There

once

.

w

a

s

.

a

time

–

–

when

I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

new . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

new . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer

.

t

h

a

n

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer

.

t

h

a

n

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer

.

t

h

a

n

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

now

I

paint

.

m

y

.

world

.

i

n

.

broken-hearted

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

paint

.

m

y

.

world . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

paint

.

m

y

.

world . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

paint

.

m

y

.

world . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

n

–

–

–

broken-hearted

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

where

everything

–

i

s

–

much

too,

.

.

b

u

t

.

.

fewer

.

t

h

a

n

.

few . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ yes,

everything

.

i

s

.

much

too,

.

.

b

u

t

.

.

fewer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

few . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

I

would

–

–

rather

brood . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ yes,

I

would

–

–

rather

brood . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

shadows

.

o

f

.

truth . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

t

h

a

n

–

–

–

pursue

.

a

n

d

.

move,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

move

.

a

n

d

.

pursue

–

–

a

runaway,

–

–

rollaway

room . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ a

runaway,

–

–

rollaway

room

.

o

f

.

musical

moons

.

w

i

t

h

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

would

–

–

rather

brood . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

would

–

–

rather

brood . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

would

–

–

rather

brood . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

shadows

.

o

f

.

truth . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

yes,

–

–

there

once

.

w

a

s

.

a

time

–

–

when

I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

new . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

.

.

wanted

something

–

–

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

newer,

.

t

h

a

n

.

new . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

now

I

paint

.

m

y

.

world

.

i

n

.

broken-hearted

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

paint

.

m

y

.

world

.

i

n

.

broken-hearted

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

brood

within

.

t

h

e

.

shadows

.

o

f

.

truth.

Reflection: This was a melancholy-themed poem that I wrote back in December of 2021 where the contemplator looks back on a troubled romance that he or she repeatedly considered trading for something new but was never able to. The troubled romance (although long over) still hurts and haunts, and he or she still cannot escape its reach. I came up with the opening lines and then used the song “You Said” by Fontaines D.C. to play in the background at low volume to help create the “moodset” for the poem. If you listen to the song at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.