Beliefs by Lisa Zaran

I try to rearrange the opinions of us
into palatable myths.

Telling myself that you’re not unkind,
just ambitious.

I’m too sensitive. And when some
obstinate trouble maker tries to tell me

you’ve been seen with another woman
and I spend the next three hours crying,

too gullible. And foolish for thinking
you could ever be so mean.

Because wasn’t it you who said,
love is a pause in a man’s progress.

I laughed with delight believing
I could change your mind,

telling myself every man is weak
when it comes to the heart, even you.

But I was wrong. It’s not that you
were ever strong, just indifferent

and honestly not in love with me
because you’ve never stopped

forging ahead or as I like to call it,
escaping.

(Header Photo Credit: Rebecca Wachtel)

Lisa Zaran is an American poet, essayist, occasional interviewer and the author of six collections. Her first book, the sometimes girl, was recently the focus of a year long translation course in Germany. She is the founder and editor of Contemporary American Voices, an online journal of poetry, which has now been approved to be used as the subject of study for a translation course in Germany.