Lena Hadley
Love song of an ex-gangster
Alright, I used to like a fight
Now I’m proper into romance
You smashed up my drill music
And taught me how to dance
Now I’m shoving love letters
At your front door
Full of big words like
Y’know, furthermore
And of course if it’s okay with you
(I’ll take all the blame)
Can we make a plan for our gang of two
A heist of your last name
Is this devotion?
Man, I really don’t know
I’ve never heard of Juliet
Or that lad Romeo
But you’ve overtaken
My criminal wishes
Now I adorn all my threats
With love hearts and kisses
Yeah I still own them streets
Inspire chaos and fear
But I graffiti in red and it says
‘LUV WOZ HERE’
Date night
Is now an ideal time for you to see me?
Not really my dear, I am watching a movie
But it’s Friday night, why are you not free?
I’m having my dinner with Ratatouille
You cannot expect me to pick up the phone
When Kevin McCallister’s been left Home Alone
I’m afraid I won’t be around on Monday
I’m off to the world of Spirited Away
Tomorrow afternoon is a no go as well
I’m booked in to visit The Grand Budapest Hotel
Sorry for not inviting you inside
I’m a bit tied up with The Princess Bride
I won’t even call to say goodnight
You’ve caught me halfway through Parasite
I know you had plans for a first date classic
But the only park I’m going to is a bit more Jurassic
I mean where even was it you wanted to go?
The independent cinema?
Well, why didn’t you say so!
The love poems are not about you
I’m liking what I look like completely without you
My favourite songs are no longer about you
I used to devour your every word, I would relish it
Applying imagination based skills to embellish it
Reeling you in every time I went fishing
I had no idea then what bigger catches I was missing
Better suck it up buddy, you’re old news
Blocking my view of a much better muse
Your mind is a desert I’m sick of exploring
Instantly forgettable or put bluntly, boring
Over the course of time my interest diminished
Thought ours was a story not worth being finished
With your opinions all over my body and joints
I was made to smooth down all my corners and points
Wear a paper mache halo, hold a plastic harp
Now I’m looking for someone who likes me this sharp
I’m having a good time without your approval
I’ve felt freer and lighter ever since your removal
Not feigning satisfaction in the face of nonchalance
I’m done with the dark ages, this is my renaissance
So if you ever read my writing (and I hope that you do)
Please note: the love poems are not about you
Lena Hadley (she/her) is a British poet and actor based in London. She often writes with a mixture of optimism and cynicism about culture, emotion and current events. She regularly performs her work at open mic events and has been published in Seasonal Fruits and Raiya Magazine. You can find her on Instagram @1enhadley.
Featured photo by Anna Pou (Pexels)
