Poems

A Beating Heart

I sometimes wonder if I have a beating heart.

The signs all point to yes, but something seems off.

I raise my stethoscope and I hear the thumpity thump.

Thump thump thump, the rhythmic beating doesn’t stop.

I can look at someone deformed,

Someone society would normally outcast, and I see a person.

I befriend them without a thought to their looks and I hear,

Thump thump thump, the rhythmic beating of my heart.

Nothing about it changes, Thump thump thump.

I see someone my mind tells me I have a crush on,

But there is no skipping of beats, no sudden stop,

No catch in my throat, just Thump thump thump.

I sometimes wonder if I have a beating heart.

I get scared and it jumps, I get excited and it beats a little faster.

Exercise makes it beat fastest of all,

Thump thump thump, my beating heart working overtime.

I can see an injured child and I know what to do.

I help treat the wound before carrying them on my back,

And I help them find their mother and I hear,

Thump thump thump, the rhythm of a happily beating heart.

Nothing about it changes, Thump thump thump.

But I see you and my breath quickens,

My stomach erupts in butterflies, I get nervous of what you think of me.

Could you be the one to make my heart do much more

Then just a Thumpity thump thump?

Not even the scariest horror movie,

Nor the most amazing sight in the world,

An exhibit on the world’s worst maritime disaster

Or the sight of it coming out of the water in its movie.

The cry of a child in pain,

Or the most intense workout,

The face of someone in pain

The face of someone beat down by life.

None of it, the things that can actually affect my quiet heart

The one that only goes thump, thump, thump,

Can compare to, or even come close to

How you make me feel.

That in itself is a rare thought.

As rare and genuine as the idea

To paint The Mona Lisa

Or to build the Statue of Liberty.

Its as perfect as a setting sun

As a first kiss, a first laugh or smile.

Its as perfect as perfect can get,

Even in all its imperfection.

The first look we have just shared,

No matter how short

Has suddenly changed the rhythmic

4/4 time of my heart, the even tempo of my breath

Dammed up the smooth running water of my speech.

This territory is unfamiliar

But a wonder that I plan to explore.

It might become as rough as going white water rafting

Or as difficult as your first heartbreak.

But the fast beating of my heart

Is slowly becoming addicting.

The more I look into your eyes,

The more they become my own personal heroin.

The more you smile in return,

The more I get drunk off of it.

Everything you do.

From the sound of your voice

To the trill of your laugh

To the strength of your arms when you hold me

Is slowly disproving my theory,

The stupid, hair brained theory that,

Despite basic human genetics telling me otherwise,

I was without a beating heart

A heart that went thumpity thump thump.

I used to wonder if I have a beating heart.

The signs all pointed to yes, but something seemed off.

I raised my stethoscope and I heard the thumpity thump.

Thump thump thump, the rhythmic beating never stops.

I can look at someone deformed,

Someone society would normally outcast, and I see a person.

I befriend them without a thought to their looks and I hear,

Thump thump thump, the rhythmic beating of my heart.

It now changes from the normal Thump thump thump.

I see you, someone my mind tells me I have a crush on,

And there is some skipping of beats, some sudden stops,

A catch in my throat, not just a simple Thump thump thump.