Love's Labour's Lost: Two Poems

The Solitary Lover

A Hybrid Poem

You had your marshes, where you waded, not in water, but in words.

Your plumage like that of a plover; the forage and storage of poetic eggs in a nest.

Moving hither and yon, a run-and-pause method to your movement, a diversion strategy.

Under the water, waves of the subconscious, trickling into streams of dreams.

Objectively logical, illogically expressive; forever rational and real.

Making noise when danger invaded your private place, your cherished space.

We have that in common, you and me.

You, the solitary plover.

Me, the solitary lover.

Solitary...

John RC Potter

‘Birds in the Setting Sun’ artwork by the author’s god-daughter, Nisa Winter.

What's Not To Love?

“What’s not to love?” I ask myself that again.

Your name’s not written here; But is often lying there,

on the tip of my tongue and

always lying in wait at the

back of my mind.

“Is it mere lust?” I ask myself that again.

The years lie between us,

just too long, and just too much;

But I hope not a farce,

not just mere imagining; Or

worse, I am just blind.

“Is it real love?” I ask myself that again.

Perhaps delusional,

full of hopes, wishes, and dreams,

platonic on your part,

with passion on mine:

love poem,

the unrequited kind.

Coda:

Yes, what’s not to love?

Just everything.

You made me love you!

I have no regrets.

John RC Potter

https://youtu.be/1Zvr5_wJdLY?si=DVIO9O9N3pscPjg1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John RC Potter is an international educator from Canada who resides in Istanbul. The author’s poem, “Nie Wieder/Never Again,” and his story, “Ruth’s World,” were Pushcart Prize nominees, and his poem, “Tomato Heart,” was nominated for the Best of the Net Award. The author has a gay-themed children’s picture book scheduled for publication. He is a member of the League of Canadian Poets and the Playwrights Guild of Canada. Recent Publications: The General Store at Four Corners: A Novella by Subtle Body Press (print) & “Clara Von Clapp’s Secret Admirer” (online) in The Lemonwood Quarterly, Clara Von Clapp’s Secret Admirer – The Lemonwood Quarterly

Website: https://johnrcpotterauthor.com  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRCPotter

Bluesky: http://johnrcpotter.bsky.social