Subject to the Rose

By Gregory Skinner

I am blinded by hope

Deafened by uncertainty

Silenced by fear

By the spiraling tresses and addling countenances of my Colleen

She drives me to recklessness

Her words spoken and unspoken

Tease my mind

Her simple gestures and gifts

Invite desire

She approaches

My chest tightens and thoughts race

Weaknesses gathering more weakness

Appendages they become

And this

This barbed thorn festering in my soul

She lies unchallenged

I do not try to pull her loose

I ask myself why I allow such foolishness

It makes no sense

Does the infectious spike make me so weak

That I become powerless to detach her

Is it not lack of strength

But absence of desire

A hesitation

That may lead to my fall

Could she possibly be blameless

Or are her actions politic

I hesitate again

I am driven to madness

Could this be what leads to my fall

Or am I mistaken

Perhaps

It is something I have not yet thought

Perhaps

I have fallen already

Gregory skinner is a MCC student who enjoys writing heart felt poetry. He enjoys taking any creative writing class possible.