The Right Words (Poetry)

If I’d have known
what would impress —
been certain and not failed to guess —
I should have said —
made crystal clear
those things you’d maybe
longed to hear ...

Instead, I stumbled
clumsy, word-shy
unsure, then mumbled
dumbly tongue-tied.
Romantic phrases
left un-uttered
as I dithered wildly
st-st-stuttered ...
Love-struck and quite
mystified.

The moment gone
all magic vanished —
evapourated
sharp to punish
with a sense of loss
to ponder
where you went —
a life spent yonder
fate-determined
split asunder.

Had I been clued
to passion’s line
you might have softened —
felt inclined
to listen — let me
make you mine.