His coach shot a look at him

"l told you so" He could hear him thinking...

One bump. A million shivers down her spine.

Imagine what's hiding beneath that thin crisp shirt

Broad shoulders. Lean muscles.

He could have the world if he wanted

Tequila. Chardonnay. Brandy.

He was on cloud nine

"No!" He shouted

'This is my car! I'm driving!"

And he took off

That face. That face they all give him when he orders them around

Fear? Indignation? Desperation?

He doesn't know

But he loves the way it makes him feel

Just like now

As she looks at him from the passenger seat

Roadblock

Tires screeching

Ear-piercing scream

Everything goes black

Do you hear him

Listen

He's crying

“Why?” he cried out to God

“Why me? I was so young!”

God said, “Your friend, your coach, your fiancée.”

They were there for reason

You should have listened

Reflection (I had to do back then about the piece)

This poem actually came about in a 'Eureka!' moment when I was wracking my brains, figuring

out different forms of love for this portfolio. In case it was unclear in the poem, the love here is

displayed through the protagonist's condescending character and how he loves seeing people's

reactions to his actions and words. Life is no bed of roses. A person is bound to meet a few

unscrupulous people in one's lifetime. This poem provides their perspective towards different

situations as they grew up and I hope the reader seeks comfort in knowing that karma would get

to those people who deserve it sooner than later.

Cover image from here.