Before I Leave: Selected Poems and Poetic Prose

By M. H. Freeman

Tying together the recurring elements of a decade in reflection, this debut book from acclaimed poet M.H. Freeman — Before I Leave — elucidates the cyclicism of life while depositing a positive outlook in stressed and sullen hearts.

Framed by four topical pillars — loneliness, adoration, depression, and philosophy — these poems, the majority having been composed between August 2012 and August 2013, exhibit many facets of life we all experience but find difficult to speak.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. H. Freeman
• Release date: Sep 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301488421

M. H. Freeman

M.H. Freeman was born and raised in Waldorf, MD and currently resides in Spotsylvania, VA.He is a spotlit poet and poetry tag editor on Tumblr and frequent performer at Commonwealth Slam in Fredericksburg, VA.

Book preview

Acknowledgments

My sincerest thanks go out to all my loyal readers, without whom these words would not exist. I draw much energy from interacting with each and every one of you; so much, in fact, that I often wonder which of us has the better end of the arrangement. You were all unwittingly instrumental, through kind words and consistent encouragement, in bringing this project to fruition.

Thanks especially to Katelyn, whose patience and well-timed nudges helped me to identify and elucidate the undercurrent of the river of words I've streamed over the last year, to Kyara, whose gentle voice opened my eyes to the colors of the palette I unknowing held in my hand for so long, and to Chelsea and Matt, who gave generously of their time to help me understand and appreciate the effects my words have.

Lastly, thank you to the folks at Tumblr, most especially Cat, who plucked my humble voice, from amongst the throng of poetic pages, to be spotlit and broadcast to the vast blog-centric literary movement.

Before I Leave

Loneliness

California Essence

I routinely sleep my days away

in hopes of chance encounter

with the one who left me wanting

in my deepest, darkest hour.

In my dreams she takes the form

of a tramp with no regard

for my feelings or her own,

ever spawning spiteful scars.

In my dreams she is a harlot,

only never touching me.

She teases, attempting torture,

tries to bring me to my knees.

She is that which I can never grasp,

a glimpse of heaven before a fall,

like the taste of Adam’s apple,

the fruit of lies, the death of all.

Despite agony everlasting,

I shall summon her evermore,

for her vision marks a struggle

with many battles yet to score.

Love Made Easy

I wrote you, on plain paper.

Your existence: invention,

created with merciful intent.

I wrote you, on plain paper.

Your features: perfection,

quenching thirst for affection.

I wrote you, on plain paper.

Your presence: consuming,

pushing reality to the wayside.

I wrote you, on plain paper.

I balled you up when you burned me.

What Matters

Take my clothes,

I am not naked –

I have warmth amid the cold.

Take my mind,

I am not senseless –

I have comfort within my soul.

Take my love,

I am but baron –

I have nothing left to hold.

Of Jealousy

I want what you have.

It’s as simple as that.

The companionship

of a friend to brighten

darkest days under

heavy clouds parked

amid ominous skies.

The comforting touch

of a lover who seeks

to soothe fresh wounds

from cruelest fate –

in record time.

It’s as simple as that.

I want what you have.

Of Uncertainty

I don’t care who you are.

Please, just find me.

I need to know that

I’m not alone with

my thoughts and

hesitations.

I need to know that

someone’s out there

waiting to give me

inspiration.

I need to know that

I’m not a fool to

wish only for your

presence.

I need to know that

life’s not meant to

be this lonely or

unpleasant.

Please, just find me.

I don’t care who you are.

Deal-Breaker

The first time we met,

I fell deeply for you

and tried hard to strike a bargain.

I would trade my ability to see

in exchange for your haunting presence.

You accepted.

I would trade my ability to hear

in exchange for your sweet nothings.

You accepted.

I would trade my ability to feel

in

Reviews for Before I Leave

[andyfeb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't know much about poems, but I enjoyed reading deep and "encryptic" messages such as in the classic masterpieces. As far as I know, poems is a series of sentence which contains deep message for the readers to think and browse the author mind how he/she feel when he/she create that poems.But I found in this book not only deep message but actually many of the poems have plain messages. I also found in this books that poems can be like a narrative. I think this is a modern poems which the author can freely write what he feel. Find yourself what I mean in this book :)

[jenn.s · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written and full of emotion behind each entry. I loved reading through this collection. This would be something special to share with loved ones or friends. Some were quite touching. Very well organized and delivered. I can't say I loved it enough. I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review.