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lovely, laughing Janet

by Maria Francesca

darkness falls like stars
as I trudge through this world alone,
my mind a howling cavern,
my spirit, like a stone

but there is one who heals me,
who lights my lonely way;
who tells me I have worth
no matter what the others say

no one understands me
but my lovely, laughing Janet

only she can soothe me
on this unforgiving planet

her body, warm and sumptuous,
her mind, a sweet surprise,
as she looks at me with love light
shining through her velvet eyes

So shyly she withdraws -
no unseemly gauche display
to flaunt her girlish wares
in the glaring light of day

so charmingly retiring -
she speaks to only me
and nurtures me in ways
that no one else could ever see

no one understands me
but Imaginary Janet

no one else can soothe me
on this godforsaken planet

no one else can touch me
or hear my plaintive cries
or see the way she sees
through her imaginary eyes

she asks no favors of me -
no gifts of gold or pearls -
and tells me that she loves me
more than any other girl

and all I have to do for her
to keep her in my life
is to lure a feckless lady home
and stab her with my knife

but no one understands me
but the cold, demanding Janet

no one else will have me
on this lonely, lonely planet

no one keeps my secrets
no one's seen my scars
and knows about the bodies
buried under my back yard.

01/15/2014

Posted on 01/15/2014
Copyright © 2024 Maria Francesca

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 01/15/14 at 06:51 PM

What a pal, your gal Janet! Yikes.... The shift to the dark side in this is gradual and surprising. Your story telling draws me in every time.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 01/15/14 at 06:53 PM

I have never figured out the why to the title to the travel books - Lonely Planet - I think this poem just supplanted that in my mind. ;)

Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 01/16/14 at 02:05 PM

a beautiful tender ode and then quite the surprising and shocking conclusion.

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 01/16/14 at 08:41 PM

I do believe Kristina's comments helped me with this poem. From a poignant lament to macabre! Makes me think of the novel I am reading! A very strange character, with other most intriguing characters. (The book is in the car and the title and author escape me right now.}

Posted by Gail Wolper on 01/22/14 at 01:30 AM

Lovely lyric, I hope you have music for this one!

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