If and then



What if we never have the nerve to try?
What if we allow this moment to pass by?

What if it’s perfect and the world stops turning?
What if a missile fires and it leaves us burning?

What if we are afraid to hurt and afraid to feel.
But then the sun meets the moon making it all clear.

Like the stars at night crave the sky and darkness;
Goosebumps rise, running across my skin regardless.

Pain recognizes pain, automatically pulling me in.
Ragged breathes, a wanting, a most beautiful sin.

Strong hands cup my face; hazel eyes find
mine.
Unapologetic and greedy, here there is no line.

The taste of home, like I’ve been here before.
It’s you and it’s me; it’s magical and It’s More.

About this poem

When everything aligns and the world is as it should. All of your happiness wrapped up in one. It’s perfection. It’s love.

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Written on June 25, 2022

Submitted by zyiawithmelissa on June 26, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

43 sec read
310

Quick analysis:

Scheme AA BB XX CC DD XEE FF
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 700
Words 146
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2

Melissa Almen

36 year old female, married to military man, living in small town North Dakota. Raising their 4 boys and works as nurse in her spare time. Loves working in her flower bed, watching her sons play baseball, football, and basketball. Needs a nap more than anything! more…

All Melissa Almen poems | Melissa Almen Books

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Discuss the poem "If and then" with the community...

9 Comments
  • mike.welborn
    I love this poem. To me this poem is about finding that soul mate - one who hungers appologically.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • WhyCantIUseMyOwnName
    The bio sounds like a reprise of my life, but hey, lady, the word is "breaths", not "breathes". A number of not-quite-rhyme" couplets in there.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • karlcfolkes
    The beauty of misalignment is that it is inherently predisposed toward alignment or self-correction.
    LikeReply1 year ago
    • WhyCantIUseMyOwnName
      Your comment is not only patently untrue, it is totally not related to the poem it is supposed to be commenting on.
      LikeReply1 year ago
  • Oceanloveisland
    Beautifully written. The way the words fall together, like a song, is easy on the mind. Seductive pulls a reader in. The message, however, creates a lot of emotions, wavy, uncertain, like a storm.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • teril
    "The taste of home..." A beautiful tribute to your relationship.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • bluedrip_z
    I simply love this poem, how the author made me draw into my thoughts, and feelings concerning the world around me! Great job
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • Symmetry58
    I really like this poem, Melissa. It makes you ponder the what ifs that we all take for granted too often. I love pieces that make me contemplate. This is that. Excellent...
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Life is not perfect
    But if you learn from your mistakes then the crooked will be made straight !
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • Soulwriter
    Love this. So romantic and moving. From one tired mother to another ;)
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"If and then" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/130666/if-and-then>.

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