Introducing My Poetry: Read My Poem “Blue Box”

After including a poem that I wrote for my wife in the Mermaid of Sicily dedication, I realized how much I miss poetry. So, I plan to share more of my work in the coming weeks and months. Below is one of my most-loved poems.

You can read more of my poetry in the members’ area. Create a free account by clicking the button below and unlock access 100+ hours of reading for free.


BLUE BOX

I opened today

the box marked J.

Under my shoes

in the blue box is you.

You’re still alive in there

and me, too.

So many things I forgot,

every curve, every word.

Why couldn’t I see

how very much

you wanted me?

It’s on every page.

Never enough, you said.

Anything I do

is never enough for you.

It was always ever

going to be

too far, too deep, too much

the space between you and me.

It hurts,

it hurts to see

how we laughed,

what we were,

how sweet you used to be.

I never see you now.

Years it’s been

since I came crying,

pink suitcase,

to your new place.

Someone said your name

last week.

So many things

I wanted to ask,

but the past has passed,

and I have learned,

it’s better not to know

how you are

or what you’ve done.

I closed the lid again

on us two,

put you back up on the shelf,

and looked away.

Our love is buried there,

and there it will stay,

in the pretty blue box

marked J.

–JINCEY LUMPKIN (JUNE 2018)

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