2/8/11

Logic
By Amy Walence


Before I knew
The reasons and processes,
The constraints, restraints, and quandaries
The questions...

I knew you.

Your shy, excited personality
shone brilliantly though
the placid exterior
in place for every other person
but me.

In time, I learned the questions
the concerns
the reasoning
you.

In time
I coaxed your vibrant, unique personality
beyond the placid exterior.
I shared your brilliance, your thoughtful dexterity.
I stood in awe, amazed by potential.

Your questions became my questions.
Our logic evolved into a unique entity.
Though answers were few and far between,
the reasoning was what mattered.

Our reasoning.

Inseparable, we traveled apartments, colleges, cities.
Our past times and free times and work times blended
into a pleasant routine,
supplemented by individual successes and failures.

Conversations dwindled
Routine was replaced by anxiety
Time consumed and problems unsolved
dissolved excitement
into a terrible force;
a question.

Will this work?

Unknowingly shocked by its existence
we reasoned, cried, argued, loved, and left each other
with a mutual unspoken goal in mind;
an answer.

Dynamics changed slowly as the unspoken force
ripped at our sanity and cut our words,
creating an unstable void
which we repeatedly tried to fill
with whatever we could find.

Over time,
denial worked its claws deep into meaning
as our half hearted smiles faded,
and our attempts dwindled.

The question lay unanswered
continuously perpetuating melancholy
until finally I realized what I'd lost;
understanding.

I knew the reasons and processes
The constraints, restraints, and quandaries
The questions...

But I no longer know you.

If there is a way to know everything and nothing at the same time,
I think I have found it.


- - -
Freed from sound logic and mind instigated by the constant emotional plight of a fresh breakup, Amy has finally broken the barrier between journalism and poetry.