When We Repressed
Ilana Lu
April 15, 2008



We forgot how to walk slowly
to pause
to love

We walk hurriedly
telltale hearts beating of grief
While memories of walking slowly
cause our hearts to pound in rhyme, in time
to the grieving aching world
in which we walk
we talk

We forgot how to speak slowly
words rushing in and out of commutes
pardon me, excuse me,
fragments of existence
but devoid of character
I becomes we
She becomes they

In love, we walked slowly
holding hands
holding the moment
hearts beating with passion
pounding in rhyme,
in time
to the aching world
Our words tiptoed out awkwardly
wrapping fingers about naive braids
of life
and weaving them gently together

But we forgot how to speak slowly
and a sweet ignorance
became a slamming confusion
of rushed hours
to speed by the grieving aching world
with its deadlines
its headlines
its sparkling commotion
strong scents of fear
and grief
and--

We forgot how to walk slowly,
to pause,
to love.