I’ve been reading a bit of Keats recently, and while the first half here sounds nothing like him, I feel that the two poems together would fit within his works. There are a number of capitalization, meter, and punctuation inconsistencies within the second poem and they are somewhat intentional. Regardless, hope you enjoy.

-WellTree

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Thistle’s Winter Request

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I need a lover like the summer,
one that lives to melt a frozen heart.
I need a love that makes me wonder,
how I’ll survive whenever we’re apart.

I need a love,
not sweet nor dear nor tame.
I need a love
That’s sure to doze me over.

It’s not enough,
to play my part in passing games.
I need a love,
That will consume me like a flame.

I’ve never been in love before.
At least not ever how the winds say.
Lovers float in and out the door
and yet the feeling never stays.

And it’s so hard to be a lover
when you know your heart is made of wood.
I’ve never warmed up to the touch much
and all my spines sure get’em good.

Thistle’s Late Summer Lament

Your love was such a fickle thing,
lacking warmth for which to cling.
The little joys that it did bring
Existed ephemeral and careless

Ignited with but a flickering,
Bold hearts alit like flowering,
They burst and burnt empowering,
Empassioned embraces in Love’s caress

It was not long till Flame did flutter,
The Fuel was spent, the fire did sputter,
The roar of passion muted to mutter,
Empty echoes heralding a coolness

In cold and dark, my ashes clutter
A silent space with wistful utters
Whispers of Smoke, Love’s poor rebutter
Encompass every scrap of my miserable mess