At 16~ Last Hetero Relationship
The mountainous waves curled through the air,
gathering speed on the distant horizon.

Drawing near, I gazed through their acrylic
stares, sun-glazed curmudgeons, god sent;

they crashed upon the shores of Vilano beach.

Their rhythmic pounding echoing
the audible thumps from within my chest—

my mouth as parched as the powdered
sand of the endangered dunes.

She laid there on her towel, eyes
throwing questions at my own.

My lips parted, a rush of energy vibrated
through my vocal chords as my protective
seal was ripped open

and my large burden drifted softly off the tongue.

At 18~ The Coming Out Party
It started off as a normal night—
the liquor bottles were lined up, shot
glasses cleaned, the munchie food
spread across the table.

I hadn’t known it was a surprise party.

8 shots of tequila later, I was dragged inside.
Everyone was gathered around the pool table,
a cake box in the center—the lid came off

it was a rainbow signed, “We Love You.”

At 19~First Long Term Relationship
I had never made it to the one year mark,
bad weather always turned me around—
like climbing my first thirteen grander.
This was the closest I had ever been,
the peak was a month away.

Not wanting to fail, I climbed hand before
foot through the skree slopes of Wheeler;
propelled only by my will to experience
butterflies, gripping my heart, titillating my legs.

My endgame within grasp
after eleven long months of trekking
rough terrain.

My last ten yards elapsed a decade of experience,
victory failed to complete me.

My mind peaked
but my heart withdrew.

I left a message in the galvanized pipe
of pitted iron already full of promise
and celebration. I wrote:

To first loves, may they continue
to never be all that they are crack-
ed up to be. Happy Anniversary.

At 20~ Rebounding Single
A new consciousness found me in the Rio
Grande gorge hot springs, just outside of Taos, NM.

The stars of a planetarium sky sparkled
in my tearing eyes.

I wanted my future to dance across that
midnight sky

but all I saw was you.

10/10/2004

Posted on 01/10/2005
Copyright © 2024 S. Pelham Flood